Students Working for Communities Act

HR 9829, the Students Working for Communities Act, amends the Higher Education Act to increase funding flexibility for community service work-study programs. It reserves 1% of annual work-study funds (starting at $1.3 billion) to provide technical assistance grants to organizations helping colleges implement community service programs, with a focus on supporting historically underserved students like first-generation and students of color. The bill also adjusts the percentage of funds schools can use for community service jobs, raising the cap from 7% to 24% as total annual funding increases from $1.3 billion to $2.55 billion or more. This directly affects colleges receiving federal work-study funds, nonprofit partners, and students participating in community service roles. The changes aim to expand access to community-focused work-study opportunities through concrete funding adjustments.