April 23, 2026

Leading the News this Week

Congratulations, you did it! This week, a record number of Republican and Democratic U.S. Senators signed on to support full funding of the Pell Grant Program. This didn’t happen by accident. Your meetings and emails at the National Legislative Summit and afterward made the difference!

Read on to learn more.

News in Higher Education

Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Declaring April Community College Month

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed S.Res 686, A resolution recognizing the significance of Community College Month in April. This resolution signals the Senate's recognition that nationwide, more than 1,000 community colleges are consistently punching above their weight and generating economic success for their communities through education and workforce development. Recently, the Departments of Education and Labor jointly proclaimed April as Community College Month. Ask your U.S. House Representatives to support this resolution today.    

**Click here for a sample email to your House members and Senators.** 

Record-Breaking U.S. Senate Support for the Pell Grant 

Mirroring their House colleagues, U.S. Senators broke the record for the number of bipartisan supporters signing on to group letters, which express support for Pell Grant funding. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) led a bipartisan letter urging Senate appropriators “that the federal Pell Grant program be provided with enough funding to continue its mission serving students, especially as Workforce Pell implementation draws near." 

Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led another letter with 43 Democrats urging that to move toward doubling the maximum award.

View ACCT's statement here.

Please thank the following Seantors for their support:

Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James E. Risch (R-ID), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), James Lankford (R-OK).

House Education and Workforce Committee Passed Workforce Development Bill

On Tuesday, April 21st, with only Republican support, the House Education and Workforce Committee marked up and passed H.R. 8210, A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, out of committee. This bill, which aims to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), would: 

• Provide long-term authorization for the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCCTG) program at current levels of $65 million per year. 
•  Allow providers of apprenticeships and Workforce Pell programs to automatically be included on the eligible training services providers list.
• Permanently move Adult Education to the U.S. Department of Labor. 
• Created the Make America Skilled Again block grant, which would let states apply to consolidate their existing Adult, Youth, and Dislocated Worker funding streams into one grant.

Republican committee Chairman Tim Walberg (MI-05) said, "The American workforce is at a turning point. I thank my Republican colleagues for supporting this effort to deliver results for workers and job creators." Meanwhile, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) commented that this bill is an effort to dismantle the Department of Education. "It was my hope that we could [get] back together and take that bipartisan foundation to pass this important bill for the American people," said Ranking Member Scott.

While this bill has cleared a major phase by being passed out of committee, there are still many steps it must undergo before becoming law, one being passage in the Senate.   

Here is a fact sheet outlining the top provisions of interest to community colleges.

New Federal Plan Could Change How Colleges Are Evaluated

The U.S. Department of Education has proposed the final rule that would evaluate college programs based on the earnings of their graduates, a major shift toward outcomes-based accountability. 

If finalized, programs whose graduates earn less than comparable workers with only a high school education could lose access to federal student loans. These accountability rules are especially significant for community colleges, where many programs are closely tied to workforce outcomes. 

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.

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. Register Today!

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.

• April 28, 1 PM ET Webinar: Preparing for Workforce Pell - What Community College Leaders Need to Know Now
• 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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