Higher Education Act Reauthorization on the Horizon
March 16, 2018The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) is a step toward helping everyone to reach their full potential because it provides entryways for access to affordable and high-quality post-secondary education opportunities. Last December, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce introduced its reauthorization legislation called the PROSPER Act. The bill is concerning because it would scale back key provisions that support students enrolled in programs to prepare them to become early childhood educators and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions has yet to release its own legislation, although Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has indicated a bill could be released in “early spring.” NHSA supports HEA reauthorization that makes college education affordable, provides opportunities for students to become high-quality educators themselves, and incentivizes careers in public service.