Washington Watch

Washington Watch: Update on new IPEDS survey requirements

The U.S. Education Department’s new IPEDS admissions survey will exclude most two-year colleges, but it’s unclear if community colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees would remain on the hook for new reporting requirements. The Education Department…


Washington Watch: Rulemaking panel in sync on loan changes

The U.S. Education Department (ED) on Thursday wrapped up its second and final negotiated-rulemaking meeting focused on student loan programs to address changes directed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Despite significant debate around…


AACC comments on proposed changes to ‘E-App’

In a letter this week to the U.S. Education Department (ED) on proposed changes to the application colleges use to participate in federal student aid programs (called the E-App), the American Association of Community Colleges…




Washington Watch: ED to nix funding for MSI grants

The U.S. Education Department (ED) on Wednesday announced that it will end discretionary funding to several Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) grant programs that provide substantial support to community colleges, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs),…


Washington Watch: Setting the table for upcoming neg-reg sessions

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) last week filed public comments on the sector’s priorities for implementing the education components of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) reconciliation legislation. AACC’s comments were part of…


House Republicans release key funding bill

The House Appropriations Committee leadership has released the text of the fiscal year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) appropriations bill. As expected, the bill makes deep cuts to education…


Washington Watch: ED details changes to FAFSA

The U.S. Education Department (ED) has released details on how it will implement changes to the federal student aid application made in the recently passed reconciliation legislation. ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid said on…