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To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the clock hour requirements for certain eligible programs under title IV of such Act.
2/25/2025, 9:05 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1176
The bill specifically addresses the issue of clock hour requirements, which are the number of hours a student must spend in a program in order to be eligible for federal financial aid under title IV of the Higher Education Act. The bill seeks to clarify and streamline these requirements in order to make it easier for students to understand and comply with the regulations.
By amending the Higher Education Act, this bill aims to ensure that students in eligible programs are able to access the financial aid they need to pursue their education. This could have a significant impact on students who rely on federal financial aid to attend college or vocational programs. Overall, the Higher Education Act Clarification Act is a step towards improving access to higher education for all students, and ensuring that federal financial aid programs are administered in a clear and efficient manner.
Congressional Summary of HR 1176
Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the 150% rule, which allows an educational program that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation to maintain eligibility for federal student aid funding if the program operates within 150% of the state's minimum hours requirement for licensure.
The Department of Education (ED) previously enforced the 150% rule through regulations. ED proposed a new regulation to rescind the 150% rule and instead limit the length of these programs to 100% of the state's minimum required hours. This revised regulation was set to take effect on July 1, 2024; however, a court imposed a temporary injunction to halt the regulation from taking effect.
