Office of Postsecondary Education - Policy Initiatives
| Policy Initiatives | Data Collection & Reporting | Library: Legislation, Regulations, etc. |
The Office of Postsecondary Education formulates federal postsecondary education policy including policy relating to the federal student financial assistance programs. OPE also collects and disseminates student financial assistance program data as well as data in several key areas relating to postsecondary education.
Policy Initiative
Federal Register Notice on Servicemembers/HEROES Waivers and Modifications The Secretary is issuing updates of longstanding waivers and modifications of statutory and regulatory requirements governing the Federal student financial aid programs under the authority of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act). Official Copy** - Published 1/24/2024
Request for Information Regarding First Amendment and Free Inquiry Official Copy** - Published 2/22/2023
Department of Education Virtual Listening Sessions Official Copy** - Published 2/16/2023
Transcripts from Virtual Listening Sessions
Request For Information on Lowest Financial Value Programs - Official Copy** - Published 1/11/23
90/10 Federal Register Notice
The Federal Register notice identifies the Federal education assistance funds that proprietary institutions must include as Federal revenue in their 90/10 calculation. A Q&A is also provided which addresses frequently asked questions about implementing the new 90/10 regulations - Official Copy** - Published 12/21/22
Interagency Task Force on Sexual Violence in Education: 90-Day Report to Congress regarding task force activities PDF* (307KB) - Posted 11/30/2022
Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD)
- Final Rule - MS Word (83KB) – Posted 8/19/2021
- Interim Final Rule - PDF (339KB) – Published 11/26/2019
College Financing Plan
[formerly known as the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet]
The Office of Postsecondary Education is working with students, families, the financial aid community, and others to develop model formats for financial aid offer forms. These forms, often referred to as Financial Aid Award Letters, are sent to prospective students by colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions to let them know how much financial aid the student can expect to receive when they attend school.
Negotiated Rulemaking: 2023 - 2024
Information on the 2023 - 2024 negotiated rulemaking activities for higher education.
Negotiated Rulemaking: 2021 - 2022
Information on the 2021 - 2022 negotiated rulemaking activities for higher education.
Negotiated Rulemaking: 2018 - 2019
Information on the 2018 - 2019 negotiated rulemaking activities for higher education.
Negotiated Rulemaking: 2017 - 2018
Information on the 2017 - 2018 negotiated rulemaking activities for higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions: Institutional Readmission Requirements for Servicemembers
Data Collection and Reporting
OPE collects and reports on data in several areas relating to postsecondary education:
- Student Financial Assistance Program Data - Includes annual summary data for the federal Pell, Campus-Based and Loans Programs, other federal student aid program data, and links to other federal data and statistical resources.
- Campus Security and Safety
- Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
- Title II Reports on the Quality of Teacher Preparation Programs
- Preparing and Credentialing the Nation's Teachers: The Secretary's Tenth Report on Teacher Quality is now available.
- Postsecondary Educational Institutions and Programs Accredited by Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education
- Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program Performance Reporting
Library: Legislation, Regulations, Etc.
Links to the authorizing legislation for OPE programs, program regulations, reports, and other relevant policy information.
Other Policy Resources
Includes additional resources from the U.S. Department of Education, other federal agencies, and non-federal sources.
Federal Resources
- Department of Education Budget News
- THOMAS: Legislative Information from the Library of Congress
- U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor
- U.S. Senate, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Government Accountability Office
- Congressional Budget Office
- Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance
Education Agencies and Associations
*The Department of Education strives to make all content accessible to everyone. While this document does not currently meet the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, OPE/PPI is working to create an accessible version. If you need access to this content before the accessible version is available, please contact the Information Technology Accessibility Program Help Desk at ITAPSupport@ed.gov to help facilitate
**By selecting the following link, you will be leaving the Department of Education’s (ED’s) website and navigating to a third-party site. This site and its contents are managed by organizations that may or may not have a business relationship with ED. As such, the Department is not responsible for the product, service, or overall website contents nor can it guarantee that any of the above are accessible in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you need accessibility support, please reach out to the third-party vendor for assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Building
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202