Department of Education

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Comments sought on proposed changes to federal student loan program regulations

By Marlene Seeklander The Secretary of Education is seeking comments on proposed federal student loan regulatory changes, which stem from legislative action last summer. In a Federal Register Notice published on January 30, 2026, the Secretary proposes to amend some of the regulations governing the Federal student loan programs in order to implement changes that were […]

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Federal holiday processing and hours for February 16, 2026

By Marlene Seeklander If your school is open on Monday, February 16, don’t forget that federal offices will be closed to observe Washington’s Birthday. The Department of Education recently announced the processing schedule and customer service hours for the various Federal Student Aid centers. The FAFSA Processing System (FPS) will accept data on February 16 but

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U.S. Treasury seeking input on the future of financial literacy

By Marlene Seeklander Anyone with an interest in financial literacy and education now has the opportunity to comment on the country’s future direction on the issue. In a February 3 Federal Register Notice, the Treasury published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input to support the annual review of the National Strategy for Financial Literacy. Commenters

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State agencies and membership & advocacy organizations need to register soon for the 2026 FSA Training Conference

By Marlene Seeklander State higher education agencies and membership & advocacy organizations interested in attending the upcoming Federal Student Aid (FSA) Conference need to complete the lottery submission form prior to the February 13 notification date. The Department of Education previously announced that due to the limited number of seats at the conference site, they would

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Updated 2026-27 Federal School Code List now available

By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education recently released an updated 2026-27 Federal School Code List, which plays a key role in the FAFSA. The Department announced the availability of the updated 2026–27 Federal School Code (FSC) List of Participating Schools.  Although it’s usually not necessary, students can enter these codes on the FAFSA in order

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Federal Student Aid updates “Aid Application Process” training track

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can stay current with how to handle federal financial aid data with updated training modules now available. Federal Student Aid recently announced that they have updated the “Aid Application Process” training track with the latest information and guidance that was published in the September 30 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-25-08.

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Tentative 2026–27 Funding Levels available for Campus-Based Programs

By Marlene Seeklander Although funding amounts have not yet been determined, the Department of Education has posted tentative funding levels for 2026-27. In a January 30 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education said tentative funding levels and worksheets for Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) programs for the 2026-27 award year have

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Pell Grant award amounts remain flat for 2026-27 academic year

By Catherine Mueller The maximum amount a student could receive in Federal Pell Grant funding for college will remain unchanged for the 2026-27 academic year – at least for now. On January 30, the Department of Education announced the Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts for the 2026–27 award year (July 1, 2026, through June

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Department publishes information to assist schools with reconciling financial aid programs

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals looking for a little more guidance on reconciling federal financial aid programs have now received some from the Department of Education. On January 27, the Department released an Electronic Announcement that provides more specific information to assist schools in reconciling the Direct Loan, Pell Grant, and TEACH Grant programs. Reconciliation

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2025-26 FSA Handbook Volume 5 – Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds – now available

By Marlene Seeklander The latest volume of the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook has just been released by the Department of Education (ED). A January 29 Electronic Announcement from ED announced the availability of Volume 5 – Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds. This volume includes information on how a school should manage Title IV funds when a student

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