Latest news with #EducationDepartment
Black America Web
2 hours ago
- Business
- Black America Web
Student Loan Forgiveness Paused for IBR Borrowers
Source: Deepak Sethi / Getty Millions of student loan borrowers enrolled in a popular repayment plan are now facing uncertainty, as the U.S. Department of Education has temporarily halted loan forgiveness under its Income-Based Repayment (IBR) program. Income-driven repayment plans like IBR aim to ease financial pressure by capping monthly loan payments based on a borrower's income and family size. After 20 years of qualifying payments, borrowers become eligible for loan forgiveness. At the end of 2024, nearly 40% of the 33 million Americans repaying student loans were enrolled in one of the Education Department's four IDR plans, according to federal data. But legal challenges have disrupted all four plans. Three of them, the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan, Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) were previously blocked by court rulings. And now, the IBR plan has also been affected. As of this week, forgiveness for approximately 2 million borrowers enrolled in IBR has been paused. The Department of Education confirmed the pause Tuesday, citing ongoing court injunctions related to lawsuits against the Biden administration's SAVE plan. 'The Department has temporarily paused discharges for IBR borrowers in order to comply with ongoing court injunctions regarding the Biden Administration's illegal attempts at student loan forgiveness,' said Education Department deputy press secretary Ellen Keast in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. The lawsuits stem from the Biden administration's implementation of the SAVE plan — a sweeping repayment initiative designed to fix flaws in existing IDR programs. SAVE became highly popular, enrolling nearly 8 million borrowers by the end of 2024. Because the SAVE plan included provisions allowing borrowers to count forbearances and certain non-payments toward loan forgiveness, it also affected forgiveness eligibility in the IBR plan. As a result, the Education Department is now recalculating eligible payment counts and has paused all IBR loan discharges until the process is complete. The Education Department has not provided a specific timeline for when loan forgiveness under the IBR plan will resume. However, Keast said discharges will restart 'as soon as the Department is able to establish the correct payment count.' Are Other IDR Plans Affected? Yes. Forgiveness under the SAVE, ICR, and PAYE plans remains blocked by court decisions that questioned whether the Education Department had the legal authority to offer widespread forgiveness under those programs. However, the IBR plan, created under a different legal authority, is still considered valid, though it is now on pause due to the SAVE plan's entanglement. What Should Borrowers Do? Borrowers enrolled in IBR are encouraged to continue making their monthly payments. Even if their forgiveness is delayed, those who are already eligible will be refunded for any overpayments once discharges resume. 'For any borrower that makes a payment after the date of borrower eligibility, the Department will refund overpayments,' Keast said. Borrowers may also request forbearance through their loan servicer, though doing so may result in interest continuing to accrue on their remaining balance. Income-Based Repayment Forgiveness Delayed; What Borrowers Need to Know was originally published on
India Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Students threaten to quit over eggs in mid-day meals in Karnataka school near temple
Eighty students have threatened to leave a government school in Karnataka's Mandya district after eggs were cooked on the premises as part of the mid-day Education Department's decision to serve eggs at the school has drawn sharp opposition from villagers, who say the practice violates long-standing religious norms. With the school located next to the Veerabhadreshwara Swamy temple, villagers argue that cooking eggs in the vicinity goes against their traditions, which prohibit meat or eggs near the temple the school's 120 students, 80 have now opted out of receiving eggs. Parents have warned school officials that if eggs continue to be cooked on campus, they will withdraw their children. Several have already requested Transfer Certificates (TCs). 'We are requesting TC for our children because eggs are being cooked in the school premises, which goes against our religious beliefs,' said one of the parents. 'We had requested the school to provide bananas instead.'Parents also said they are not opposing the distribution of eggs as a policy, but only the method of cooking them in the school. They claim that for years, a mutual arrangement was followed where students who didn't eat eggs were given bananas or chikki, and the eggs were handed over to school staff to take home.'But suddenly, without involving us, the school resumed cooking eggs on the premises,' noted a Principal of the school has urged parents to reconsider, saying the school is only following government policy.'If even one student requests eggs, we are required to provide them. Please prioritise your children's education over eggs and bananas,' the principal in the middle, the Education Department is now trying to mediate. Mandya District In-charge Minister Cheluvaraya Swamy said, 'We have called for a meeting with the Education Department, school head, and parents. We will discuss the issue and sort it out.'- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Investigation into why top civil servant was replaced
An investigation is taking place into the circumstances in which the Department of Education's permanent secretary was replaced in November 2024. BBC News NI understands the investigation is being undertaken by a senior legal figure from Scotland. It was commissioned by the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady. A permanent secretary is the most senior non-political official in a government department, effectively the department's chief executive. Who is Mark Browne? Mark Browne held the role of permanent secretary for a number of years, including a period when the Stormont Executive had collapsed. In the absence of a functioning government at Stormont from February 2022 until January 2024, departments were run by senior civil servants. As permanent secretary for education, Mr Browne had to make a number of difficult decisions on cuts in the absence of a minister. But in November 2024 Education Minister Paul Givan informed the chairman of the Stormont's Education Committee, Alliance assembly member Nick Mathison, that a temporary permanent secretary was being put in place. The former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, subsequently became the acting permanent secretary at the Department of Education. Why was Mark Browne replaced? That is what members of Stormont's Education Committee have been trying to find out. According to correspondence seen by BBC News NI, the committee had a number of questions about the change at the top. In a letter to Givan on 10 January 2025, Mathison, as the committee chair, asked "why there is a vacancy." He said the committee also wanted to know "what difficulties may have arisen, what implications these may have and how they may be resolved." In his reply to the committee, the minister said moves at permanent secretary level were made by the head of the Civil Service (HOCS), a position currently held by Jayne Brady. But in a further letter to Givan in February, the committee sought "further clarification on senior staffing issues." "The committee is concerned about the adequacy of governance checks and balances," Mathison wrote. "The committee's letter of 10 January asked 'why there is a vacancy.'" "The committee considered that your reply of 21 January did not answer this question, and the committee agreed to ask you the question again." Givan responded to that letter on 25 March, in which he said he "noted" the concerns of the committee. He again said that the head of the Civil Service had "moved the permanent secretary." Members of the Education Committee subsequently wrote to Ms Brady, asking "what were the considerations which underpinned your move of the permanent secretary." But BBC News NI understands that Ms Brady, as head of the Civil Service, had by that stage appointed a senior Scottish legal figure to investigate the circumstances behind Mr Browne's replacement at the Department of Education. What has been the response from the Department of Education and Jayne Brady? When contacted by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Civil Service said: " We do not comment on internal confidential staffing matters." The Department of Education said it had nothing further to add to the response from the Civil Service. The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, told BBC News NI they were not able to comment at this time. But the MLA who chairs Stormont's Education Committee says they still have questions. Nick Mathison told BBC News NI "a number of concerns have been raised with me relating to the role of the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in recent months." "It was surprising to see an interim permanent secretary announced with no explanation," he said. "Seven months on, despite calls for clarity and an explanation from the Education Minister and Head of the Civil Service, we remain in the dark as to why the previous Permanent Secretary is no longer in post or when the position will be filled permanently." "The role is the second most senior in education in Northern Ireland and the sector is facing multiple critical challenges, including school budgets, Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and school maintenance." "It is vital clarity is given, so the public can have trust in the senior leadership structures across the sector." More on this story Holiday hunger cut the 'most difficult choice' Prison service chief moving to new NI role
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Mark Browne: Investigation into why top civil servant was replaced
An investigation is taking place into the circumstances in which the Department of Education's permanent secretary was replaced in November News NI understands the investigation is being undertaken by a senior legal figure from was commissioned by the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady.A permanent secretary is the most senior non-political official in a government department, effectively the department's chief executive. Who is Mark Browne? Mark Browne held the role of permanent secretary for a number of years, including a period when the Stormont Executive had the absence of a functioning government at Stormont from February 2022 until January 2024, departments were run by senior civil permanent secretary for education, Mr Browne had to make a number of difficult decisions on cuts in the absence of a in November 2024 Education Minister Paul Givan informed the chairman of the Stormont's Education Committee, Alliance assembly member Nick Mathison, that a temporary permanent secretary was being put in former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, subsequently became the acting permanent secretary at the Department of Education. Why was Mark Browne replaced? That is what members of Stormont's Education Committee have been trying to find to correspondence seen by BBC News NI, the committee had a number of questions about the change at the a letter to Givan on 10 January 2025, Mathison, as the committee chair, asked "why there is a vacancy."He said the committee also wanted to know "what difficulties may have arisen, what implications these may have and how they may be resolved."In his reply to the committee, the minister said moves at permanent secretary level were made by the head of the Civil Service (HOCS), a position currently held by Jayne in a further letter to Givan in February, the committee sought "further clarification on senior staffing issues.""The committee is concerned about the adequacy of governance checks and balances," Mathison wrote."The committee's letter of 10 January asked 'why there is a vacancy.'""The committee considered that your reply of 21 January did not answer this question, and the committee agreed to ask you the question again." Givan responded to that letter on 25 March, in which he said he "noted" the concerns of the again said that the head of the Civil Service had "moved the permanent secretary."Members of the Education Committee subsequently wrote to Ms Brady, asking "what were the considerations which underpinned your move of the permanent secretary."But BBC News NI understands that Ms Brady, as head of the Civil Service, had by that stage appointed a senior Scottish legal figure to investigate the circumstances behind Mr Browne's replacement at the Department of Education. What has been the response from the Department of Education and Jayne Brady? When contacted by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Civil Service said: " We do not comment on internal confidential staffing matters."The Department of Education said it had nothing further to add to the response from the Civil FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, told BBC News NI they were not able to comment at this time. But the MLA who chairs Stormont's Education Committee says they still have Mathison told BBC News NI "a number of concerns have been raised with me relating to the role of the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in recent months.""It was surprising to see an interim permanent secretary announced with no explanation," he said."Seven months on, despite calls for clarity and an explanation from the Education Minister and Head of the Civil Service, we remain in the dark as to why the previous Permanent Secretary is no longer in post or when the position will be filled permanently.""The role is the second most senior in education in Northern Ireland and the sector is facing multiple critical challenges, including school budgets, Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and school maintenance.""It is vital clarity is given, so the public can have trust in the senior leadership structures across the sector."
Washington Post
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Federal investigations target college aid to immigrants and minorities
The Education Department said Wednesday it has opened civil rights investigations into five universities for offering scholarships that targeted undocumented students and racial minorities, ramping up the Trump administration's fight against diversity and inclusion in higher education. The inquiry will examine complaints from the conservative Equal Protection Project that the schools engaged in discrimination by allegedly showing a preference for foreign-born students. The schools named in the complaint are the University of Louisville, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of Miami, the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. The University of Louisville said it is reviewing the claims, while the other universities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Most of the scholarships in question offer financial support for either undocumented students or those covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. Neither group is eligible to receive federal grants or loans to attend college, making institutional, state and private grants critical for their ability to access higher education. 'Neither the Trump Administration's America first policies nor the Civil Right Act of 1964's prohibition on national origin discrimination permit universities to deny our fellow citizens the opportunity to compete for scholarships because they were born in the United States,' Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. The investigations arrive four months after the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights opened similar probes into six universities accused of awarding scholarships exclusively to racial minorities. On Wednesday, the office said it is also investigating scholarships that show preference to minorities at the University of Louisville, the University of Nebraska Omaha and Western Michigan. Conservative activists and Republican state leaders have pushed colleges to abandon scholarships earmarked for underrepresented groups, arguing that the same principles underlying the Supreme Court's ban on colleges considering an applicant's race as a factor in admissions apply to financial aid. The Equal Protection Project, led by Cornell University clinical law professor William Jacobson, has been at the forefront of that movement by filing dozens of complaints against race-conscious scholarships with the Office for Civil Rights. The group has expanded its effort by taking a look at institutional aid provided to foreign-born students. 'Protecting equal access to education includes protecting the rights of American-born students,' Jacobson said in a statement. 'We are gratified that the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is acting on our complaints.' Undocumented students are under pressure as state and federal leaders strip away policies to support their community. Texas and Florida have ended in-state tuition for noncitizens who grew up in the states, while the Justice Department is suing Kentucky and Minnesota to force them to do the same. Earlier this month, the Education Department also cut off access to career, technical and adult education programs for undocumented students, ending a policy that had been in place since the Clinton era.
