Latest news with #DearColleagueLetter
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CCS board says district complies with racial discrimination law as feds threaten funding
Columbus City Schools has approved a resolution saying it was already compliant with racial discrimination laws in response to a U.S. Department of Education order requiring schools to certify they are compliant or risk federal funding. On April 3, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to all state departments of education, informing them that they must collect signed certification letters from their state's public school districts verifying compliance with its definition of racial discrimination laws. The due date for certifying compliance is April 18. In a brief meeting April 17, the board voted unanimously to send the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) a copy of the resolution stating that the Columbus City school board has "already affirmed its compliance" under Title VI and other nondiscrimination laws in grant applications and "enforces comprehensive nondiscrimination policies consistent with applicable law." In a statement she read during the meeting, Board Vice President Jennifer Adair said that district schools "have been and will remain in compliance" with the law. "Our district and community have always been committed to creating and sustaining supportive spaces for all of our students, staff, and families, and we remain committed to that work," Adair said in a prepared release. Title VI is a portion of federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, including public schools. The district said the certification asks districts to acknowledge that they will comply with Title VI and "the U.S. Department of Education's recently expanded interpretation of Title VI, as outlined in a recent 'Dear Colleague Letter.'" The consequence for "illegal DEI practices," Adair said, is districts losing federal funding. According to the ODEW, the CCS district received more than $255 million from the federal government last year, amounting to 22% of district revenue. "As Columbus City Schools is in compliance with federal law, the school district remains eligible for federal funding," Adair said in her statement. In February, the U.S. Department of Education said in a letter that schools must stop considering race in "decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life," The Dispatch previously reported. The letter's basis was built on the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which overturned the use of race-conscious admissions practices at colleges and universities. The district also said in its resolution that it "is unaware of any authority that the USDOE has to demand that it agree to an interpretation of a judicial decision or change the terms and conditions of the CCS Board's receipt of federal funds without formal administrative process." In her statement, Adair said that public school districts were asked to confirm that they are not engaging in any 'illegal DEI practices,' but added that "the term is undefined in the certification." The resolution says that the requested certification is vague and ambiguous where it states that 'certain DEI practices can violate federal law,' without defining 'diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.' Dayton City Schools voted April 17 not to sign the letter, The Dayton Daily News reported. The Connecticut State Department of Education said April 16 that it would not sign the certification. Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@ or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: CCS board to U.S.: We're already following anti-discrimination law
Int'l Business Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Education Department Urges Colleges to Aid Student Loan Borrowers as Collections Resume
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" to colleges and universities Monday, reinforcing their role in supporting student loan borrowers under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The guidance, released as involuntary collections on federal student loans resume after a pandemic-era pause, underscores institutions' responsibility to help graduates manage repayment amid rising college costs. The department emphasized that while borrowers are primarily responsible for repaying loans, colleges play a key role in improving repayment outcomes. Institutions are urged to ensure former students understand their obligations and can access accounts for resources. The department will publish nonrepayment rates by institution on the Federal Aid Data Center later this month, using College Scorecard data to promote accountability. "As we begin to help defaulted borrowers back into repayment, we must also fix a broken higher education finance system that has put upward pressure on tuition rates without ensuring that colleges and universities are delivering a high-value degree to students," said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. "For too long, insufficient transparency and accountability structures have allowed U.S. universities to saddle students with enormous debt loads without paying enough attention to whether their own graduates are truly prepared to succeed in the labor market." Under the Higher Education Act, colleges with high cohort default rates risk losing eligibility for federal aid, including Pell Grants and loans. The department called for proactive outreach to delinquent or defaulted borrowers before June 30, 2025, to address loans not in deferment or forbearance. The resumption of involuntary collections affects approximately 195,000 defaulted borrowers, who will receive 30-day notices from the Treasury Department starting Monday. These notices indicate federal benefits, including June checks, will be subject to the Treasury Offset Program. By summer, all 5.3 million defaulted borrowers will face administrative wage garnishment. The Federal Student Aid office is bolstering support with extended call center hours and increased capacity to guide borrowers toward income-driven repayment plans, loan rehabilitation, or affordable payments. Resources are available at Guaranty agencies are also authorized to resume collections on Federal Family Education Loan Program loans, with all actions adhering to legal requirements for notice and repayment opportunities. The department's guidance reflects a broader push for transparency in higher education, leveraging repayment data to ensure colleges prioritize student success and financial literacy. Institutions' engagement with borrowers will be critical to maintaining federal funding eligibility. Originally published on University Herald
New York Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Trump administration restarts involuntary collections on student loan debt
The Department of Education resumed collections on defaulted federal student loans on Monday and reminded colleges and universities of their 'shared responsibility' to ensure taxpayers aren't on the hook for unpaid debts. Collections had been on pause since March 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restart is expected to impact roughly 5.3 million borrowers currently in default on their federal student loans. 'As we begin to help defaulted borrowers back into repayment, we must also fix a broken higher education finance system that has put upward pressure on tuition rates without ensuring that colleges and universities are delivering a high-value degree to students,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. Advertisement 'For too long, insufficient transparency and accountability structures have allowed US universities to saddle students with enormous debt loads without paying enough attention to whether their own graduates are truly prepared to succeed in the labor market,' she added. 3 McMahon said she plans to publish the names of the schools with the highest student loan default rates. Getty Images On Monday, approximately 195,000 defaulted student loan borrowers received a 30-day notice from the Department of Treasury, informing them that their federal benefits will be subjected to the Treasury Offset Program, which collects debts by garnishing federal and state payments, such as federal tax refunds. Advertisement Offsets will begin in early June, according to the Education Department, and later this summer, all 5.3 million defaulted borrowers will receive a notice from Treasury that their earnings will be subject to administrative wage garnishment. On the same day collections resumed, McMahon issued a 'Dear Colleague Letter' to institutions of higher education reminding them of their obligation to support student loan borrowers under the Higher Education Act of 1965. 3 The Trump administration will start garnishing the wages of borrowers in default later this summer. Getty Images 'Although borrowers have the primary responsibility for repaying their student loans, institutions play a key role in the Department's ongoing efforts to improve loan repayment outcomes, especially as the cost of college set solely by institutions has continued to skyrocket,' McMahon wrote. Advertisement The education secretary asked universities to 'refocus and expand' efforts at advising and counseling students on borrowing money from the federal government and to provide 'clear and accurate information about repayment to borrowers through entrance and exit counseling.' McMahon noted that under the Higher Education Act, schools are required to keep default rates 'low' and warned that schools could 'lose eligibility for federal student assistance' if defaults exceed 40% in a single year or 30% for three straight years. '[W]e strongly urge all institutions to begin proactive and sustained outreach to former students who are delinquent or in default on their loans to ensure that such institutions will not face high [default rates] next year and lose access to federal student aid,' McMahon wrote. 3 The Trump administration warned colleges and universities Monday that if too many of their graduates are in default, they could be cut off from access to federal financial aid for students. Getty Images Advertisement The Trump administration also warned colleges that the Education Department will soon begin publishing loan non-payment rates broken down by university. 'The Department is committed to overseeing the federal student loan programs with fairness and integrity for students, institutions, and taxpayers,' McMahon wrote. 'To that end, the Department believes that greater transparency is needed regarding institutional success in counseling borrowers and helping them get into good standing on their loans.' She indicated that the data will be made public later this month.
Int'l Business Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
U.S. Department of Education Eases Accreditation Switching for Colleges, Aims to Boost Competition
The U.S. Department of Education announced a significant policy shift on May 1, 2025, designed to make it easier for colleges and universities to switch accrediting agencies. This move, detailed in a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), aligns with President Donald Trump's Executive Order, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education , which seeks to promote innovation and competition in higher education by reducing bureaucratic barriers. The new guidance revokes policies from the Biden administration that required a detailed review process for institutions seeking to change accreditors. According to the Department, the updated process adheres strictly to the Higher Education Act (HEA) and existing regulations, which mandate that institutions provide materials related to prior accreditation and demonstrate "reasonable cause" for switching. The DCL clarifies: "the law and regulation describe the requirements regarding what constitutes reasonable cause for changing an accrediting agency. It is not the Department's prerogative to infer any other meanings from the basic requirements or contrive a multi-step investigation." This streamlined approach aims to eliminate unnecessary obstacles, allowing institutions to select accreditors that better align with their mission and goals. "We must foster a competitive marketplace both amongst accreditors and colleges and universities in order to lower college costs and refocus postsecondary education on improving academic and workforce outcomes for students and families," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. The policy change is part of a broader effort to reform the accreditation system, which plays a critical role in determining eligibility for over $100 billion in federal student loans and Pell Grants annually. The Department emphasized that it will no longer "micromanage" an institution's choice of accreditor, giving colleges greater flexibility to pursue innovative educational models. However, the announcement also noted a temporary pause, effective October 29, 2024, on accepting and reviewing applications from new accrediting agencies. This decision was made due to a high volume of existing accreditors under review, suggesting a cautious approach to expanding the pool of accreditors while prioritizing the new switching process. The initiative has sparked discussion in higher education circles. Proponents argue it will empower institutions to seek accreditors that support their unique objectives, potentially driving down costs and enhancing program quality. Critics, however, express concern that loosening oversight could complicate accountability, particularly as accreditation remains a key gatekeeper for federal funding. As colleges navigate this new landscape, the Department's actions signal a commitment to reducing regulatory burdens and encouraging a more dynamic higher education ecosystem. Originally published on University Herald
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Education Department lifts restrictions on colleges seeking to change accreditors
May 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that it will allow universities to more easily change accreditors. The Education Department published a Dear Colleague Letter that informs colleges they won't have to go through "a lengthy process before changing an accreditor" by revoking guidance previously issued by the Biden administration. "We must foster a competitive marketplace both amongst accreditors and colleges and universities in order to lower college costs and refocus postsecondary education on improving academic and workforce outcomes for students and families," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. The Education Department's actions revoked policies issued in a pair of Dear Colleague Letters by the previous administration that created a process that analyzed universites' decisions to switch accreditors. The new guidance stated that colleges and universities can switch to a new accreditor that "better aligns with a religious mission," if there is a shift in the type of economic programs offered, if a change is required by state law, or if it wants to leave an accreditor for standards it imposes on the institution such as adopting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices. "It is not the department's prerogative to infer any other meanings from the basic requirements or contrive a multi-step investigation," the Education Department's letter stated. "This guidance re-establishes a simple process that will remove unneccessary requirements and barriers to institutional innovation." Colleges and universities must undergo accreditation to receive federal student aid, with an accreditor that takes everything a school does under consideration to make an accreditation determination. McMahon said the change came in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April which said that a group of higher education accreditors "are the gatekeepers that decide which colleges and universities American students can spend the more than $100 billion in Federal student loans and Pell Grants dispersed each year," and that the accreditors are to govern which institutions offer a worthy education "and therefore merit accreditation." "President Trump's executive order and our actions today will ensure this department no longer stands as a gatekeeper to block aspiring innovators from becoming new accreditors nor will this department unnecessarily micromanage an institution's choice of accreditor," she said. The order alleged that "accreditors have remained improperly focused on compelling adoption of discriminatory ideology," and utilize "unlawfully discriminatory practices" related to DEI-based standards of accreditation. The Education Department's Tuesday letter also moratorium set during the Biden administration on the acceptance and review of applications for the establishment of potential new accreditors.
