ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) published final regulations eliminating disparate-impact liability provisions from regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

ED announced the elimination of the Methods of Administrations (MOA) program from the regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

ED granted certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funding flexibilities for the State of South Dakota. ED also approved the State of South Dakota for Ed-Flex authority.

CONGRESS

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution for fiscal year 2027 by a 220-205 vote, which would extend government funding and operations through December 4. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SC) remarked that the Senate will vote on a short-term continuing resolution before the August recess.

The House Education and Workforce Committee marked up H.R. 8781, the Title IX Clarification Act of 2026; H.R. 4986, the Parents Opt-in Protection Act; H.R. 8747, the K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026; H.R. 8183, the Modernizing Access to Talents, Credentials, and Hiring (MATCH) Act of 2026; and H.R. 9723, the Fit Future Act. H.R. 8781, H.R. 4986 and H.R. 8747 passed by an 18 to 15 vote. H.R. 8183 and H.R. 9723 passed by a unanimous vote. The bills can now proceed to the House floor for consideration.

COURTS

A Federal judge ruled that Federal officials cannot revoke existing grants based on new government political priorities.

A Federal appeals court denied ED’s request to delay the deadline for deciding thousands of student borrower defense cases under the Sweet v. McMahon settlement.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans to provide clients with a summary of the following events next week:

July 29: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee Hearing titled “The Impact of AI on the Workforce.”

July 30: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Full Committee Markup of “S. ____, S. 5046, S. 2511, S. 3010, S. 3589, S. 4097, S. 4689, S. 3333, S. 4965 and S. 3097.” These bills had originally been scheduled to be considered on July 29. The Committee will also consider the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor. This nomination had originally been scheduled to be considered on July 23.