May 14, 2026

Leading the News this Week

ACCT has officially joined a coalition of higher education organizations in signing a Student Aid Alliance letter to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request to Congress. The letter urges continued federal investment in student aid programs that support college access, affordability, and student success nationwide.

News in Higher Education

FAFSA Completion Reaches Record High as Pell Costs Rise

The high school class of 2026 has reached the highest FAFSA completion rate on record, signaling a major turnaround following the rocky rollout of the redesigned “Better FAFSA” process. According to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), 54.7% of seniors nationwide had completed the FAFSA as of May 1, surpassing the previous national record months ahead of schedule. Advocates and higher education leaders say the increase reflects the success of the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act Congress passed and President Trump signed in 2020.

Policymakers are also grappling with the financial implications of increased aid participation and expanded Pell Grant eligibility. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week released a report confirming that the new law significantly increased the number of students eligible for Pell Grants, and eligible for the maximum grant award. The rising demand for Pell Grants demonstrates that FAFSA simplification and aid expansion policies are working as intended, but Congress will now need to sustain funding levels to meet growing student need and ensure long-term program stability.

Grant Opportunities Open for Community Colleges

This week the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released new federal grant opportunities for institutions serving migrant and underserved student populations. The Department of Education has opened competitions for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), both of which provide academic and support services to migrant and seasonal farmworker students pursuing postsecondary education. The deadline to submit an application for HEP and CAMP is June 12, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.

In addition, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a new AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot grant opportunity aimed at strengthening workforce development and artificial intelligence training initiatives. Higher education advocates note these programs could provide important funding opportunities for community colleges seeking to expand student support services and workforce training programs. The deadline to submit an application is July 10, 2026, 4:59 PM ET via the EDGE submission portal. 

Community College Groups Urge $85 Million for National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program

ACCT and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) are urging congressional appropriators to provide $85 million for the NSF ATE program in fiscal year 2027. In a May 12, 2026 letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, our organizations described ATE as a cornerstone of NSF’s support for community colleges and a key driver of technician training for advanced technology fields.

The letter highlights the program’s role in strengthening STEM education and workforce development through partnerships between community colleges, industry, and government. Since 1993, ATE has invested approximately $1.6 billion in more than 1,800 projects nationwide, supporting training in fields such as advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, biotechnology, engineering technologies, and artificial intelligence, including initiatives at Columbus State Community College and Miami Dade College.

U.S. Departments of Education and Labor Announce Expansion of Combined Workforce State Plans

The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor announced a major expansion in the number of states submitting combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plans, rising from nine states in 2024 to 21 states in 2026. The agencies described the increase as a milestone in their Workforce Development Partnership aimed at improving alignment between education, workforce development, and employer needs.

The combined plans integrate WIOA with career and technical education programs authorized under the Perkins Act, with federal officials highlighting efforts to reduce administrative burdens, streamline planning, and strengthen alignment between training programs and in-demand jobs.

ACCT President and CEO Highlights Leadership Pressures and Shifting Role of Community Colleges 

In a recent episode of In The Margins (May 7, 2026), Jee Hang Lee, ACCT's President and CEO, discussed the growing pressures facing community colleges, including funding instability, political complexity, and increasing demands to demonstrate clear economic value for students. He emphasized that institutions are being pushed to more directly connect programs to labor market outcomes, with greater attention to earnings potential and workforce alignment in a post-pandemic higher education landscape.

President Lee also highlighted how these pressures are reshaping leadership and institutional strategy, noting the importance of stackable credentials, long-term planning, and stronger governing boards. He described today’s college presidents as operating not only as academic leaders, but also as fundraisers, advocates, and crisis managers, while underscoring that community colleges remain a critical “first and last door” to higher education for many students.

Grant Opportunities

Please review the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education's Community College webpage for other grants community colleges are eligible for. These below are the top highlights:

TRIO Education Opportunity Centers Program (EOC)

DOL, on behalf of the Department of Education, announced the grant competition for the TRIO Education Opportunity Centers (EOC) program. This program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. The EOC program also guides participants on financial aid options, including basic financial planning skills, and assists in the application process. New this year: state agency applicants can earn 5 competitive preference points and larger awards. The program also focuses more this year on workforce development. Note that existing programs may still win up to 15 prior experience points if they have strong student outcomes. Community colleges may apply in partnership with a state agency and/or as individual applicants. The closing date for this grant opportunity is May 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Strengthening Community College Training Grants

In this 6th round, the objective of  the Strengthening Community College Training Grant (SCCTG) competition is to fund community colleges aiming to build "program and system capacity for implementing and scaling access to short-term training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants—i.e., promoting industry-driven strategies, worker mobility, and integration with the larger state workforce system (e.g., Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners) for statewide impact." The closing date for this grant opportunity is May 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS)

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released this year’s competition for Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS). This year, ED expects to make 148 awards between $150,000 to $1,000,000 for four-year grants to colleges with at least $250,000 in Pell Grant funding to support child care for parenting low-income students. Here is an FAQ from ED.  Urban Institute is offering a free webinar titled Using Data to Strengthen Your CCAMPIS Application on May 14. Register here.  The deadline to apply is May 29, 2026.

High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)

New federal grant opportunities have opened for institutions serving migrant and underserved student populations. The Department of Education has opened competitions for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), both of which provide academic and support services to migrant and seasonal farmworker students pursuing postsecondary education. The deadline to submit an application for HEP and CAMP is June 12, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.

AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot grant opportunity

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a grant aimed at strengthening workforce development and artificial intelligence training initiatives. Higher education advocates note these programs could provide important funding opportunities for community colleges seeking to expand student support services and workforce training programs. The deadline to submit an application is July 10, 2026, 4:59 PM ET via the EDGE submission portal. 

• May 14, 3 PM ET WEBINAR: Using Data to Strengthen Your CCAMPIS Application
• May 14, 11:59 PM ET TRIO Education Opportunity Centers Program Grant Closes
• May 20, 11:59 PM ET. Strengthening Community College Training Grant Closes
• May 20, 11:59 PM ET.  Deadline to comment on ED's Accountability Framework
• May 29, 11:59 PM ET. Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Grant Closes
• June 5, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• June 12, 11:59 PM ET HEP Grant Application Closes
• June 12 ,11:59 PM ET CAMP Grant Application Closes
• July 10, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• July 10, 4:59 PM ET AI Upskill Accelerator Piol Program Application Closes
• August 7, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• September 4, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• October 2, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live 
• October 21-24 ACCT Leadership Congress
• November 6, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live 
• December 4, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live

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.

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Spread the Word.

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