October 15,  2026

Publisher's Note: The Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Update will go on hiatus next week during the ACCT Leadership Congress. The ACCT team looks forward to seeing you in Chicago.

Leading the News this Week

ACCT Leadership Congress Next Week - Important Meetings

ACCT’s annual conference is approaching! Make sure to join us on Thursday, October 22, where Amanda Fuchs Miller (former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education) will be leading a session – Navigating the Changing Federal Funding Landscape: Strategies for Community Colleges to Prepare and Respond. The session will take place in Grand Hall J, Ballroom level, East Tower from 9:15-10:15 AM.

Also on October 22, ACCT’s Carrie Warrick-Smith and Jonathan Elkin will be leading Latest Action In Washington (LAW) – Live and in Person! A Closer Look at Congressional and Regulatory Actions. This session will take place at the Michigan IABC, Concourse Level, East Tower at 10:30 AM.

Read on for more top federal news affecting community colleges.

News in Higher Education

Did Your Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program End? Take action now with Congress!

On September 30, 2026, hundreds of colleges saw the end of their longtime CCAMPIS grants, and now thousands of low-income, parenting students are without child care.

In this year's CCAMPIS program, the U.S. Department of Education initially planned to make 148 awards in the FY26 competition. Secretary McMahon announced there were nearly 300 applicants, nearly double the applicants as last cycle.

79 applicants earned a perfect score of 100.0. However, ED only made 40 new awards.

This year, ED chose to front-load all four years of funding using FY26 funding, thus reaching far fewer grantees. Normally, ED provides one year of funding at a time, reaching many more grantees.

**TAKE ACTION NOW! Contact Your Members of Congress to Urge More CCAMPIS Awards.**

ACCT has developed an email template for contacting members of Congress to encourage support for the CCAMPIS program. The message asks that the final bipartisan FY27 spending bill this year include language to continue funding down the FY26 competition slate in score order, while saving some funding for a new FY27 competition. As always, please coordinate any outreach with your college's leadership, and CC PublicPolicy@acct.org.

Senate Democrats Speak Out Against ED Grant Frontloading 

Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee ranking member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) claimed the Department of Education’s (ED) changes to the administration of grant funding “[defied] congressional intent” in a letter sent to the department on Tuesday, October 13.

Several ED grant programs “frontloaded” awards for FY26, providing several years of funding upfront, but issuing fewer total grants. Ellen Keast, a spokesperson for the agency, acknowledged that the change was a continuation of efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle the Department. Sens. Murray and Baldwin estimate over 1,000 more education grants could have been funded had the Department awarded funds normally. 

You can read the Senators' letter here.

U.S. Department of Education Announces Reporting Requirements for New College Accountability System

On October 8, the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office announced a new series of training sessions on Financial Value Transparency/Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) and Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) reporting requirements. FSA will hold two webinars on October 29 from 2-3 PM ET and November 10 from 2-3 PM ET, along with a session at the December 2026 FSA Training Conference.

These sessions are free, virtual, and open to all institutions of higher education. FSA had previously determined that 1,700 institutions did not meet the FVT/GE and/or STATS reporting requirements for one or more of the 2024, 2025, or 2026 cycles. The FVT/GE and STATS data reporting deadline is January 15, 2027.

To read FSA's Dear Colleague letter for more information on FVT/GE & STATS reporting, as well as the upcoming training sessions, click here.

DHS proposes $70,000 fee for international students to work in the U.S

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed imposing a $70,000 fine on international students seeking to work in the United States. This new rule would require colleges to pay a fee for each international student who intends to participate in the Optional Practice Training (OPT) program, which provides students the opportunity to work in jobs related to their field of study.

Schools would be required to pay the $70,000 fee for each new student who registers, along with an additional $30,000 fee for each renewal. This proposed rule comes amidst wider efforts by the Trump Administration to crack down on immigration and international students, and has drawn backlash from education groups.

You can read more ​​​​​​here.

Intern Blog: The Importance of Mentorship and Transfer Partnerships

Check out a new blog post from ACCT's Fall 2026 Public Policy intern Rakshithaa Jaiganesh! She discusses the benefits of comprehensive partnerships between 2- and 4-year institutions and the role mentorship has played in her journey from community college to UC San Diego and now to DC.

Snapshots

1. The end of SAVE: Implications for student loan payments (JP Morgan Chase). 

2. How HSIs Can Move Forward Following Funding Cuts (Inside Higher Ed). 

This Fall: Invite Your Members of Congress to Campus!

ACCT's Toolkit to Host Congressional Visits

During this year’s long congressional state work periods in September and October, congressional lawmakers return to their home states and districts to engage with their constituents and to pitch the many accomplishments they have made throughout the congressional session. Community college leaders have an optimal opportunity to establish, strengthen, or renew relationships with the lawmakers that represent their campuses and advocate for community college legislative priorities.

Take a look at ACCT’s new Toolkit on How to Host Your Member of Congress, which offers strategies to strengthen relationships with congressional lawmakers. On ACCT Now, read the blog, Community College Advocacy Continues All Year Round: Invite Your Member of Congress to Meet Back Home!

Remember -- you can use this time to:

• Invite your Member of Congress to visit your community college.
• Meet your Member of Congress at the congressional district office.
• Attend a congressional town hall, parade, BBQ, or other event that features your Member of Congress.
• Host a nonpartisan candidate forum, town hall, or tour with your Member of Congress or candidates seeking election for that congressional seat. If you invite a candidate that is not yet in office, you must invite all candidates for that seat and provide equal time, without endorsement.
• Invite your Member of Congress to speak at a program graduation or annual commencement.

Please contact the ACCT Government Relations team with information and pictures of your visit: publicpolicy@acct.org. We would like to uplift your member of Congress’s engagement with your community college to inspire others.

Grant Opportunities

Please view ACCT's new resource highlighting top competitive grant opportunities for community colleges. These below are the top highlights:

Department of Energy Annual Recurring University Training and Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is accepting proposals for its Annual Recurring University Training and Research Program. This Research and Development grant, in collaboration with the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO), is intended to expand the research capabilities of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); to support early research at U.S. universities and postsecondary institutions; to increase research opportunities for students from marginalized communities; and to ensure that students are equipped with cutting-edge and translatable skillsets that allow them to succeed in the workforce. DOE anticipates 15 awards that are capped at a $750,000 maximum over a three-year period; all applicants must ensure that the Principal Investigator on their application is a professor at their institution, and that at least one student will receive compensation for research performed. All U.S. private and public institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. The deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps

The Department of Interior (DOI) is accepting proposals for its Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps. The Headquarters Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices have collaborated with Qualified Youth Corps, as authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC), to accomplish natural and cultural resource-focused projects for numerous years. This program’s projects provide opportunities to gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management. DOI anticipates about 8 awards ranging from $30,000 to $220,000 over three years or less. Cost sharing is required; applicants must demonstrate a 25 percent. The application deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026.  Learn more and apply here.

Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting proposals for its Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program. This grant aims to facilitate multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded initiatives and projects. The grant is intended to address regional and/or national specialty crop issues, including, but not limited to: food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crops-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. USDA anticipates about 20 awards ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000. Cost sharing is required, and applicants must demonstrate 25%. The application deadline is Friday, December 4, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

Collections Stewardship

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Collections & Infrastructure is currently accepting proposals for the Collections Stewardship, a program that aims to advance the preservation and availability of physical and digital collections crucial for research, education, and public engagement in the humanities. Projects may include conservations and preservation, digitization and description, enhancement of existing digital resources, and preservation services & education training. All public and private institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. NEH anticipates around 50 awards ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. Awards are available in three tiers: tier 1 consists of planning projects that range from $50,000 to $100,000; tier 2 consists of individual implementation projects ranging from $100,001 to $350,000; and tier 3 consists of implementation projects involving more than one organization ranging from $350,001 to $500,000. The application deadline is Tuesday, December 15, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

• October 16 - Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps Deadline
• October 16 - Annual Recurring University Training and Research Deadline
• October 21-24 -  ACCT Leadership Congress
• October 29, 2-3 PM ET -- FSA FVT/GE, STATS Webinar #1
• November 4, 11:59 PM ET - NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs
• November 6, 1-2 PM ET -  ACCT LAW Live 
• November 10, 2-3 PM ET -- FSA FVT/GE, STATS Webinar #2
• December 4, 1-2 PM ET- -  ACCT LAW Live
• December 4 - Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program
• December 15 - Collections Stewardship

Outreach Efforts

Is your institution meeting or hosting an event with federal elected officials?

We created a Congressional Contact Form that will help us track outreach efforts of community college leaders across our membership. By filling out the form, you are better informing ACCT's advocacy efforts and our advocacy team is able to continue those conversations with congressional staff in DC. 

ACCT NOW is the go-to resource for issues affecting community colleges. Our new website features original reporting and research, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates. ACCT NOW also includes articles, reports, and research from outside sources that benefit the ACCT community. Read the Latest Articles on ACCT NOW:

Would you Like a Federal Update Session for Your Team?

Both this new presidential administration and new Congress have brought with them a flurry of developments in the federal landscape that can make keeping up a monumental task. ACCT's Government Relations team is here to help by offering a 45-minute to an-hour federal update session to community college leadership teams who are ACCT members. To request a session, fill out this form and please email publicpolicy@acct.org with any questions.

Have a Question?

Contact us with any questions or concerns about public policy and ACCT's advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges and two-year college trustees. ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts are sent to interested ACCT members to keep you up to date on important legislative activities that impact community colleges.

If you no longer wish to receive ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For more information about ACCT's advocacy services, visit acct.org/advocacy

Spread the Word.

Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alert network. To join, simply register here. 

For more community college news from inside the beltway, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, or like us Facebook.