The U.S. Department of Education has published a notice seeking public comment on a new information collection related to State Workforce Pell Program certification.
This request stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted in July 2025, which expanded Pell Grant eligibility to include certain workforce training programs.
To qualify, these programs must meet specific criteria—including formal certification by a state’s governor.
The Department is proposing a new optional form that states can use to certify whether an institution’s program meets the requirements to be considered an “eligible workforce program.”
The goal is to standardize and simplify how states report certification information to the Department.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, 2025, made statutory changes to Federal Pell Grants that impact regulatory requirements in this information collection. Section 83002(b) of the OBBB established a new academic program in which eligible students could receive Pell Grants. Programs must meet several criteria to become eligible workforce programs, including certification from their State Governor. This is a request for a new information collection to develop a form for States to certify an institution’s eligibility for eligible workforce programs. This would be an optional form which includes the required elements and is being offered for ease of requirements for State reported information.”
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 19, 2026.
To view this Federal Register publication, click here