H.R. 4054 - Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act

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Summary

This bill would reform how colleges and universities are accredited by making significant changes to the accreditation system. Currently, only the federal Department of Education recognizes accrediting agencies that determine which institutions are eligible for federal student aid. This bill would allow states to also recognize accrediting agencies if they submit plans to the Department of Education specifying what requirements accreditors must meet.

The bill would require accreditors to focus more on measuring student achievement outcomes, such as graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and how well graduates' earnings compare to program costs. It would also allow new types of organizations, including state and industry entities, to become accreditors, creating what supporters describe as a marketplace for quality assurance. Additionally, the bill would make it easier for colleges to switch accreditors and would provide protections for religious institutions facing accreditation actions based on their religious affiliation.

If enacted, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would increase federal spending on student loans and Pell Grants by approximately 437 million dollars over ten years, as more institutions would likely gain accreditation and federal aid eligibility. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote, though it still requires approval by both chambers of Congress and the President's signature to become law.

AI-generated summary

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Jun 25, 2025

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 15.

Jun 25, 2025

HearingHouseMarkup

Jun 25, 2025 · 14:15

H.R. 3453 the "Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act"; H.R. 2516 the "Accreditation for College Excellence (ACE) Act of 2025"; H.R. 4054 the "Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act"; H.R. 2528 the "Assocation Health Plans Act"; H.R. 2571 the "Self-Insurance Protection Act"; H.R. 2988 the "Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act"; H.R. 3170 the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act"

Committee

House Committee on Education and Workforce

View full hearing

Summary

On June 25, 2025, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup session to consider seven separate bills addressing education, health care, and worker benefits. The bills examined included H.R. 3453 (Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act), which would expand the Charter School Program by authorizing up to $100,000 for pre-charter planning for educator-led charter school developers. H.R. 2516 (Accreditation for College Excellence Act) would prohibit accreditors from requiring institutions to support certain political or ideological beliefs and prevent denial of accreditation based on religious mission. H.R. 4054 (Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act) would allow states to recognize accrediting agencies and establish new requirements for accreditors' state recognition. H.R. 2528 (Association Health Plans Act) would clarify the treatment of association health plans as employers under ERISA. H.R. 2571 (Self-Insurance Protection Act) would exclude medical stop-loss insurance from the definition of health insurance coverage for self-insured employers. H.R. 2988 (Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act) would require pension plan fiduciaries to base investment decisions solely on pecuniary factors. H.R. 3170 (Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act) would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to treat and certify injuries for federal workers' compensation. The committee reported most bills favorably on party-line votes of 21-15 or similar margins. The bills now advance to the full House for consideration, though passage is not guaranteed.