News and reports from the Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education announced today the allocation of over $44.5 million in grants under the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) program. These funds aim to enhance postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion rates among rural students by developing high-quality career pathways aligned with high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released three new resources today, providing information for students, parents and families, and schools on the civil rights of students with sickle cell disease, epilepsy, and cancer. This release coincides with World Sickle Cell Day and National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the resolution of nine pending complaints against the City University of New York (CUNY), its Central Office, and several CUNY colleges: Hunter College, CUNY School of Law, Brooklyn College, Queens College, and Baruch College. These resolutions address discrimination concerns from the academic year 2019-2020 onward.

The U.S. Department of Education will issue a Request for Information (RFI) to better understand the operational aspects of potentially expanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for workers in early childhood education (ECE) settings.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a statement today regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) entering into resolution agreements with the University of Michigan and the City University of New York concerning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced a resolution agreement with the University of Michigan to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when addressing allegations of discrimination or harassment, including those based on shared Jewish ancestry and shared Palestinian or Muslim ancestry.

The U.S. Department of Education announced today the appointment of Jeremy Singer as FAFSA Executive Advisor in the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA). Singer will lead the overall strategy for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and drive technology innovation to enhance FSA’s technical and operational capabilities.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the 2024 Engage Every Student Recognition Program Champions, honoring 13 non-profit organizations and city municipalities across the country. These entities, working in partnership with local schools, are recognized for their efforts to expand access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has announced a series of steps aimed at modernizing the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA). The initiatives, detailed in a letter to staff and posted on the Education Department's Homeroom blog, focus on improving management and operational efficiency to better serve students, families, borrowers, and schools.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced today that the Rapid City Area Schools district in South Dakota has entered into a resolution agreement to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding school discipline and advanced learning programs.

The U.S. Department of Education announced it has processed over 10 million 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. The introduction of the Better FAFSA form has led to significant improvements, with students now able to expect their records to be sent to colleges within one to three days. Nearly 90% of nonprofit and four-year institutions are currently packaging and sending out aid offers to students. Recent data shows a notable increase in FAFSA submissions, reducing the gap from nearly 40 percent two months ago to 12 percent today.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced the approval of $7.7 billion in additional student loan debt relief for 160,500 borrowers. This relief covers three categories: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), President Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, and income-driven repayment (IDR) adjustments. The SAVE Plan has assisted over 8 million borrowers, including 4.6 million with a $0 monthly payment.

The Biden-Harris Administration has declared a new record in Federal funding and investments for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), amounting to over $16 billion from Fiscal Years (FY) 2021 through the currently available data for FY 2024. This updated total, up from the previously announced $7 billion, encompasses significant additional actions already undertaken.

The Biden-Harris Administration has extended the deadline for student borrowers to apply for loan consolidation, giving them until June 30 to do so. This extension comes as part of an update on the timing of the payment count adjustment, a mechanism designed to ensure that borrowers receive proper credit for progress made toward income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced new measures to enhance access to school-based mental health services. These actions include: (1) nearly doubling investments in the U.S. Department of Education’s School-Based Mental Health Services and Mental Health Service Professionals grant programs for the current fiscal year; (2) additional investments through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to improve student and educator mental health and wellbeing; and (3) offering new mental health and wellbeing training and...