Department of Education News

Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education, where we cut through the noise to spotlight what's really moving the needle for education.

This week's blockbuster: President Trump signed a $79 billion education funding bill into law, locking in fiscal 2026 priorities like campus-based aid for Federal Work-Study and FSEOG programs. Higher Ed Dive reports this stabilizes funding based on prior-year appropriations, giving schools breathing room amid reforms.

Key shifts include the HEP Division moving to the Department of Labor starting January 20, streamlining postsecondary and workforce programs. Assistant Secretary Dr. David Barker calls it realignment for workforce success, while DOL's Dr. Henry Mack praises it as boosting skills for economic dominance. Powers Law's February update also flags the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization rulemaking, launched January 26, targeting accreditor competition, student outcomes over DEI mandates, and intellectual diversity—comments due March 2 on the RISE NPRM too.

Impacts hit hard: American families gain simpler loans and Workforce Pell Grants under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, but states brace for chaos from ED's hollowing out via interagency shifts. Businesses cheer accountability tying aid to earnings thresholds—failing programs lose loans after two of three years. New America warns local districts face delays in special ed and CTE.

The Office for Civil Rights secured 31 agreements February 19 ending university ties to The Ph.D. Project, amid GAO scrutiny of its 2025 staff cuts.

Quote from Secretary Linda McMahon on the new AHEAD framework: "We've developed an accountability framework institutions can work with, students will benefit from, and taxpayers expect."

Watch the March 4-6 FSA Training Conference and March 2 comment deadlines. Citizens, submit feedback via regulations.gov to shape rules.

Next, track AIM rulemaking sessions. Dive deeper at ed.gov/newsroom. If input's open, make your voice heard.

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The Trump administration is moving at historic pace on student financial aid, with the Department of Education announcing this week that it's taking the first step to develop the 2027-28 FAFSA form, targeting an October 2026 launch. Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent called this a dramatic turnaround, saying after years of mismanagement under the previous administration that left students and families struggling with delays and confusion, they've delivered historic progress in just one year by launching the earliest and most streamlined FAFSA form in history.

But the changes go far beyond the application itself. The Department is simultaneously reshaping higher education through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last July. Beginning this summer, new graduate students will be capped at twenty thousand five hundred dollars in federal loans per year with a hundred thousand dollar aggregate limit, a significant shift in borrowing authority. The Department is also proposing new repayment plans designed to make loans more manageable for borrowers as millions are returning to active repayment status.

Behind the scenes, there's major structural reorganization happening. The Department is integrating postsecondary education and workforce development by detailing staff to work with the Labor Department, essentially merging fragmented programs into what officials describe as a unified system prioritizing industry-driven training. The administration has also established new Accreditation Innovation and Modernization rulemaking to streamline how colleges are recognized and evaluated while emphasizing student outcomes over compliance metrics.

The impact varies dramatically depending on where you live and what students you serve. In blue states, school districts are bracing for targeted scrutiny of diversity and inclusion programs through heightened Title VI and Title IX enforcement. For higher education institutions, there's both opportunity and uncertainty. The Department is providing more flexibility in how federal funds are used, but also demanding biweekly reporting on interagency coordination as functions migrate between agencies.

State leaders are being advised to step up, particularly around protecting English learner programs and establishing their own civil rights oversight since the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has been significantly reduced. The coming months will test whether this rapid restructuring delivers the promised efficiency or creates the chaos and delays that critics warn could disrupt aid delivery.

For the latest updates on FAFSA deadlines, loan repayment options, and state-level guidance, visit ed.gov. If you're an educator or administrator, watch for the March 2 deadline to comment on new Title IV program rules. Thank you for tuning in to this week's education policy update. Be sure to subscribe for more coverage as these changes unfold. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education, where we cut through the noise to spotlight what's changing education right now.

This week's top headline: President Trump signed the FY 2026 education budget into law at $79 billion, up $217 million from last year, ending a tense funding standoff and ensuring on-time grants to states and districts, according to K-12 Dive reports. This keeps critical supports flowing for mental health, special education, and high-poverty schools, as praised by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Key moves include the Department's release of 2025 foreign funding data for universities, revealing millions from abroad and sparking transparency debates, per the official Ed.gov press release. They're also launching the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization negotiated rulemaking committee to overhaul accreditors—ditching DEI biases, slashing costs, and prioritizing student outcomes. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent nailed it: "The current system shields existing players, fuels rising costs, and promotes ideologically driven initiatives." Nominations close February 26, with sessions in April and May.

On student loans, a proposed rule caps graduate borrowing at $20,500 yearly starting July 2026, simplifies repayment, and phases out PLUS loans to cut debt burdens, as outlined in the Federal Register notice—public comments due March 2.

Leadership shifts feature Secretary Linda McMahon appointing Phil Bryant to the National Assessment Governing Board and naming Richard Lucas acting COO for Federal Student Aid.

For Americans, this means steadier school funding and cheaper college paths, easing family budgets. Businesses and universities face accreditation shake-ups that could lower admin bloat but demand outcome-focused reforms. States gain flexibilities for teacher strategies under ESEA Title II, per Ed.gov guidance, though some brace for less federal oversight.

Citizens, weigh in on loan rules by March 2 via regulations.gov, or nominate for the AIM committee now.

Watch interagency deals dismantling bureaucracy and Tribal consultations. For details, visit ed.gov/newsroom. Submit input if you see deadlines looming—your voice shapes this.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education. This week, the biggest headline is the launch of the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization Committee, or AIM, to overhaul higher education accreditation. The Department announced this negotiated rulemaking to simplify accreditor recognition, cut costs driving tuition hikes, ban discriminatory standards like race-based scholarships, and focus on data-driven student outcomes, building on President Trump's Executive Order 14279.

Key moves include six new interagency agreements with Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State to dismantle bureaucracy and shift programs like K-12 and Native American education to states. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said, "The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states." Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer added, "We will ensure our K-12 and postsecondary programs prepare students for tomorrow’s workforce demands."

President Trump also signed the FY26 budget into law at $79 billion, up $217 million from last year, protecting special education, mental health, and afterschool programs despite flat funding in some areas. Meanwhile, a proposed rule aims to simplify student loans and repayment under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with comments due March 2.

For Americans, this means cheaper college, less debt from repeat credits, and better job-aligned training—potentially filling 700,000 skilled jobs. Businesses gain streamlined workforce programs; states face less red tape but must adapt to shifted responsibilities, as experts like Sasha Pudelski from AASA warn of planning uncertainty. Local districts keep formula grants on time.

Nominations for AIM negotiators are due February 26, with sessions in April and May. Check ed.gov for prayer guidance in schools or budget details.

Watch interagency transfers and OCR enforcement on Title VI and IX. For more, visit ed.gov/press-releases. If you're a stakeholder, submit comments now.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education, where we cut through the noise to spotlight what matters for education today.

This week's top headline: The Department's Student Privacy Policy Office launched an investigation into Tufts University and the National Student Clearinghouse over allegations that the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement illegally shared student data to sway elections, potentially violating FERPA privacy laws. The Department also issued new guidance rescinding Biden-era policies that pushed schools to join this program, warning institutions using its upcoming data release could face penalties unless they get student consent first.

On the higher ed front, big moves are underway. The Department announced the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization committee, with nominations due by February 26—meetings kick off in April to slash red tape, prioritize data-driven student outcomes over DEI standards, and block discriminatory practices like race-based scholarships. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent celebrated a separate breakthrough, saying, "After more than 15 years of regulatory uncertainty, we've developed an accountability framework that institutions can work with, students will benefit from, and taxpayers can rightfully expect to improve outcomes." This new system holds all programs accountable via earnings thresholds—if they fail two out of three years, they lose federal loans and potentially Pell Grants.

Budget-wise, President Trump signed a $79 billion FY26 funding bill, up slightly from last year, rejecting deep cuts and preserving Pell at $7,395 max while mandating on-time grants to states and staff to handle core duties amid interagency shifts.

For American families, this means stronger student data protections and fairer loans, curbing debt traps. Colleges and states gain streamlined rules but face outcome-based scrutiny, pushing better value. Businesses benefit from workforce-aligned programs without political bias.

Listeners, nominate negotiators for AIM rulemaking at ed.gov by February 26, or comment on student loan proposals by March 2.

Watch for April sessions and final rules. Dive deeper at ed.gov. Get involved—your voice shapes these changes.

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