The U.S. Department of Education has announced that it is beginning a formal process to update its Accreditation Handbook, the document that guides how accrediting agencies are reviewed, monitored, and recognized by the Department.
As part of this update, the Department issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on ways to improve the clarity, efficiency, and structure of the Handbook. The RFI invites feedback from institutions, accrediting organizations, students, researchers, and the general public. The public will have 45 days to submit comments.
Questions in the RFI
- What policies or practices should be updated in the current version of the Handbook from February 2022? Are there particular pain points that the Department should be aware of? What policies or standards are encouraging innovation or reducing college costs within the postsecondary education sector and should be retained?
- Are there any inaccuracies, inconsistencies or inclusions within the Handbook that are counter to the regulations contained in 34 CFR 602? Additionally, are there any items within the law or regulations that need further explanation?
- What policies or practices could be clearer? Do interested parties have suggestions on the process by which we update the Handbook in the event Federal regulations are further revised in future rulemakings? In what specific formats would stakeholders prefer to see clarifying information or updates, whether that be via an Electronic Announcement, in a Dear Colleague Letter, or regulations?
- Is the Handbook serving its intended purpose? How can it better assist accrediting agencies and associations in evaluating the quality of educational institutions and programs or in applying for Federal recognition?
- What might be an alternative solution to offer guiding advice to accrediting agencies and associations outside of the Handbook? How can the Handbook be designed to be less burdensome?
- How could accreditation standards be updated to incentivize intellectual diversity on campus? What guidance or standards, if any, can the Handbook provide to institutions and programs to help achieve this goal?
- Keeping in mind that the Department intends to take further action on this subject matter, what would stakeholders suggest as methods to determine appropriate assessment benchmarks, and what data sources or validation methods could be used to ensure those benchmarks reflect student competency? If new assessment methods are developed, how should the Department evaluate the feasibility and administrative burden associated with developing or administering new assessments? How do stakeholders suggest that the Department present these benchmarks in updated guidance materials?
- Commenters may also consider providing comment on the totality of the accreditation process and comment on specific proposals contained within Executive Order 14279, or other innovative ideas related to accreditation.
- The Department also encourages commenters to consider the totality of the Handbook, and its overall usefulness. They invite commenters to propose bold new ideas on how this resource can better help accrediting agencies ultimately validate the highest quality in postsecondary education.
Why is this happening?
As directed by President Trump in Executive Order 14279, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education (April 23, 2025), the Department intends to update the Handbook to ensure that the accrediting agency recognition process is transparent, efficient, and not unduly burdensome. By updating the Handbook, the Department intends to aid reform of the accreditation process in an effort to realign accreditation with evaluating whether an institution provides a high-quality, high value education for all students.
The Executive Order signifies a historic commitment to reforming all aspects of the accreditation process and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens
associated with it. This includes the Department’s renewed commitment to undertaking a critical review of the recognition process for both initial and renewing accrediting agencies and improving transparency in the Department’s related resources. As such, the Department invites feedback and specific language
suggestions on how the Handbook should be updated.
The Department has already implemented certain policy changes and actions it was directed to undertake in Executive Order 14279, including lifting the temporary pause on accepting and reviewing new applications for initial recognition from new accrediting agencies and associations on May 2, 2025. The Department intends to update the Handbook to reflect the resumption of these activities and thoroughly review its existing practices to address any other revisions that may be necessary due to policy position changes.
“The Department is excited to continue implementing President Trump’s Executive Order to reform and strengthen our accreditation system,” said Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Dr. David Barker. “Instead of driving high-quality programs that better serve students, the antiquated accreditation system has led to inflated tuition costs and fees, administrative bloat, and ideology-driven initiatives at colleges across the country. We are excited to receive feedback on how best to update the Handbook, streamline guidance, and eliminate bureaucratic headaches for accrediting agencies and associations.”
MORE INFORMATION:
Press Release: U.S. Department of Education to Update Accreditation Handbook to Support High-Quality, High-Value Education
Federal Register: Request for Information: Updates to the Accreditation Handbook