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The
new year is the time for looking ahead, making resolutions and
predicting what the next 12 months will bring.
On Capitol Hill, a host of topics are gaining momentum. Some are not exactly new, and
some are – although they carry sentiments similar to other initiatives (think "gainful
employment") that have created the new environment in which career colleges operate.
Let's take a look forward at what we can expect and keep a watch on for 2016.
A new Democratic bill: In November, the Obama administration announced it was
backing a Democratic bill called the Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of
2015. e bill seeks to prevent loopholes and create tougher eligibility rules for federal
education money. In essence, the bill would transform the 90/10 rule into a new 85/15
division, which would make schools rely less on federal funds to continue participating
in federal student aid programs. e GI Bill and military tuition assistance programs are
not currently attributed to the 90 percent in the 90/10 rule. is new legislation would
change this fact. With more schools freezing tuition and closing, expect to see this bill
gain momentum.
Free tuition for community college: e notion of free community college surfaced early
in the Obama administration's second term. And the idea seems to gain steam (at least
in the media), then suddenly lose it. is year, the suggestion surfaced again during
the president's State of the Union address. e plan to make community college free to
millions of students was aimed at increasing access to college in an era when most good
jobs require some postsecondary education and employers are struggling with the "skills
gap" – finding workers who possess the specific skills they need for the job.
