Department of Education News

Welcome back, listeners. We're diving into what's shaping up to be a transformational moment for American higher education. The Department of Education just wrapped its final negotiations on a historic accountability framework that could fundamentally change how colleges operate and which programs get federal funding.

Here's what's happening. After more than fifteen years of regulatory uncertainty, the Education Department has reached consensus on new rules that will hold all postsecondary institutions accountable for student outcomes. According to the Department, this ends what they call selective enforcement based on tax status and politics, replacing it with earnings-based standards that apply equally to certificate programs, bachelor's degrees, and graduate studies alike.

The mechanics are straightforward. If institutions fail to meet earnings thresholds for two out of three years, they lose access to Direct Loan programs. If half their federal funding comes from failing programs, those programs also lose Pell Grant eligibility. This applies across all sectors for the first time.

Meanwhile, the Department is simultaneously overhauling the accreditation system itself. New negotiated rulemaking begins in April and May to make it easier for new accreditors to enter the field and for colleges to switch accreditors. The Department signaled it wants accreditors focusing on student outcomes data rather than what they characterize as DEI-based standards.

So what does this mean for you? Students may see programs eliminated if they don't produce graduates earning sufficient wages. Colleges will need to demonstrate concrete economic returns on education. Taxpayers get an accountability framework officials say will improve outcomes. Institutions have until April and May to weigh in during the accreditation negotiations.

There's one wrinkle timing-wise. As we record this, the federal government faces a funding deadline of today, January thirtieth. If Congress doesn't act, the Education Department could shut down for the second time in three months, furloughing over two thousand staffers and halting grant competitions and civil rights investigations.

Looking ahead, listeners should watch the April and May rulemaking sessions and track whether new accreditors actually emerge. You can find details on all these initiatives at ed.gov.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education, where we cut through the headlines to show how these changes hit home for families, schools, and communities.

This week's biggest story: The Department reached consensus on a historic new accountability framework for higher education, wrapping up its AHEAD negotiated rulemaking sessions. For the first time in decades, every postsecondary program—from certificates to graduate degrees—faces uniform standards based on student earnings. Fail two out of three years on earnings thresholds, and programs lose access to Direct Loans; if they make up half of an institution's Title IV aid, Pell Grants vanish too. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent called it a breakthrough: "We've developed an accountability framework that institutions can work with, students will benefit from, and taxpayers can rightfully expect to improve outcomes."

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reshaping the agency itself, detailing 40 to 50 employees from higher education programs to the Labor Department as part of six new interagency agreements. This aims to streamline operations and push education back to states, but Congress is pushing back hard. A bipartisan spending package unveiled this week funds Education at $79 billion for fiscal 2026—$217 million above last year—with mandates to keep staff levels steady, deliver grants on time, and halt unauthorized transfers. As the National School Boards Association's Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs put it, this preserves "essential expertise and civil rights protections."

Secretary Linda McMahon is also honoring everyday heroes, naming Louisiana custodian Donella Wagner the 2026 RISE Award winner.

For American families, this means better odds of debt-free degrees aligned with real jobs, but K-12 leaders face uncertainty with shrinking federal support for special ed, rural schools, and English learners—potentially delaying funds and straining budgets. Businesses cheer workforce-focused Pells, while states and districts brace for chaos in grant delivery and enforcement shifts targeting DEI under Title IX and VI. Experts like Columbia's Jonathan Collins warn: "Expect less from the feds—anything you're used to getting, plan for less."

Deadlines loom: Watch for the rulemaking's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking soon, and Congress votes on the budget by January 30.

Keep an eye on Supreme Court Title IX cases and more employee shifts. Dive deeper at ed.gov/newsroom, and if you're in education, submit comments on the proposed rules via regulations.gov.

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Welcome to your weekly update on the U.S. Department of Education. This week’s top headline: the Department reached consensus on a historic new accountability framework for higher education, wrapping up negotiated rulemaking sessions under Secretary Linda McMahon and Under Secretary Nicholas Kent.

They agreed on rules holding all postsecondary programs—certificates to graduate degrees—accountable for student outcomes using earnings thresholds. Fail two out of three years, and programs lose Direct Loan access; if they dominate an institution’s Title IV funds, Pell Grants vanish too. “We’ve developed a framework institutions can work with, students will benefit from, and taxpayers expect,” Kent said. This ends selective enforcement and regulatory whiplash from past administrations.

Meanwhile, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education urged states to expand Title I schoolwide programs, letting schools blend federal, state, and local funds to cut red tape and boost achievement. Assistant Secretary Kirsten Baesler noted, “Schoolwide programs break down silos for local decisionmakers to better serve students.” States can approve any Title I school now.

On the partnership front, ED and the Department of Labor detailed staff starting January 20 to align postsecondary education with workforce needs, ensuring programs match career demands.

Congress pushed back on Trump’s budget slash, proposing $79 billion for fiscal 2026—up slightly from last year—preserving TRIO at $1.2 billion, FSEOG at $910 million, and Gear Up at $388 million for disadvantaged students.

These shifts empower states and locals but spark uncertainty. For American families, it means more flexible school funding and career-focused college options, potentially lowering debt. Businesses gain better-prepared workers; states handle more without federal strings, though superintendents like those at AASA warn of planning headaches. Higher ed faces real accountability, curbing low-value programs.

Watch for rulemaking publication soon and state waiver approvals like Iowa’s. Citizens, contact your state school officer to push schoolwide flexibility.

Tune in next week for updates. Resources at ed.gov. Subscribe now!

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Good morning, this is your education policy update. The Department of Education is undergoing its most dramatic reorganization in decades, with the federal government announcing it's systematically moving major education programs out of the department and into other agencies.

Here's what's happening right now. The Department of Education and Department of Labor just announced they're integrating postsecondary education and workforce development programs, with higher education staff beginning to work at the Labor Department starting the week of January 20th. According to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, this historic partnership will create better coordination between federal education and workforce development so students pursue programs aligned with their actual career goals and labor market needs.

But the reorganization goes much deeper. Six new interagency agreements are redistributing elementary and secondary education programs to the Department of Labor, Indian education programs to the Interior Department, international education to the State Department, and child care programs to Health and Human Services. The stated goal is fulfilling President Trump's promise to return education authority to the states and dismantle what officials call the federal education bureaucracy.

For listeners, this means significant shifts ahead. The Department of Labor will now manage federal K-12 competitions and technical assistance, which education analysts worry could disrupt career and technical education programs and create delays. State and local school leaders are bracing for disruption as these functions transfer between agencies. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's proposed budget would cut approximately 35 million dollars from K-12 education in each congressional district and zero out funding for programs serving English learners.

On the higher education front, the Department reached consensus on a new accountability framework that for the first time applies uniform standards across all postsecondary institutions. Schools failing to meet earnings thresholds for two out of three years will lose access to federal student loans.

The Department also announced it's delaying involuntary collections on student loans amid ongoing repayment system improvements.

What's next to watch. State and local leaders need to understand these new administrative structures before spring budget cycles. Education advocates and civil rights organizations are monitoring how these transitions affect vulnerable student populations, particularly English learners and students with disabilities.

For more detailed information, listeners can visit ed dot gov where the Department regularly updates these policy developments.

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Welcome to this week's education policy roundup. The Department of Education is making major moves that could reshape how American students prepare for their careers and futures.

The biggest headline this week is the deepening partnership between Education and the Department of Labor. Beginning January twentieth, staff from the Education Department's Higher Education Programs division are being detailed to work directly at Labor. According to Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education David Barker, this historic partnership ensures students pursuing higher education will pursue programs aligned with their career goals and actual workforce needs. It's part of a larger restructuring announced in November with six new interagency agreements involving Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State departments.

Here's what this means in practical terms. The Labor Department is now taking on greater responsibility for administering federal education programs, managing grant competitions, and providing technical assistance. This includes programs like Title One, which supports high-poverty schools, and career and technical education. For students, the idea is clearer pathways from classroom to job. For schools and states, it means dealing with a new administrative structure that consolidates education functions across multiple federal agencies rather than having them all in one department.

The Department also just wrapped its final regulatory rulemaking sessions this week, reaching consensus on a historic accountability framework for higher education. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent emphasized this creates uniform standards for the first time in decades, holding all postsecondary institutions accountable for student outcomes. The new framework uses earnings thresholds to determine program viability. Institutions that don't meet these standards for two out of three years will lose access to direct loan programs and potentially federal Pell Grant eligibility.

These changes stem from President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts Act signed in July, which simplified federal student loan repayment and created the first-ever Workforce Pell Grant program. Education Secretary Linda McMahon frames this as breaking up federal education bureaucracy and returning control to states. Critics, however, worry these reorganizations could create delays and confusion during implementation.

The timeline matters here. These interagency agreements are moving forward rapidly with most implementations already underway or launching within weeks. If you're a student, parent, school administrator, or educator affected by these changes, stay connected to your state education department and your institution's financial aid office for specific updates on how this reshuffling impacts you directly.

For deeper analysis and ongoing coverage of these developments, visit the Department of Education's website or your state education agency. Thank you for tuning in to this week's education policy briefing. Be sure to subscribe for updates as these major reforms continue to unfold. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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