News

U.S. Department of Education Rescinds Illegal Title IX Resolution Agreements

U.S. Department of Education Rescinds Illegal Title IX Resolution Agreements

U.S Department of Education  April 6, 2026 Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department)’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) rescinded provisions of resolution agreements from prior Administrations, freeing schools from their illegal and burdensome enforcement of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Resolution agreements are […]

Read More
Education & Workforce Committee Unveils WIOA Reauthorization

Education & Workforce Committee Unveils WIOA Reauthorization

Committee on Education & Workforce April 6, 2026 Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026—legislation that makes critical updates to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). “The workforce is evolving rapidly, and legislation designed over a decade ago is no longer […]

Read More
Trump Administration Plans Sweeping Changes to Accreditation

Trump Administration Plans Sweeping Changes to Accreditation

Inside Higher Ed Katherine Knott April 7, 2026 The Trump administration wants the agencies that oversee colleges and universities to set minimum standards for student achievement, protect viewpoint diversity and consider cost efficiency in their evaluation of institutions, among other changes unveiled Monday. That last provision would help to “provide relief […]

Read More
Borrower Defense to Repayment: Litigation and Regulatory Update

Borrower Defense to Repayment: Litigation and Regulatory Update

Powers Law Sam Whittaker, Sherry Gray, and Nick Michiels April 3, 2026 In recent weeks, key developments in the borrower defense to repayment (“BDR”) process have raised important questions in the higher education community. First, continuing litigation in Sweet v. McMahon (formerly Sweet v. Cardona and Sweet v. DeVos) has created uncertainty regarding the outcome […]

Read More
(ANN-26-04) 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook – Application and Verification Guide Now Available

(ANN-26-04) 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook – Application and Verification Guide Now Available

Federal Student Aid  April 2, 2026 Summary: This letter announces the availability of the Application and Verification Guide of the 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook. Dear Colleague: We are pleased to announce the availability of the 2026–2027 Application and Verification Guide, the initial volume of the 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook. The Application and Verification […]

Read More
A Guide for States on Implementing Workforce Pell Grants

A Guide for States on Implementing Workforce Pell Grants

edtrust Sabreyna Reese, Roxanne Garza, Kyla Hurns, Tihirah Ruffin April 2, 2026 A new guide explains how Workforce Pell expands federal financial aid to short-term, career-focused programs and how states and stakeholders can implement it effectively. In July 2025, Congress expanded federal Pell Grant eligibility to cover learners and workers enrolled in short-term, […]

Read More
Accreditation at a Crossroads

Accreditation at a Crossroads

Inside Higher Ed Kathryn Skulley March 27, 2026 Accreditation is at a crossroads. At its heart are the principles that keep it more than a compliance exercise: peer judgment, institutional independence and a commitment to authentic student learning. Yet the landscape around those principles is shifting rapidly. Not long ago, […]

Read More