HR 486, the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act, authorizes $27.5 million to $55 million annually through 2029 to fund competitive grants for centers of excellence focused on financial literacy education for individuals aged 8-24. These centers, established by eligible institutions like schools, nonprofits, or financial organizations, must develop research-based programs covering budgeting, debt management, student loan guidance, and avoiding pitfalls like predatory lending. The bill specifically requires programs to address at-risk populations, include evidence-based teaching methods, and serve groups such as high school graduates, college students, young families, and military personnel. It mandates annual reporting to Congress on grant recipients and the populations they serve, with funding ending in 2029.
This bill requires colleges receiving federal student aid to provide clear information about pregnancy-related accommodations and resources to all students annually. It mandates institutions to send emails to enrolled students each academic year, include details in student handbooks and orientations, and display the information at health centers and on websites. The disclosure must cover campus/community resources for pregnant students, available accommodations, and how to file complaints under Title IX regarding pregnancy discrimination. The bill does not create new rights but ensures existing protections and resources are communicated to students. It directly affects all participating colleges and pregnant students enrolled in higher education programs.
The Jumpstart on College Act provides $250 million annually to support early college high schools and dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to earn college credits while still in high school. It funds partnerships between colleges and high schools to help low-income students and those from underrepresented groups complete postsecondary credentials within normal timeframes. The bill requires grantees to track student outcomes by demographic groups, use funds for program coordination and professional development, and ensure college credits earned are transferable. States receiving grants must develop statewide strategies to expand access to these programs and address achievement gaps. The legislation emphasizes program quality through established standards and requires annual reporting on student progress toward earning college credits and diplomas.
The PROSPECT Act creates federal grants to provide free, high-quality infant and toddler child care for student parents attending community colleges and minority-serving institutions. It authorizes four types of grants: planning grants to assess child care needs, access grants to provide direct child care (with a goal of serving 500,000 children), impact grants to expand community child care capacity, and pipeline grants to develop child care worker training programs. The access grants require child care centers to provide nontraditional hours, support for dual language learners, and ensure staff wages are comparable to elementary educators. The bill aims to reduce barriers to education completion for student parents, who are nearly twice as likely to leave college before graduating compared to students without children. The legislation includes detailed reporting requirements on student persistence rates, child care access, and demographic data to track the program's impact.
HR 4020 authorizes the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to partner with colleges and universities, allowing students in DODEA schools (which serve military-connected children, including those overseas) to take college courses while still in high school. The bill enables dual enrollment programs where students earn both high school and college credits, with the government covering associated costs through financial assistance. Key provisions require formal agreements between DODEA and higher education institutions, ensuring courses align with both high school graduation requirements and college degree pathways. This directly affects DODEA students in 150+ schools globally, providing early college access without requiring prior high school graduation.
This bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Higher Education Act to specifically address antisemitic harassment at colleges and universities receiving federal funding. It adds "religion" to protected categories under Title VI, defines antisemitism (including harassment targeting Jewish individuals or institutions), and requires schools to actively prevent such discrimination. Schools found violating these provisions face escalating fines (10% for second violations, 33% for third within five years) of their federal funding, plus mandatory notifications to students and staff. The law emphasizes enforcing existing civil rights protections against antisemitism "no less vigorously" than other discrimination, without creating new legal standards or infringing on First Amendment rights.
The CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to fund training programs at community colleges and career schools focused on residential construction careers. It targets rural areas and underserved populations - including veterans, low-income individuals, and groups with historically low representation in construction - to develop skills in trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC. Grants, totaling $20 million annually from 2026-2030, require flexible scheduling, partnerships with construction employers, and plans to increase affordable housing supply through workforce development. The bill directly affects community colleges in rural or underserved regions and their students seeking residential construction careers.
This bill creates "Military Education Savings Accounts" that would provide eligible military children with funds for educational expenses. The program would give parents of military dependents (children of active-duty service members who attended public school for 100+ consecutive days the previous year) up to $6,000 in the first year, with annual increases based on inflation. Parents could use these funds for private school tuition, tutoring, online learning, educational materials, and other approved educational expenses, but not for public school full-time enrollment. The program would prioritize accounts for siblings of previously enrolled children, then children of enlisted members, warrant officers, and finally commissioned officers, with accounts terminating when children turn 22 (or 26 for those with disabilities) or enroll full-time in public school.
HR 3913, the "Putting American Students First Act," amends the Higher Education Act to establish specific eligibility requirements for Federal TRIO programs. It requires participants to be U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, certain aliens with intent to become permanent residents, citizens of Freely Associated States, CNMI residents under specific compacts, or lawful residents of Freely Associated States. The bill explicitly prohibits waiving these requirements under any current or future appropriations laws or performance partnership pilot authorities. This change directly affects students seeking TRIO program support, which assists low-income, first-generation, and disabled college students. The policy alters who qualifies for these federally funded educational support programs.
This bill increases the excise tax on investment income earned by private colleges and universities from 1.4% to 10%. It also lowers the asset threshold requiring taxation from $500,000 to $200,000 per student, meaning more institutions will now be subject to the tax. The tax applies only to investment income, not the full endowment value, and affects private colleges meeting the new per-student asset threshold. The changes take effect for taxable years after the bill's enactment.
