LAW Update: Advocacy Needed by Wed Apr 8 – Improve Workforce Pell Grant Rule for Community Colleges

April 2, 2026

Leading the News this Week

Thanks to your advocacy, the new Workforce Pell Grants will be available for low-income students in short-term programs at community colleges. This Wednesday, April 8 is the deadline to help make the new Workforce Pell Grant rules as effective as possible for community colleges. We have a draft comment you can easily use as a template to submit online.

Read on to learn more about how we can make Workforce Pell Grants work better for community colleges

News in Higher Education

LAW is Going Live THIS FRIDAY

Please join ACCT's Government Relations Team Friday, April 3rd, at 1:00 PM ET. During this one-hour webinar, attendees will learn about the latest developments coming out of the White House and its agencies, Congress, and the federal courts. Specifically, we will discuss the latest on Pell Grant funding, Workforce Pell Grants, and responding to President Trump’s budget request, which Washington insiders are predicting for tomorrow, April 3rd. Register here.

Action Needed! Join ACCT in a Quick Comment to Make Workforce Pell Proposal Work Sooner and Better for Community Colleges

Comments on proposed regulations for Workforce Pell are due on April 8th. ACCT encourages community college leaders, staff, students, and supporters to submit comments on our top three concerns to make the program work sooner and better. Please follow your board's public comment policy and coordinate with the President's office as appropriate. We provided a template comment you can customize with your community college name and easily click to submit to ED.

**Click here to add your voice! Make Workforce Pell Work sooner and better for community college students!**

These comments reflect our desire that the Department of Education:

Implement Workforce Pell Grants ASAP because the law says a program must have “12 months in operation,” not longer;
Treat students who complete the short-term program and continue their education as a successful outcome, instead of penalizing them for low earnings; and
Clarify the role of the Secretaries of Education and Labor so colleges don’t have to go through burdensome red tape twice.

TRIO Education Opportunity Centers Program Grant Competition

In another joint grant competition, the Department of Labor (DOL), on behalf of the Department of Education, announced the TRIO Education Opportunity Centers (EOC) program competition. The EOC program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. This program also guides participants on financial aid options, including basic financial planning skills, and assists in the application process. The goal of the EOC program is to increase the number of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions.

Applications representing state educational agencies, state workforce boards, and state higher education agencies will receive a competitive preference and thus have the opportunity to earn additional points in their applications.

The closing date for this grant opportunity is May 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

More than 10 Million Students Have Completed FAFSA for 2026-27

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced it has processed more than 10 million Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs) for the 2026-27 cycle, a 487 percent increase from two years ago. ED's announcement also includes updates to the data for College Scorecard and the FAFSA form’s earnings indicator. Currently, ED is on track to meet its legal obligation of launching the 2027-2028 FAFSA form on October 1st.

Federal Student Loan Borrowers Must Transition from SAVE Plan to New Repayment Plan

ED announced that, based on a court settlement, the more than 7.5 million borrowers in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) must transition to a different income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. Options include the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and a new Tiered Standard Plan that will be available on July 1, 2026. Borrowers should look for an email from their student loan servicer with more details and next steps.

Stay Tuned: President's Budget Request Expected Tomorrow, April 3

Washington insiders have long been anticipating the release of the FY27 President's Budget Request. Traditionally, this document is expected in the first week of February, a deadline that many administrations are unable to meet. This year, it is predicated that the budget will be unveiled tomorrow.

Last year, President Trump's budget request called for the elimination of funding for key programs such as the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS), Adult Basic Education (ABE), and many others. The President's Budget is a request, which Congress will tweak in the annual appropriations process. For FY26, Congress rejected many of the Trump administration's proposed cuts in favor of level-funding most critical programs. For a breakdown on last year's Presidential Budget Request, take a look at these two articles from ACCT Now. In the meantime, stay tuned for updated analyses of the FY27 President's Budget Request.

Email Your Two U.S. Senators to Support Pell Grants and Key Funding for Community Colleges!

Thanks to your advocacy, last week, the U.S. House had a record number of both Republican and Democratic signers on letters supporting Pell Grant funding in the annual spending process for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). This will be critical, as the Pell Grant program is facing an expected $17 billion shortfall in FY27, and Congress must provide additional funding to maintain this critical grant for low-income students. See ACCT’s statement on Democrats and Republicans showing support for the Pell Grant in record numbers here.

Now, let's repeat the same results in the U.S. Senate!

**Click here to email your U.S. Senator**

Urge them to support Pell Grants, Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCCTG), Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

For more background, view ACCT's FY27 Appropriations Resources

April 21 is the Senate's funding request deadline for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Click here for a table of deadlines for submitting FY27 requests across the rest of the appropriations subcommittees. Community colleges may also consider advocating for earmarks in other bills for a wide variety of activities.

Here are useful tools to further assist in the appropriations process.

Grant Opportunities

Please review the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education's Community College webpage for new grants community colleges are eligible for.

DOL Aims to Award "Pay for Performance" Grant Pilot

At the start of the Trump administration, the Department of Labor (DOL) committed to reaching 1 million active apprenticeships. As part of the administration's agenda, DOL's Employment and Training Administration announced the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, which focuses on incentivizing the growth of the National Apprenticeship System in these select industries: Shipbuilding and Defense Industrial Base; Artificial Intelligence (AI), Semiconductor, and Nuclear Energy Infrastructure; Information Technology; Healthcare; Transportation; and Telecommunication. For more information, click here. The deadline for this grant is April 3, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.

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. 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. 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.

April 3, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
April 3, 11:59 PM ET DOL "Pay for Performance" Registered Apprenticeship Grant Due
April 8 Public Comment Period Closes for AHEAD (Workforce Pell)
April 14 FAFSA Form 2027-28 comment period closes
May 1, 1-2 PM ET LAW Live
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
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:

The Transformative Power of CCAMPIS at Johnson County Community College (KS)

Federal Funding for Community Colleges: What to Know As You Plan for FY26 Grants

Bipartisan Education and Labor Spending Bill Protects Nearly All Critical Community College Programs for FY26

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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