ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) redirected mandatory funding from Minority Serving Institution (MSI) grant programs to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) voted to offer no official recommendation to ED regarding the renewal of the American Bar Association (ABA) Accreditation Council’s Federal recognition as an accreditor of law schools. NACIQI also voted to recommend suspending accreditation recognition for 12 months for the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation as well as the renewal of accreditation recognition for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

ED launched the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2027-28 award year.

ED approved a set of flexibilities for the State of Mississippi related to State level funding under certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs and other funding limitations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the White House that 100,000 American students would be invited to China for academic opportunities over the next five years.

ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced the transition to a new servicer for the Federal Perkins Loan Program.

CONGRESS

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a markup of S.4428, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026. Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) withdrew the bill from consideration before a final vote was taken.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report titled “K-12 Education: Actions to Improve Oversight of Key Federal Programs and Address High Chronic Absenteeism.”