Department of Education Announces Intent to Establish Negotiated Rulemaking on Accreditation

On Monday, January 26, the Department of Education announced its intent to establish the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee to develop proposed regulations that would “simplify the Secretary’s recognition of emerging and existing accreditors; examine the extent to which accreditation contributes to rising higher education costs and credential inflation; safeguard against undue influence from related private trade associations; eliminate standards or policies that discriminate on the basis of immutable characteristics; and refocus quality assurance and improvement on data-driven student outcomes.” The AIM committee will address topics such as deregulation, student outcomes, merit, and integrity.

The committee will meet between April 13–17, 2026, and May 18–22, 2026. CSWE will monitor developments to the nomination process as it progresses and will be tracking the rulemaking committee during those sessions. 

CSWE Hosts Virtual Hill Day With Social Work Deans to Advocate on the Importance of Social Work Education

CSWE hosted a virtual Capitol Hill meeting series with several leaders of social work from various universities and institutions across the United States. The purpose of the meetings was to advocate for social work to be explicitly recognized as a professional degree in federal statute and policy, and to urge increased funding for federal programs that support social work education and the social work workforce. 

Deans, chairs, and directors met with staff from the offices of Representatives Shomari Figures (D-AL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Hilary Scholten (D-MI), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Diane DeGette (D-CO), Cleo Fields (D-LA), and Tim Kennedy (D-NY). 

Participants also advocated for support on various legislative measures that would recognize social work as a professional degree or to change the borrowing limits imposed on non-professional degree classifications, including Rep. Lawlor’s (R-NY) Professional Student Degree Act, Rep. Kennedy’s (D-NY) Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act, and Rep. Torres’s (D-NY) Professional Degree Access Restoration Act.

CSWE will continue mobilizing institutional leaders to elevate the voices of social work students, educators, and the communities they serve.

Senate Appropriations Committee Passes FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

On January 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, as part of a broader mini-bus package. For issues pertaining to social work and social work education, the bill would: 

  • Fund $7.5 billion to the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including: 
    • $1.6 billion for the State Opioid Response Grants;
    • $1.9 billion for the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant;
    • and $19.5 million to the Minority Fellowship Program.
  • Maintain the maximum Pell award at $7,395 for the 2026–2027 school year and provide $1.2 billion for Federal Work Study and $910 million for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.
  • In the Joint Explanatory Statement, the Senate directs the Department of Education (ED) to provide biweekly briefings to Congress on the implementation of interagency agreements that transfer ED’s functions to various agencies, including functions within the Office of Postsecondary Education to the Department of Labor. 

The bill still will still need to pass the Senate and additionally the House, which will then go to President Trump to sign the bill into law. View a summary of what is included in the bill as it pertains to health, workforce, and education. CSWE will continue to monitor the status of this appropriations package and any developments as the bill reaches the Senate and House floor for final votes. 

Department of Education’s AHEAD Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Reaches Consensus

On January 5-9, 2026, the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand (AHEAD) negotiated rulemaking committee met to establish the framework of the new institutional accountability metrics that were outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The committee ultimately agreed upon the new accountability metric known as the Student Tuition and Transparency System. This would require that institution programs pass the “earnings premium” test, which proves that students in a particular program earn more than an individual with only a high school diploma. 

For master’s programs, their students would need to earn more than an individual with a bachelor’s degree in that program. If programs fail this test in two out of three consecutive award years, those programs will lose eligibility to receive Title IV direct loans. This would apply to all programs and would include opportunities to regain eligibility in the future.

Once the final proposed rules are published by the Department, there will be a 30-day comment period for stakeholders to review and provide feedback. A link to a full write-up of the provisions agreed upon by the AHEAD committee is available here.

ED Enters Final Negotiated Rulemaking Session on Changes in Institutional and Programmatic Accountability Measures

On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) commenced its final negotiated rulemaking session as part of the process of implementing policy changes that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand (AHEAD) Committee is meeting from January 5–9 to continue addressing the implementation of the new Workforce Pell Grant program, changes in institutional and programmatic accountability measures, including loss of Direct Loan eligibility for certain programs, and Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment. The AHEAD Committee previously met from December 8–12, 2025. 

For social workers, institutional and programmatic accountability measures will continue to be of most importance as these negotiations progress. CSWE will continue to monitor the status of these negotiations. 

In addition, the pending final rules for the Reimagining and Improving Student Education Committee negotiated rulemaking session have been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget as indicated on the office’s website, although no information on its contents have been made available.