On February 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education, through the Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO), issued a Dear Colleague Letter providing technical assistance to presidents of institutions of higher education subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The letter addresses questions and concerns related to participation in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), a national research initiative examining student political engagement across more than 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States.

On July 4, 2025, Congress enacted P.L. 119-21, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This legislation introduces major changes to federal student financial aid programs, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Key provisions include: