State Policy
The Iowa Department of Education recently published its annual letter to the field, summarizing education legislation enacted during the 2025 Session.
As we move through the legislative interim, it’s a critical time to build relationships with your state legislators. Take this opportunity to share your stories, highlight the impact of your work, and remind them of the importance of community colleges to Iowa’s future.
At the same time, we invite you to support our advocacy efforts by donating to our PAC and signing up for our grassroots advocacy network. Your contributions ensure we have the resources to champion policies that strengthen our institutions and expand opportunities for our students.
Let’s stay active, stay connected, and stay committed: Please consider donating to our PAC, and using Quorum to reach out to legislators.
Federal Policy
Senate Advances FY26 Education Funding
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY26 Labor-HHS-Education bill with broad bipartisan support (26–3). Unlike the Trump administration’s proposed cuts, the Senate bill preserves funding for key programs like SCCTG, TRIO, GEAR UP, CCAMPIS, and Pell Grants ($7,395 max). Only SIP saw a slight cut. Read the full story from Community College Daily.
House Markup Delayed
The House’s version of the bill, originally scheduled for July, is now expected in September. Early signals suggest some proposed cuts will also be rejected.
DOJ Issues DEI Guidance
The Department of Justice released a memo reinforcing limits on race-based considerations in education and hiring. This follows the the US Department of Education’s February Dear Colleague Letter and highlights continued federal scrutiny of campus DEI efforts.
College Transparency Act Reintroduced
Bipartisan legislation (the “College Transparency Act”) would create a student-level data network (SLDN) to better capture outcomes across all higher ed sectors, including non-Title IV students. This AACC-backed bill will streamline reporting and support program improvement.