OFFICES


OPE: Office of Postsecondary Education
   Current Section  Policy Initiatives
Office of Postsecondary Education - Policy Initiatives

| Policy Initiatives | Data Collection & Reporting |
| Library: Legislation, Regulations, Etc. |

The Office of Postsecondary Education formulates federal postsecondary education policy including policy relating to the federal student financial assistance programs. OPE also collects and disseminates student financial assistance program data as well as data in several key areas relating to postsecondary education.

Policy Initiatives

Competitive Loan Auction Pilot Program for PLUS loans
Please note that the loan auction scheduled for April 15, 2009 has been cancelled.

On August 14, 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act was signed into law. This law reauthorizes and extends the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The HEA provides the authorizing legislation for most of the programs administered by OPE, as well as for the Federal Student Aid Programs.

The HEOA requires that the Secretary consult with federal agency heads in order to receive recommendations regarding areas of national need for expertise in foreign languages and world regions. The links below provide the areas of national need identified by the Secretary, consisting of the seventy-eight priority languages that are less commonly taught and the world regions.

The Department has published a Dear Colleague Letter which provides a summary of each provision of the HEOA. However, affected parties are responsible for taking the steps necessary to comply by the effective dates established by the HEOA. The provisions of the HEOA are effective upon enactment unless otherwise noted in the law. Potentially affected parties should review the legislation immediately to determine the proper measures they must take to comply.

On December 31, 2008, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to establish five negotiated rulemaking committees to prepare proposed regulations under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. This notice also solicits nominations for negotiators. See Notice Of Establishment of Negotiated Rulemaking Committees.

On September 8, 2008, the Department published in the Federal Register a Notice announcing its intention to establish negotiated rulemaking committees to implement certain parts of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The Notice also announced six public meetings where interested parties may suggest issues that should be considered for action by the negotiating committees.

Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans - The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that every eligible student and his or her parents are able to obtain the federal student loans they need to meet educational expenses.

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2007-08 - Information on the 2007-08 negotiated rulemaking activities for higher education.

The Final Rule for the TEACH Grant Program is effective July 1, 2008. This rule was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2008. On June 30, 2008, a correction notice was published in the the Federal Register.

Title IV Loan Provisions in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.
Final Regulations were published in the Federal Register Notice dated October 23, 2008.

Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) - Recognized State Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study:

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) Programs:

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2006-07 - Information on the 2006-07 negotiated rulemaking activities for higher education.

Final Rules for loans issues, general provisions, and ACG/National SMART Grants have been published in the Federal Register.

Public Hearings for Negotiated Rulemaking for Programs Authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act: The Department held a series of four regional hearings beginning September 19, 2006 to solicit issues that should be considered for action by the negotiating committees.

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News and Announcements - News, Congressional testimony, and other information from the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

Dear Partner (Colleague) Letters

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Data Collection and Reporting

OPE collects and reports on data in several areas relating to postsecondary education:

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Library: Legislation, Regulations, Etc.

Links to the authorizing legislation for OPE programs, program regulations, reports, and other relevant policy information.

Other Policy Resources

Includes additional resources from the U.S. Department of Education, other federal agencies, and non-federal sources.

Federal Resources

Education Agencies and Associations

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006

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Last Modified: 04/21/2009