New Proposed Rules Could Reshape Federal Education Grants

All4Ed and other advocacy organizations are submitting a letter to the U.S. Department of Education opposing proposed changes to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, commonly known as EDGAR.

The proposed regulations would continue a pattern of instability in the federal grantmaking process by increasing uncertainty, reducing transparency, and giving the Secretary of Education broader authority over federal education funding decisions.
One of the primary concerns centers on a proposal that would allow the Secretary to terminate discretionary grants “for convenience,” even when a grantee is meeting all program requirements and performing successfully.

All4Ed and other advocacy organizations argue that this change would create significant uncertainty for school districts, nonprofit organizations, and other grant recipients that rely on multi-year federal funding to plan and sustain programs serving learners.
The letter also raises concerns about proposed changes to continuation awards. Under the new rules, funding for approved multi-year grants could be delayed, reduced, or distributed in installments, making it more difficult for organizations to budget and carry out long-term work.

Another major concern is the proposal’s treatment of equity in federal education programs.
All4Ed along with other advocacy organizations note that promoting equitable educational opportunity is not simply a policy preference. It is a purpose established in federal law, including the law that created the Department, Title I, and the General Education Provisions Act.

The organizations argue that the proposal would remove important references to underserved populations from grant criteria, eliminate incentives that encourage applicants to address barriers to opportunity, and remove civil rights organizations from a list of stakeholders that applicants are encouraged to engage when designing federally funded projects.

The letter also questions proposed changes related to evidence-based decision-making and transparency.
Among the concerns are provisions that could weaken longstanding standards for evaluating research and reduce public access to information about federal grant competitions and funding priorities.

Finally, the letter points to a contradiction within the proposal.

While it would expand the Secretary’s authority over grants and funding decisions, it comes at a time when the Department has significantly reduced staffing and operational capacity.

All4Ed and its partners are urging the Department to withdraw the proposal, arguing that it would politicize federal education funding, create additional uncertainty for grantees, weaken transparency, and undermine efforts to ensure equal educational opportunity for all learners.

As these proposed regulations move forward, All4Ed will continue monitoring developments, elevating the voices of educators and communities, and advocating for policies that strengthen, rather than undermine, educational opportunity.

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