Latest news with #PSLF
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
SAVE Student Loan Borrowers Are Up Against an Aug. 1 Deadline. Here's What Experts Suggest
Interest will restart for SAVE borrowers whose loans remain in a general forbearance on Aug. 1. Viva Tung/CNET If you're a student loan borrower enrolled in SAVE, do you have to switch to a new repayment before interest payments restart in August? That's the question on millions of borrowers' minds, but the answer depends on your forgiveness options and financial situation. "It's crucial for borrowers to act based on their own personal situation," said Elaine Rubin, a student loan policy expert and director of corporate communications at Edvisors. "A borrower who chooses to stay in the forbearance or who is waiting for their payment plan application to be processed will have their loan remain in good standing." Earlier this month, the Department of Education announced that interest would resume for the nearly 8 million borrowers in the Saving on a Valuable Education plan on Aug. 1. Monthly payments, however, still remain on hold in a general forbearance. That gives borrowers roughly two weeks to decide if they want to move onto another income-driven repayment plan or continue to stay on SAVE until the forbearance period ends. The SAVE repayment plan was officially shot down by the courts earlier this year, but borrowers' payments are expected to remain on hold until mid-2026 unless an upcoming court decision speeds up the timeline. If you're enrolled in SAVE and not sure what you should do before interest begins accruing on your loans, here's what experts suggest. Should PSLF borrowers enrolled in SAVE do anything before Aug. 1? If you're working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness and are enrolled in SAVE, you can either stay in forbearance or switch to another repayment plan. "For borrowers pursuing PSLF this won't mean very much," said Betsy Mayotte, president and founder of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors. "They can still either ride out the forbearance and plan on using what's called buy-back to get the months to count for PSLF purposes or switch plans now to another qualifying plan." If you decide to stay in forbearance, you'll be able to claim the months your loans were on hold using a process called PSLF buy-back. This allows you to pay for the months when your loans were in an administrative forbearance, to help you reach 120 on-time payments to receive forgiveness. If you decide to move your loans to another repayment plan, your payments will restart after your application is processed. Application processing is experiencing delays, and experts say not to expect your first payment under the new plan for a month or two, at the soonest. Although your payment may be higher on another income-driven repayment like IBR, this monthly amount would be the same amount you'd be charged when you went to "buy back" those months. Either way, you'll pay roughly the same amount. I'm pursuing income-driven repayment forgiveness. Should I switch payment plans? Although you're not required to switch repayment plans by August, you should review your options to see what the best fit is for your financial situation. "For those pursuing income-driven plan forgiveness they should strongly consider switching to another income-driven plan," said Mayotte. She noted that there's no buy-back option for IDR forgiveness, and the months that your loans are sitting in forgiveness won't count toward your total number of payments. Waiting would drag out your forgiveness timeline. You can look at your other income-driven repayment plan options using the Federal Student Aid loan simulator. When you're ready to switch to a new plan, you can apply to change your IDR on the FSA website. You can also continue to stay in SAVE until the forbearance period ends and you're placed on another repayment plan. You can pay the monthly interest that accrues, but those payments won't count towards forgiveness, Mayonette said. I don't qualify for forgiveness. Should I switch to another repayment plan? If you don't qualify for student loan forgiveness options, you can switch to another IDR or continue to wait out the forbearance. Either way, you should count on making payments again soon -- whether that's a new monthly payment or paying off the interest that accrues each month during the forbearance period. Since there are a few weeks left before interest charges start again, Mayonette suggests making larger lump sum payments while your interest is frozen, if you can. Will all borrowers in SAVE qualify for another IDR plan? SAVE borrowers should qualify for another income-driven repayment plan. However, it's possible you may not right now. "The 'Big Beautiful Bill' has eliminated the requirement of a partial financial hardship for IBR," said Rubin. "However, the forms and the Loan Simulator have yet to be updated. It may take the department and the servicers some time to update their systems and information." In the meantime, look for the most affordable repayment option available, or you can choose to keep your loans in forbearance. Will my payments increase if I move from SAVE to another payment plan? Many borrowers should brace for higher monthly payments after moving to a new repayment plan. Although income-driven repayment plans are generally more affordable than the standard repayment plan, SAVE was the most affordable student loan repayment plan to date. Many low-income borrowers had $0 or near $0 payments each month. CNET estimated that a single borrower earning $60,000 a year with $30,000 in student loan debt would have paid approximately $217 on SAVE. Switching to another income-driven repayment plan like IBR could increase their monthly payment by nearly $100. You can use the Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator to estimate what your new monthly payment will look like. If I switch payment plans, when will I receive my first bill? If you switch to IBR or another repayment plan, that doesn't mean your first monthly payment will hit in August. "The US Department of Education still has a backlog in processing the forms to request a change of repayment plan, so they might not have to make payments for a few months until their request to switch repayment plans is processed," said Mark Kantrowitz, a financial aid and student loan expert. Still, it's smart to prepare for repayment right away, just in case. My new student loan payment is too high. What can I do? Many borrowers will see higher payments on another payment plan, even an income-driven repayment plan like IBR. If you need more time to prepare for repayment, you can also wait to switch repayment plans until the forbearance period ends. "Borrowers will have the option to stay in the general forbearance, for now," said Rubin. "However, borrowers who decide to stay in the forbearance need to stay informed. The Department has indicated that borrowers will remain in the forbearance until the legal challenges are resolved, or until the student loan servicer can send them a bill for the proper repayment amount." If you need more time to prepare for repayment, leaving your loans on hold can give you extra months to plan. During this time, you should consider making interest-payments, if possible, to prevent your account balance from rising. "There are no prepayment penalties on federal and private student loans, so nothing stops you from making interest-only payments," said Kantrowitz. "You can manually calculate the interest on your loans and make a prepayment in that amount each month." While the forbearance period won't last forever, it is currently expected to last until mid-2026. However, an upcoming court case could change that and end forbearance sooner. If you're facing financial distress, you might consider economic hardship deferment, unemployment deferment or general forbearance, said Kantrowitz. But he warned that interest may continue to accrue, which could dig you into a deeper hole. You can reach out to your servicer or review financial hardship options on the FSA website.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Student loan overhaul: How Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' will affect borrowers
Millions of Americans juggling student loans are set to suffer a major shake-up. The latest development? As per The Hill, the sweeping new law signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 slashes the number of federal loan repayment options. It also imposes new borrowing caps, limiting how much students can take out for college. Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' has turned up the heat on student loan borrowers.(Getty Images via AFP) After years of shifting policies during and after the pandemic, borrowers now must re-learn the system, and adjust fast. While some may find the changes simplify repayment, others worry it will restrict access to necessary funds. Either way, the student debt landscape is shifting, again. Also read: Student loan borrowers could face $3,500 more in interest this year. Who will be affected by SAVE plan New federal loan repayment choices explained The One Big Beautiful Bill Act drastically narrows repayment options, phasing out popular plans like SAVE, PAYE, IBR, and ICR, according to CBS News. Borrowers currently enrolled in these programs have until July 1, 2028, to switch to a new plan. But for the 7.7 million people in the SAVE plan, interest collection will restart as early as August 1, the Department of Education announced. Starting July 1, 2026, new borrowers will choose between just two options: a standard repayment plan or a new income-driven option called the Repayment Assistance Plan. The standard plan spans 10 to 25 years with fixed monthly payments. The Repayment Assistance Plan allows borrowers to pay 1 per cent to 10 per cent of their income monthly, for up to 30 years. After that, any remaining balance is forgiven. "The One Big Beautiful Bill gives families the freedom to choose the best education for their children while reforming a broken federal loan system to promote responsibility, affordability and opportunity," the White House said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. According to The Hill, student loan advocates have asked borrowers to talk to nonprofit organizations as well as the federal government to figure out the next steps when it comes to loan repayment options. Also read: Trump and Melania to attend FIFA Club World Cup final amid anniversary of assassination attempt FAQs Will I be eligible for student loan forgiveness? You may be eligible for forgiveness if you've made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a government or nonprofit employer under the PSLF program. Is student loan forgiveness still happening? No, mass loan forgiveness isn't happening but targeted relief and repayment support are still available for eligible borrowers. How to get 100 per cent student loan forgiveness? There's no universal 100 per cent forgiveness option, but programs like PSLF, IDR, and profession-specific options can lead to full loan cancellation if you meet the right criteria. Will student loan forgiveness be automatically applied? No, student loan forgiveness is generally not automatically applied.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Trump Rules Revoking Student Loan Forgiveness Advance
US President Donald Trump speaks to the media after signing executive orders relating to higher ... More education institutions, alongside US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon (R), in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2025. McMahon has proposed rules to implement President Trump's executive order restricting student loan forgiveness under the PSLF program. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) The Trump administration got one step closer to implementing sweeping rules that would revoke student loan forgiveness eligibility after the Department of Education completed a series of public hearings last week. The hearings are a required part of a process called negotiated rulemaking, which allows the department to update or change regulations governing federal student loan programs. This negotiated rulemaking session is targeting Public Service Loan Forgiveness. PSLF is a popular program that allows borrowers to receive student loan forgiveness after making the equivalent of 10 years of qualifying payments while working full-time for eligible nonprofit or government organizations. The program was created on a bipartisan basis under President George W. Bush in 2007 to provide an incentive for Americans to work in traditionally lower-paying, high-need positions in government and the nonprofit sector that often require advanced degrees, such as healthcare workers in rural clinics and hospitals, or prosecutors and public defenders. But the overhaul proposed by the Trump administration, if enacted, could gut the PSLF program. The proposed regulations, intended to implement an executive order issued by President Trump earlier this year, would revoke the student loan forgiveness eligibility for entire organizations that engage in certain activities. Critics have argued that the proposal is plainly illegal. Here's what borrowers should know. Proposed Rules Would Revoke Student Loan Forgiveness Eligibility Under PSLF The Department of Education's efforts to overhaul PSLF stem directly from President Trump's executive order in March, which seeks to revoke student loan forgiveness eligibility for organizations whose activities have a 'substantial illegal purpose.' 'It is the policy of my Administration that individuals employed by organizations whose activities have a substantial illegal purpose shall not be eligible for public service loan forgiveness,' said Trump in the order. The draft regulations released by the department would target organizations that engage in certain categories of activities including providing medical care to transgender youth (such as by prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy); facilitating violations of immigration laws; 'aiding and abetting' what the administration characterizes as 'illegal discrimination;' and 'violating state tort laws.' Critics have argued that the broad and vague nature of the proposed regulations could be easily used to deny student loan forgiveness eligibility to entire organizations based on the activities of just a few employees. For example, if a state governor directs state police to not actively participate in detaining suspected undocumented immigrants, every employee of that state's government could become ineligible for PSLF if the Department of Education determines that the state is facilitating violations of federal immigration laws. If one doctor at a nonprofit hospital prescribes hormone therapy to one transgender youth – even if this is in full compliance with state law and the wishes of the family – every doctor, nurse, medical technician, and administrator at that hospital could become ineligible for PSLF. 'The Department currently claims that it can change the definition of a 'qualifying employer' to exclude borrowers from obtaining PSLF if any part of their organization engages in a 'substantial illegal purpose,' at the sole determination of the Secretary of Education,' said The Institute for College Access and Success, or TICAS, in a blog post published this week. 'Despite the Department of Education lacking the staff, expertise, and credibility to make such legal determinations, it would be able to render all employees of affected entities no longer eligible for PSLF.' Under the Trump administration's proposed regulatory overhaul, individual student loan borrowers would have on recourse and no mechanism to appeal Department of Education determinations on PSLF employer eligibility. Public Hearings On Student Loan Forgiveness Overhaul Conclude Without Consensus Last week, the Department of Education completed a series of public hearings on the proposed PSLF overhaul. These hearings are a required component of the negotiated rulemaking process, whereby the department convenes a committee of stakeholders which tries to reach consensus on the suggested regulatory changes. Organizations had previously criticized the department for excluding certain voices from the negotiated rulemaking committee such as legal assistance groups, state government representatives, individuals with disabilities, and borrowers currently in repayment on their student loans. The exclusion of these perspectives sparked additional criticism during the hearings. 'Why didn't ED include anyone who would be most affected by these policy changes to negotiate—not a single public service worker, civil rights advocate, first responder, social worker, or teacher?" asked Satra D. Taylor in a statement during the first day of hearings. A minority of committee participants criticized the administration's proposed rules as illegal, noting that the statue created by Congress that established the PSLF program leaves no room for the Department of Education to revise the definition of a qualifying employer on such a broad scale. 'I don't see where the Education Secretary has the authority to remove employer eligibility definition from a 501(c)(3) or government organization,' said one committee member on the second day of hearings. 'My understanding of the regulations and executive order is that they cannot be contrary to the statute. There are no ifs, ands, or buts under government or 501(c)(3).' Another committee member noted that the department has no subject matter expertise to be able to make unilateral determinations on highly technical issues that could become the basis of denying PSLF eligibility. The committee member pointed to medical definitions such as 'chemical and surgical castration,' a term that the administration is using in its attempts to restrict student loan forgiveness eligibility for organizations that provide or facilitate healthcare for transgender youth. Department of Education representatives countered that officials have broad discretion to administer the PSLF program. And indeed, past administrations used the negotiated rulemaking process to make modifications to student loan forgiveness rules under PSLF. During the first Trump administration, the definition of qualifying employment was expanded to include religious organizations. And during the Biden-Harris administration, the department created the PSLF Buyback program. So, there is precedent to making modifications to PSLF via negotiated rulemaking. 'True, but only to an extent,' said Winston Berkman-Breen, Legal Director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, in a subsequent statement, as 'the Secretary cannot narrow the program beyond the basic requirements set by Congress.' Berkman-Breen characterized the negotiated rulemaking process as not 'a negotiation—it's an exercise in gaslighting.' The department 'is proposing action that exceeds the Secretary's statutory authority and likely violates the U.S. Constitution—all the while telling negotiators to fall in line.' Ultimately, the public hearings concluded without the negotiated rulemaking committee reaching a consensus. This largely gives the Department of Education a free hand in advancing the proposed regulations. What Comes Next For Student Loan Forgiveness Overhaul For now, there are no changes to student loan forgiveness under the PSLF program. 'We are reviewing the recent Executive Order regarding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program,' reads a banner message on the Department of Education's main PSLF website. 'There are no changes to PSLF currently, and borrowers do not need to take any action.' But with the negotiated rulemaking committee hearings now concluded, the Trump administration will seek to move forward with the overhaul. 'ED's proposal is an illegal attempt to limit Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for organizations doing work that the Administration doesn't agree with,' said the SBPC in a statement summarizing the organization's position on the hearings. 'Why is it illegal? ED's proposal seeks to do this by eliminating PSLF eligibility from non-profit and state and local employers it deems to be engaging in activities with a 'substantial illegal purpose.' One tiny, major problem: Congress said that all government employers and all 501(c)(3) employers qualify, with no exceptions.' 'When Congress passed the PSLF law, it said that all government employers and all non-profit employers qualify, without including any exceptions,' echoed TICAS in its blog post this week 'The Department's claim that it can limit eligibility for any employer based on its alleged conduct conflicts with the PSLF law and has no statutory basis.' After the Department of Education finalizes the regulations later this year, the new restrictions on student loan forgiveness could go into effect by July 2026. At that point, observers widely expect there to be immediate legal challenges.
Time Magazine
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Trump Seeking Changes to a Major Student Loan Relief Program
Tens of thousands of nonprofit employees could be affected by the Trump Administration's efforts to narrow a student loan cancellation program that aids public service workers. Employees at organizations that do work related to issues including immigration and gender-affirming-care would be at risk of losing eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which has wiped the student loan debts of hundreds of thousands of government employees and others at certain nonprofit organizations, if changes proposed by the Administration are adopted. President Donald Trump directed that PSLF be reshaped in a March Executive Order that claimed the program aided 'activist organizations" that harm 'national security and American values.' Trump asked federal officials to propose revisions to exclude certain organizations that he said 'engage in activities that have a substantial illegal purpose' from being eligible for forgiveness under the program. The order noted that such activities would include 'aiding or abetting' violations of federal immigration law or 'illegal discrimination' and providing gender-affirming care for those aged 18 or under, among other things. A draft proposal of changes has since been released by the Education Department, which is now putting together a formal proposal that could take effect next year. Critics argue that the proposed adjustments would specifically target employees working for organizations that oppose the Trump Administration's agenda, which in part includes more aggressive immigration enforcement and the targeting of gender-affirming-care. The Department of Education did not respond to TIME's request for comment. Here's what to know about the program and how the Administration is seeking to change it. What is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program? The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, established under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, offers tax-free loan forgiveness for government employees including teachers and firefighters and eligible nonprofit workers after they make 10 years of monthly payments towards their debt. The forgiveness is only available for full-time employees. It has been viewed as a strong incentive for those considering a public service career. More than a million borrowers have had their student loans cancelled through PSLF since December 2024, including 700,000 whose loans were forgiven under adjustments made by the Biden Administration to help more people earn forgiveness, according to the Department of Education. Prior to the changes, student loan forgiveness advocates criticized the program for its slow-moving application process that they said set back borrowers. An NPR report found that some borrowers enrolled in PSLF would make repayments towards the program for years before being told they didn't qualify due to having the incorrect loan or employer or failing to consolidate their loans. The Biden Administration sought to remedy 'past administrative failures' through an account adjustment plan that would allow borrowers to receive credit for previous months of repayment that were previously ineligible. That meant that payments made during periods of deferment or forbearance qualified towards the 10-year payment plan. More than 780,000 borrowers submitted an application for PSLF from July 2024 through December, per Federal Student Aid data. What changes is the Trump Administration proposing? The Trump Administration is seeking to alter the types of nongovernmental employees whose loans are eligible for forgiveness through PSLF. A draft proposal of the changes would prevent organizations engaged in 'illegal activities' from benefiting from PSLF. Its definition of activities that could bar organizations from eligibility, like that in Trump's Executive Order, would include violations of federal immigration law and providing gender-affirming care for minors, as well as 'child trafficking'—apparently also meant to target transgender minors—and discrimination. It defines 'illegal discrimination' as violations of the Civil Rights Act, which could include engagement in diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. In contrast with his predecessor, Trump has been a staunch critic of broad student loan forgiveness efforts. The White House has framed the proposed changes as a way to correct 'abuse' of the program following the Biden-era amendments that it said 'has increased the cost of tuition, burdened students with debt, and encouraged them to join organizations that undermine national security and the societal good.' Trump's Executive Order, the White House said in a March fact sheet, 'corrects this abuse by ensuring only legitimate public servants benefit, not those engaged in illegal or harmful activities.' Critics of the effort to narrow eligibility, however, say the impact of the changes could be widespread, punishing borrowers for legal actions. 'If the proposed changes take effect, the Secretary of Education will be able to disqualify millions of borrowers from PSLF as retribution for their employers' actions, even if those actions are legal,' Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at the Student Borrower Protection Center, a nonprofit advocating for student loan forgiveness, wrote in a statement to TIME. Berkman-Breen warns that the 'illegal' actions the Administration appears to be targeting could be broad in scope. 'Public school systems that teach the history of slavery in the United States could be disqualified for 'aiding and abetting illegal discrimination.' Fire departments and other first responders could be disqualified if they serve in the local government of a Sanctuary City providing support to undocumented children and families,' he says. In order to assess eligibility, officials would review court judgements or other orders. A panel of experts was convened by the Department of Education to review the proposal from June 30 to July 2 and drafted potential amendments. These included limitations on the proposed changes including protections for actions that fell within employees' First Amendment rights. Ultimately, however, the panel failed to reach a consensus on recommendations. The department will next prepare a formal proposal, which will undergo a public comment period before potentially being finalized. Who could be impacted? The proposed changes could potentially affect any public service worker enrolled in the program, according to experts. 'The biggest concern is the amount of grey area that leaves room for the Department of Education to subjectively purge program participants,' says Jonathan Collins, assistant professor of political science and education at Teachers College, Columbia University. The draft proposal would nullify payments made while a worker was employed at an organization that was found to engage in an 'illegal purpose,' forcing them to find a new job if they want to be eligible for forgiveness. Berkman-Breen of the Student Borrower Protection Center calls the proposed amendments an attempt to 'attack civil society' and free speech. 'The proposal gives the Administration broadsweeping authority to play ideological politics with people's financial and professional lives,' he says.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Student Loan Forgiveness programs to undergo massive changes under Trump 2.0. Are you at risk?
President Donald Trump is going to make a significant transformation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The proposed changes arrive based on concerns that federal funds have been used to support organizations that the administration views as acting outside the law. This has sparked fear that it will become a tool for political retribution, taking aim at organizations that serve immigrants and transgender youth. What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness program? Established in 2007, PSLF allows government employees, such as teachers and firefighters, plus many who work for nonprofits, to have their student loans canceled after they've made payments for 10 years. Government employees, healthcare workers, nonprofit staffers, and public defenders have all relied on PSLF and more than one million borrowers have already benefited from or are working toward forgiveness under it. Congress established the program in 2007 to motivate college graduates to pursue careers in the public sector, where pay is typically lower than in private industry. Under the program, borrowers who make 120 qualifying monthly payments while employed by any level of government are eligible to have their remaining student loan debt forgiven. Nonprofit employees can also qualify—provided their work focuses on areas such as public interest law, public health, or education. What are the proposed changes? Live Events The proposed changes from the White House, if implemented, would allow the Education Department to remove loan forgiveness eligibility from organizations it determines have engaged in "illegal activities." The overhaul in the policy would strip the benefit from organizations involved in 'illegal activities,' with the final determination left up to the US education secretary. A draft proposal released by the department includes definitions of illegal activity that center on immigration, terrorism and transgender issues. Definitions within the draft rules, including those related to immigration, terrorism, and transgender issues, have prompted concerns from advocates and education professionals about the potential for subjective or politically motivated enforcement. The draft proposal by the Education Department gives the secretary the power to determine which organizations have engaged in "illegal activities" and should be disqualified from PSLF. The proposal's focus includes organizations that allegedly aid federal immigration law violations, support foreign terrorist organizations, or contravene anti-discrimination statutes. 'That's definitely an indicator for me that this is politically motivated and perhaps will be used as a tool for political punishment,' Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors and one of the advocates asked to review the policy as part of a rulemaking process, told AP. The ED convened a 10-person advisory panel to draft regulatory language for the PSLF overhaul. Who are at risk? If the proposed changes come into place, hospitals, schools and nonprofit organisations could be at risk. The proposal's definitions of illegal activity largely mirror those laid out by Trump. They include 'aiding or abetting' in the violation of federal immigration law, and supporting any group designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Also considered illegal is 'engaging in the chemical and surgical castration or mutilation of children in violation of Federal or State law.' It says that includes the use of hormone therapy or drugs that delay puberty. It defines children as those under 19. Entire hospital systems could become ineligible if a single department provides certain care to transgender youth. Cities with sanctuary policies or public schools promoting diversity and inclusion programs could be flagged under the new rules. Workers who have spent years working toward loan forgiveness may abruptly lose eligibility. Organizations would also be required to certify each year that they are not participating in any prohibited activities. Some borrowers fear they may now be forced out of PSLF eligibility due to their employers' activities. "For those currently enrolled in PSLF, now is the time to stay informed and connect with the entity overseeing your participation," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. "While not all organizations will be affected, some could, and you don't want to be caught in a situation where the rules for forgiveness change, and you're unsure if you and your employer still qualify." Borrowers are unable to monitor progress toward forgiveness, and significant delays have emerged in updating PSLF statuses. While the PSLF tracker on remains online, updating remains inconsistent, further contributing to borrower uncertainty, according to Forbes. The Department of Education is currently preparing the final rule for public comment. If adopted, the changes would take effect in July 2026.
