Washington Watch


Advocacy quick hits: ED issues new guidance on OPMs

The U.S. Education Department (ED) this week issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) reminding colleges and universities of their responsibilities in disclosing and accurately representing their partnerships with online program managers (OPMs). OPMs and other…


Washington Watch: State earnings thresholds set for GE

The U.S. Education Department (ED) published a December 31 Federal Register notice that specifies the “earnings threshold” by state that gainful employment (GE) program completers must meet or exceed on average in order for the…


Washington Watch: ED changes direction on some proposed rules

Just before the new year, the U.S. Education Department (ED) released final rules on program integrity and institutional quality that reflect the positions of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in key areas. In particular,…


Washington Watch: Education committees announce WIOA deal

Staffers for the House and Senate education committees have announced that months of negotiations have produced an agreement on legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Staff members for the House Committee…


Washington Watch: Court nixes overtime rule increases

In what will be a relief to many community college officials, a federal judge in the Eastern District Court of Texas on Friday ruled to strike down the Biden administration’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime final rule….




Washington Watch: Congress may move on WIOA this year

Congress will return to Washington on November 12 for its post-election “lame-duck” session. Several “must-dos” are on its agenda, including fiscal year 2025 funding and the National Defense Authorization Act, but the lame-duck session also…


Washington Watch: GAO details FAFSA missteps, mismanagement

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the watchdog for federal agencies, last week released two new reports on the troubled rollout of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and coordination and leadership shortcomings…