Education (Student Financial Aid)

The Student Athlete Act of 2026 establishes federal rules for college sports eligibility and transfers to protect student athletes. It mandates that athletes retain five consecutive years of eligibility regardless of injuries and limits the impact of transferring schools by generally barring participation during the academic year of the transfer, with an exception for a student's first move. The bill also requires universities to honor original financial aid commitments when a student transfers and prevents states from passing laws that conflict with these federal provisions.

The Student Loan Refinancing Act of 2026 establishes a new program allowing borrowers to refinance existing Federal Direct and FFEL Program loans into new Federal Direct loans with fixed interest rates. The bill requires the Secretary of Education to offer these refinanced loans at interest rates equal to the current rates for new loans of the same type, while protecting borrowers from origination fees and ensuring the total repayment period does not increase. To facilitate this process, the legislation mandates a public awareness campaign and includes specific rules that allow payments made on the original loans to count toward income-driven repayment plans and public service loan forgiveness. Additionally, the act limits borrowers to refinancing their loans no more than twice within a ten-year period to prevent repeated refinancing.

The Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026 creates a competitive grant program to help colleges and universities support high-need students, such as those from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college attendees, and military-connected individuals. Under this bill, the Department of Education would award funds to eligible institutions for six years to implement specific, evidence-based strategies aimed at improving student retention and graduation rates. Applicants must submit detailed plans outlining how they will use these funds for services like academic advising, career coaching, and emergency financial assistance, with a requirement to include at least one highly proven reform practice. Additionally, the law sets aside a portion of the funding specifically for Tribal Colleges and Universities and mandates an independent evaluation to measure the program's effectiveness in increasing student success.

The Protecting Student Privacy Act prevents federal student aid data from being shared with immigration enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws. This rule applies to information held by the Department of Education regarding students and their financial contributors, such as parents or spouses, and blocks its use for arrests, interviews, or surveillance by the Department of Homeland Security and other authorized entities. The law includes specific exceptions for court orders related to criminal offenses and for cases where a student or contributor voluntarily and without pressure consents to sharing their information. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Education to report any unauthorized disclosures to Congress and states that this new rule overrides any conflicting state or local laws.

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 expands existing federal student loan relief programs to offer full debt cancellation for teachers and early childhood educators who work in high-need schools or specific early childhood programs for five years. Under the bill, eligible educators can receive 100 percent forgiveness of their outstanding loans after completing five years of service, which may be consecutive or nonconsecutive, while also qualifying for monthly loan payments to be made by the government during their employment. The legislation defines "high need schools" as those with at least 30 percent of students from low-income families and includes various early childhood settings, while also extending benefits to parents who borrow PLUS loans for their qualifying children or who are educators themselves. To support implementation, the law requires the Department of Education to publish a list of eligible schools and programs, allows for self-certification in some early childhood roles, and ensures that educators who leave their positions early or are promoted within the same organization do not lose their eligibility for forgiveness.

This bill modifies the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to allow individuals to request a court determination of whether their student loans should be discharged based on "undue hardship" at the time they file for bankruptcy. Currently, such a request can only be made after a loan repayment plan has failed, but this legislation would enable debtors to seek this relief immediately upon filing. The change applies only to bankruptcy cases that begin on or after the date the law is enacted. By allowing earlier evaluation, the bill aims to provide a clearer path for borrowers facing financial difficulty to potentially eliminate their student loan debt during the bankruptcy process.

The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 establishes a new framework for college athletics that grants student athletes the right to earn money from their name, image, and likeness without fear of losing scholarships or eligibility, while requiring institutions to disclose these deals in a public database. The bill strengthens protections for athletes by mandating better medical coverage, prohibiting coaches from influencing medical return-to-play decisions, and creating an independent ombudsman office to assist student athletes with grievances. It also introduces stricter rules on agent registration, limits on mid-season coaching transitions, and protections for athletes transferring schools or facing sexual misconduct. On the broadcasting side, the legislation creates a new entity to collectively sell media rights for college sports, ensuring that revenue is distributed fairly and that local fans can access games without paying extra fees. The law further restricts large conference mergers to preserve competition and requires that non-revenue sports like women's and Olympic programs maintain their current roster sizes and scholarship opportunities. Finally, the act sets up a congressional commission to study the future of college athletics and make recommendations on structural changes, including potential adjustments to revenue sharing caps.

The Skill Savings Account Act of 2026 creates a new type of tax-advantaged account designed to help eligible U.S. employees save money specifically for qualified education expenses. Under this bill, both employers and employees can contribute cash to these accounts without immediately paying income tax, provided the total contributions do not exceed $5,250 for employer contributions and $10,000 for employee contributions in a single year. Funds withdrawn from the account must be used exclusively for education costs to remain tax-free; otherwise, the distribution is taxed as income and subject to an additional 20% penalty for beneficiaries under age 65. The legislation also establishes specific rules for trust management and requires the Treasury Department to issue regulations within one year of enactment.

The TECH Act allows qualified technical schools to apply for the same federal funding as traditional two-year and four-year colleges. To make this happen, the bill requires government agencies to update their rules and application forms so these technical schools can participate in specific grant programs for student support and workforce training. A technical school must offer approved career training programs that lead to recognized credentials in high-demand fields like healthcare or manufacturing to qualify. This change aims to help these schools compete more fairly for financial resources while ensuring they prepare students for essential jobs.

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 expands existing federal programs to offer debt relief for teachers and early childhood educators who work in high-need schools or specific early education programs. To qualify for full cancellation of their student loans, eligible educators must complete five years of service, which can be consecutive or non-consecutive, in designated schools serving at least 30% low-income students or in Head Start and other qualifying early childhood settings. The bill also introduces a monthly payment assistance feature that covers a portion of loan obligations during the service period and allows parents to receive forgiveness if their children or they themselves are qualifying educators. Verification of service is handled by school administrators or program directors, with simplified self-certification options available for family child care providers, and the law ensures that educators who leave their positions early are not required to repay any forgiven amounts.