On Wednesday, Reps. Matt Salmon Alcee Hastings (FL-20) introduced the Assuring Quality Outcomes inAssuring Quality Outcomes, which would require the Department of Education to conduct an impact analysis on any income- or employment-based measures of quality in higher education before promulgating regulations.
Over the last several years, the U.S. Department of Education has issued a series of complex, burdensome, and costly rules focused on many aspects of higher education. According to a recent bipartisan Senate Task Force on Federal Regulations of Higher Education, the Department of Education has “[operated] in a vacuum, with no guidance from Congress” and used the regulatory process to “pursue its own policy objectives that go beyond the statute.”
According to the government’s own estimates, the implementation of the controversial gainful employment regulation would impact approximately 1,400 programs serving 840,000 students. If implemented, these students would lose all access to federal aid in the educational pursuits of their choice.
The Assuring Quality Outcomes in Higher Education Act of 2015 directs the Secretary of Education to complete a study to address a series of consequential regulations – proposed or pending – including a government-imposed college ratings system, teacher preparation regulations, and gainful employment regulations,” stated Rep. Salmon.
“The Department of Education seems intent on limiting choices for students with arbitrary rules developed without the appropriate level of scrutiny,” said Rep. Salmon, “Our bill would provide the Department of Education the guidance they need to develop and implement regulations in line with the needs of American students and the expectations of the American people,” concluded Salmon.
“Students should not be penalized for choosing careers they consider to be rewarding. This bill would protect students’ decisions to pursue the educational programs of their choice. If the Department of Education is going to attempt to heavily influence or restrict the options of our nation’s students through regulation, it must first conduct an impact study on the effects that such regulations may have on students, universities, and programs,” said Rep. Hastings.