commentary



Washington Watch: Negotiators agree to accreditation regulations 

The Education Department’s (ED) negotiated rulemaking committee on Thursday reached consensus on a regulatory package that will directly impact institutional practice. The draft rule substantially revises the specific requirements and procedures that accrediting agencies must…


Four-year colleges eye Workforce Pell

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday issued the final rule for Workforce Pell Grants, opening federal student aid to programs as short as eight weeks beginning July 1. What the “2026 Survey of College…



A GPS talent marketplace for opportunity

America doesn’t suffer from a shortage of pathways to opportunity. It suffers from a shortage of ways to help people navigate those pathways. Community colleges need to step up and play a central role in…


Washington Watch: ED releases final Workforce Pell regs

Culminating a months-long regulatory process, the U.S. Education Department on Monday published final regulations for the Workforce Pell Grant program, which will guide stakeholders as they implement the new eligibility that begins July 1.  The…



The data part of Workforce Pell

The Pell Grant remains the best way to help low-income students afford college, and it’s especially important for community college students eager to learn and earn. Every year, 30% of all Pell Grant recipients attend…


The tipping point

The urgency behind getting community and technical colleges involved is measurable and accelerating. The Learning Policy Institute in 2026 identified the teacher shortage problem in the United States: 45,582 unfilled positions nationwide 365,967 positions filled…