May 10, 2026 to May 16, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning colleges, universities, campuses, international students, student housing, research initiatives, and federal research funding opportunities. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate HELP Hearing: Individual Needs of Students and Charter Schools: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold an open hearing on May 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Dirksen 430 to discuss meeting individual student needs with a focus on charter schools.

Federal Government News

Notice Announcing Career Pathways Exploration Program Competition

The U.S. Department of Education and Department of Labor opened applications for the FY 2026 Career Pathways Exploration Program, offering competitive grants to states to develop integrated career exploration and workforce readiness initiatives. Grants can reach up to $3 million annually, and proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov by June 9, 2026. Eligible applicants include state educational agencies, workforce development agencies, and rehabilitation agencies, or consortia thereof. Details and priorities, including Talent Marketplaces and workforce readiness, are available on ED’s and DOL’s web portals. The application process requires gubernatorial endorsement if submitted by an entity other than the governor. Program authority derives from 20 U.S.C. 7113(a)(3), and accessible format materials are available upon request.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Notice Announcing Teacher Quality Partnership Program Competition

The Department of Education and Department of Labor released the FY 2026 Teacher Quality Partnership Program competition, targeting improvements in teacher preparation and professional development. Eligible partnerships must involve high-need local education agencies and partner higher education institutions. The grant supports teacher residency programs and apprenticeship pathways, aiming to enhance certification and licensure outcomes. Applications must be submitted by June 23, 2026, via Grants.gov, with a maximum award of $2 million per applicant per year. The competition includes absolute priorities such as partnership grants for teacher preparation, teaching residency, leadership development, and returning education to states. Program details and requirements are available on ED and DOL websites.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Universal Forms

Federal Student Aid issued a notice for public comment regarding the renewal of the Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Universal Forms (OMB 1845-0163). The collection assesses eligibility for borrower defense discharge under federal student loan programs. The renewal maintains the existing format, with 83,750 annual responses and an estimated burden of 217,750 hours annually. Interested commenters must reply by July 13, 2026, through the Federal eRulemaking portal or postal mail. The notice provides instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and requesting accessible formats.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) Domestic Sourcing Requirements Waiver Request Form

The Department of Education is requesting comment on reinstatement of the BABAA Waiver Request Form, which supports compliance with domestic sourcing requirements for federally funded infrastructure projects. The form enables grantees to apply for exemptions where public interest, materials non-availability, or unreasonable cost conditions exist. Respondents include state, local, tribal governments, and private sector entities, with an annual estimated response count of 47 and burden hours totaling 470. Comments are due by July 13, 2026, via the Federal eRulemaking portal.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Competition Announcement; Comprehensive Centers

The Department of Education announced the FY 2026 Comprehensive Centers grant competition, soliciting applications to improve educational opportunities and instructional quality through capacity-building services for state and regional agencies. The program lists six absolute priorities—including National Center, Regional Centers, and content-focused centers—and three competitive preference priorities. Annual awards vary by center, up to $6.75 million for the National Center. Eligible applicants include research organizations, higher education institutions, and partnerships. Applications are due by June 30, 2026. Notices and instructions are posted on ED’s website and Grants.gov.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 8759: Institution Cosigning Federal Student Loans

H.R. 8759 proposes amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, enabling higher education institutions to opt to cosign federal student loans for their students. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for further consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8815: Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

H.R. 8815 aims to update eligibility requirements for teacher loan forgiveness under the Higher Education Act. Recently, it was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4541 & 8834: Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program

Two bills—S. 4541 and H.R. 8834—seek to establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program within the Department of State to promote international knowledge and experience among college graduates. S. 4541 was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; H.R. 8834 to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Sources: www.congress.gov, www.congress.gov

Bill 4531: Identity Fraud Safeguards for Federal Financial Aid

S. 4531 would require the Secretary of Education to prioritize program reviews of institutions disbursing federal aid without verifying student identity when FAFSA submissions suggest reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. The bill was read twice and sent to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4545: Scientific Integrity Policies for Federal Agencies

S. 4545 amends the America COMPETES Act, proposing new scientific integrity policies for federal agencies funding or overseeing research. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• The real reason why people are losing trust in universities | Opinion: A commentary examining factors affecting public confidence in higher education.
• Here are the undergraduate programs that pay off (and some that don’t): Analysis comparing earnings outcomes across various undergraduate majors.
• 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.: New Wall Street Journal ranking lists top U.S. colleges for 2026.
• Axios Live: AI is rewriting the student career map: Event discusses how artificial intelligence is altering student career planning.
• Why M.B.A.s Are On Sale: Business schools are discounting tuition as demand for M.B.A. programs shifts.
• Finishing School: The New York Times explores institutions specializing in social skills training for students.
• Money woes close a small Michigan college. It’s not alone: Siena Heights University shuts down amid financial pressures, mirroring broader challenges.
• Anthropic, Gates Foundation launch $200 million partnership for AI in health, education: New collaboration targets artificial intelligence innovation in education and health sectors.
• ‘No Essay’ College Scholarships May Have Unseen Strings Attached: Brief on potential risks associated with so-called “no essay” scholarship offers.

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