Federal Regulations
Description
Regulations are legally binding rules issued by administrative agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Education, Department of Justice, and Veterans Administration, to implement federal statutes.
For The Tracker, the focus is primarily on Department of Education regulations implementing Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
Critical Federal Regulations
Accountability Measures
Description:
Federal regulations are being developed to implement institutional and programmatic accountability, including revisions to the 2024 version of Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency regulations in accordance with the directives of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) Act.
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities
Description:
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new web and mobile accessibility standards that public entities must follow to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Interim Final Rule released April 210, 2026, provides a 1-year extension of the compliance dates to April 26, 2027, and April 26, 2028.
Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization
Description:
In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Education announced a negotiated rulemaking to reform accreditation, outlining ten issue areas aimed at streamlining regulations, strengthening student outcomes and program value, curbing anti-competitive practices, clarifying oversight roles, supporting innovation, and updating accreditor standards.