Lawmakers Prepare to Reconcile Bills to Renew HEA

From  Education Week
By Alyson Klein
Congress is poised to finish crafting long-stalled legislation reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, providing the first comprehensive update in federal law covering teacher education and college-preparatory programs in nearly a decade.

The HEA, which governs a broad swath of federal higher education programs, was last reauthorized in 1998. The renewal has been pending since 2003, although Congress has passed separate legislation revamping student-lending programs usually governed under the HEA. Most recently, lawmakers approved the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 , which boosted Pell Grants and other student aid.

The House approved its version of the HEA renewal by a vote of 354-58 in February; the Senate passed its measure last July by a 95-0 vote. Lawmakers negotiating behind the scenes are expected to meet soon in a conference committee to reconcile the two bills… 

Close
Planner icon
Events registration icon
Learning Center icon
Membership directory icon
Online community icon
PEDS icon
profile manager icon
Resource Library icon
Submission center icon
Voting system icon