Key Information:

• The Higher Education Act was last reauthorized in 2008 as Public Law 315-110, titled the Higher Education Opportunity Act.
• It was scheduled for reauthorization in 2013.
• The latest updates can be found on the HEA section of the CTE Policy Watch blog.

Reauthorization:

ACTE Positions & Statements:

• ACTE reauthorization priorities
• ACTE Higher Education Affordability Act comments (8/14)

Other Groups  Positions:

• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
• American Council on Education (ACE)
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• College Board
• The Education Trust
• National Skills Coalition (NSC)

Background:

The Higher Education Act (HEA) is a federal law that governs the administration of federal higher education programs. Its purpose is to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and
higher education. It was originally passed in and signed into
in 1965 and is generally scheduled for  reauthorization by Congress every five years “to
encourage growth and change.” Most recently, The Higher Education
Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA, or H.R. 4137) enacted the tenth
reauthorization of the HEA and was signed into law in 2008. The following titles are currently included:

Title I-  General Provisions
Title II – Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships
Title III – Institutional Aid
Title IV – Student Assistance
Title V – Developing Institutions
Title VI – International Education Programs
Title VII – Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs
Title VIII – Studies, Reports, and Related Programs

This law provides almost $50 billion in loans, grants,
work-study and institutional aid in support of postsecondary education.
Ninety-five percent of the funding is through Title IV in the form of aid to
students. The remainder is used to improve teacher quality, ensure access and
improve postsecondary institutions.