April 30, 2026

Leading the News this Week

As we are wrapping up Community College Month, we are also celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2026 from April 27th to May 2nd! Acting Secretary of Labor, Keith Sonderling, announced that “National Apprenticeship Week offers us all a chance to celebrate the vital role that Registered Apprenticeship plays in lifting up American workers by offering them marketable skills."

News in Higher Education

REMINDER: FRIDAY, May 1, 2026, 1-2pm ET – Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live: May's Edition Will Feature Education Grants Expert Amanda Fuchs Miller

The ACCT Government Relations Team invites you to join us for our monthly webinar, Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Live.

Register Today! Please share with your institution's grants officers.

Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Amanda Fuchs Miller, President of Seventh Street Strategies and an expert in higher education grant programs, will share insights on the current federal grant landscape for community colleges. Community college trustees and leaders overseeing federal grant applications are encouraged to attend. 

At 1:30 PM ET, the ACCT Government Relations Team will provide the latest updates taking place in the federal government as they pertain to the community college sector. 

The House Passes the Farm Bill

Today, the House passed the multiyear  Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), a.k.a. the “Farm Bill” update through 2031. This bill includes a new community college grant program, based on the bipartisan, ACCT-endorsed Community College Agriculture Advancement Act, led by Reps. Kelly (R-MS) and Carbajal (D-CA), and Sens. Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Fischer (R-NE). The legislation would:

• Provide competitive grants to community colleges (alone or in consortium), with priority for coordination with the local agriculture industry
• Allow funds to be used for agriculture industry job training, education, research, and outreach, including farm business management.
• Authorize “such sums as may be necessary” through 2031. (The Appropriations Committee would need to fund this each year.)

Now the Farm Bill is headed to the Senate.

Department of Education Releases Final Rule on Federal Student Loan Program

Today, the Department of Education released the final rule on the changes to the federal student loan program and student loan repayment programs stemming from H.R. 1, The One Big Beautiful Bill. In the public comment period before the release of this final rule, ACCT advocated for a broader list of “professional” programs to earn the new law’s higher graduate loan limits, such as nursing. We argued that for colleges to maintain accreditation, professors must have at least a master's degree. The new loan caps affecting high-cost and high-demand fields would limit those pursuing such a degree.

The final rule designates a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a graduate degree instead of a professional degree, thus subjecting this degree to a lower aggregate loan cap of $100,000 instead of $200,000, which professional degree seekers qualify for.

ACCT’s comments also requested that community college transfer students have an interim exemption from the previous higher Parent PLUS loan caps. Unfortunately, the final rule clarifies that when community college students transfer to a four-year institution, they will be considered entering a new program under the new lower Parent PLUS loan caps, whether or not they complete an associate’s degree before transferring.

The Senate Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on Trump’s 2027 Budget Request with Education Secretary Linda McMahon

On April 28th, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Other Related Agencies Committee questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon about Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and the implications it would have on cuts to existing programs like TRIO.  Senators ​​​​​​showed bipartisan support for TRIO and Pell Grants, which provide advancement opportunities for students.

In the hearing, Subcommittee Chair Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) both supported Pell Grant funding. Senator Jon Husted (R-OH) asked if "there was going to be enough money in the Pell Program to fund the new Workforce Pell plus the other things people are asking for?" Secretary McMahon assured the Department’s commitment to Workforce Pell and a $2.1M investment to examine the efficiency of TRIO, to potentially reform the program to support pathways beyond higher education. Senator Husted confirmed, "Our community colleges are excited about [Workforce Pell programs]." 

Senator Baldwin also argued against the transfer of Education grants to the Department of Labor (DOL), as DOL struggles with its existing portfolio. Secretary McMahon maintains her support for the shift, stating that there are "hiccups" in any change, but it will ultimately cut through red tape and bureaucracy, and further the goal of returning education to the states. 

No Cases Resolved by Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in 2025

In extreme cases, when a student is denied an education in response to their disability or is subjected to sexual harassment or discrimination, OCR serves as the place where that child or family can turn to for help.

In March 2025, Secretary McMahon fired around half of the OCR staff and closed 7 out of 12 regional offices. Later courts intervened to bring back the staff and reopen the offices to support students. However, the initial scaling down created challenges for recovery.

In 2025, OCR resolved zero cases of harassment or discrimination. The Government Accountability Office concluded this February that 90 percent of complaints were tossed out without review. The new budget proposal would lead to an additional 35 percent budget cut for FY 2027.

NEW FAFSA Fraud Detection Tool

This week, the Department of Education integrated a new fraud detection tool into FAFSA that evaluates applicants in real-time, using risk-based identity screening. The new technology is now being used for a one-time screening of previously submitted 2026-27 forms. It is estimated to save taxpayers over $1B during this year's FAFSA cycle. 

To stop identity theft and money going to deceased individuals, the Department is sharing real-time data with the Social Security Administration’s death file, saving $30M. They have also resumed automated post-screening of student aid records to prevent overpayments, saving taxpayers $10M, and have partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prevent undocumented immigrants, who are not eligible for federal student aid, from receiving federal student aid funds.

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 Talent Search Program Grant

Institutions of higher education, such as community colleges, non-profits, and – with new emphasis in the FY26 funding cycle, state governments -- leverage the Talent Search Program to assist K-12 students from a disadvantaged background pursue and succeed in postsecondary education and job training opportunities. 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 competition is May 1, 20226 11:59 PM ET.

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.  The deadline to apply is May 29, 2026.

• May 1, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live Featuring Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education Amanda Fuchs Miller
• May 1, 11:59 PM ET TRIO Talent Search Program Grant Closes
• 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
• July 10, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
• 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.

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. 

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