Big news from the Department of Education this week: The department just wrapped its second session of the Reimagining and Improving Student Education, or RISE, negotiated rulemaking committee. The hot topic at the table is rolling out massive changes to federal student loans triggered by the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, known as the OBBBA, signed this past summer. Among the most headline-grabbing changes? The Grad PLUS loan program is set to be eliminated, a move that’s got graduate students and universities across the country scrambling for new ways to finance advanced degrees. The Department says this aims to tackle escalating student debt and redirect resources toward more sustainable loan options, but higher education groups like the American Council on Education are warning it could reduce access and limit opportunity for the next generation of researchers and professionals.

That’s not the only shift making waves. In another major development, President Trump’s administration is exploring the transfer of federal special education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services. The administration argues this would consolidate services without disrupting support for students with disabilities, yet educators and advocates fear a possible loss in focus and expertise, with hundreds of federal special education staff still facing ongoing job insecurity after being furloughed earlier this fall.

Leadership changes are also shaking up the department’s direction. Just this week, the Senate confirmed several new leaders to key posts in the Education Department. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, speaking on the new leadership team, said, “We have a clear mandate to move quickly—students and families are counting on us.”

If you’re a parent or a student, expect changes to grant and funding streams, particularly as several states, including Indiana, are requesting broad waivers to federal education requirements. Indiana’s plan, for example, would merge district and state funding into flexible, block-style grants aimed at reducing bureaucracy and boosting innovation. The Department now has 120 days to respond to these waiver requests, which could reshape how federal education dollars are spent at the local level.

For businesses and organizations, new legislation focused on artificial intelligence in K-12 classrooms is pending in Congress. The proposed LIFE with AI Act would safeguard student privacy, with specific bans on using student photos to train facial recognition AI without parental consent and mandates for transparency in ed-tech contracts.

Meanwhile, the administration’s continued push to “streamline government” and phase out the Department of Education entirely remains in play, raising questions about the future of federal oversight in everything from college accreditation to local K-12 school funding. The implications for states and local governments are profound, potentially increasing autonomy but also shifting financial and administrative responsibility their way.

For international students and relations, changing American loan rules and possible department closures could make U.S. higher education less predictable, possibly driving talent elsewhere.

Key dates to mark on your calendar: The Department is still accepting public comment on proposed changes to special education data collection and Title VI enforcement procedures—the deadline for feedback is just a few weeks away. There’s also a wave of guidance coming on AI workforce initiatives for high school students, with grant proposals due by December 15.

If you want to weigh in, watch for town halls and forthcoming comment periods online. Resources and updates are available at ed.gov. Before we go, don’t forget to stay informed—these changes will influence classrooms, colleges, and communities for years to come.

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