Third Way Education
@thirdwayedu.bsky.social
Third Way's Education Program - Developing a high-quality education agenda focused on value & creating demand for new policy ideas to improve student outcomes.
As accreditation reform takes shape, Emily Rounds points to a way forward on student outcomes: accreditors should “work with its institutions to set benchmarks for continuous improvement.” More from @jessicablake.bsky.social ( @insidehighered.com ) buff.ly/C83vKqb
Education Dept. Eyes Rewrite of Accreditation Rules
ED officials have said for months that they want to tackle the regulations governing accreditors. A Monday announcement offers more specifics on their agenda.
www.insidehighered.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:21 PM
As accreditation reform takes shape, Emily Rounds points to a way forward on student outcomes: accreditors should “work with its institutions to set benchmarks for continuous improvement.” More from @jessicablake.bsky.social ( @insidehighered.com ) buff.ly/C83vKqb
Next up in the neg reg series: accreditation. Let’s get back to basics and unpack what it actually means for institutions, students, and taxpayers. ⤵️
Q&A: Higher Ed Accreditation
Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.
buff.ly
January 27, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Next up in the neg reg series: accreditation. Let’s get back to basics and unpack what it actually means for institutions, students, and taxpayers. ⤵️
ED is asking to delay forgiveness for 170,000 borrowers from the 2022 Borrower Defense settlement, citing backlogs & limited capacity. Cuts that reduced ED staff by nearly 50% make the challenge worse. With Wednesday’s deadline, here is what’s at stake.⚠️ buff.ly/WHAj6EG
Education Department Tries To Delay Student Loan Forgiveness For 170,000 Borrowers On Cusp Of Key Deadline
The Education Department filed a last minute request to extend the time window to process student loan forgiveness applications, just days before a key deadline.
www.forbes.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:26 PM
ED is asking to delay forgiveness for 170,000 borrowers from the 2022 Borrower Defense settlement, citing backlogs & limited capacity. Cuts that reduced ED staff by nearly 50% make the challenge worse. With Wednesday’s deadline, here is what’s at stake.⚠️ buff.ly/WHAj6EG
On International Day of Education, we celebrate youth shaping the future of learning. Gen Z values higher ed but worries about rising costs & student debt. Listening to young people means policies that deliver affordability, transparency, & real outcomes. #EducationDay #HigherEd
January 24, 2026 at 5:45 PM
On International Day of Education, we celebrate youth shaping the future of learning. Gen Z values higher ed but worries about rising costs & student debt. Listening to young people means policies that deliver affordability, transparency, & real outcomes. #EducationDay #HigherEd
ED recently hosted sessions on the new earnings threshold, and our policy advisor Emily Rounds was there every day to follow along. Want the full recap? Read Emily’s latest blog🔎:
Negotiators Reach Consensus on Accountability Framework
Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.
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January 23, 2026 at 4:15 PM
ED recently hosted sessions on the new earnings threshold, and our policy advisor Emily Rounds was there every day to follow along. Want the full recap? Read Emily’s latest blog🔎:
The OBBBA may spark debate, but it also creates opportunities for students. Making the most of this bill to boost higher ed value is a bipartisan imperative. Hear from our director, Michelle Dimino, on making this bill work for students, in a panel hosted by @insidehighered.com 🗣️
January 22, 2026 at 8:49 PM
The OBBBA may spark debate, but it also creates opportunities for students. Making the most of this bill to boost higher ed value is a bipartisan imperative. Hear from our director, Michelle Dimino, on making this bill work for students, in a panel hosted by @insidehighered.com 🗣️
ED is finalizing how the earnings threshold will work. It is not perfect, but it is a meaningful step toward stronger accountability and transparency in higher ed and rebuilding trust in the system. Read more about the process ⬇️ buff.ly/u4qYUpW
January 16, 2026 at 7:31 PM
ED is finalizing how the earnings threshold will work. It is not perfect, but it is a meaningful step toward stronger accountability and transparency in higher ed and rebuilding trust in the system. Read more about the process ⬇️ buff.ly/u4qYUpW
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We're hiring at Third Way! Are you a health care wonk? Come be out newest Deputy Director for Health Care www.thirdway.org/careers#depu...
Careers
Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.
www.thirdway.org
January 15, 2026 at 2:01 PM
We're hiring at Third Way! Are you a health care wonk? Come be out newest Deputy Director for Health Care www.thirdway.org/careers#depu...
Rules for short-term Pell Grants need stronger guardrails to protect students. “There’s just a lot we don’t know about what financial returns students will get in the labor market by pursuing a short-term program,” says @bencecil.bsky.social. More from Money 📰
buff.ly/A7PVQci
buff.ly/A7PVQci
Pell Grants Will Soon Help Students Pay for Job Training Programs
But a slew of rules intended to protect students and taxpayers, combined with a rapid implementation timeline, could mean relatively few courses get approved for the 2026–2027 academic year.
money.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Rules for short-term Pell Grants need stronger guardrails to protect students. “There’s just a lot we don’t know about what financial returns students will get in the labor market by pursuing a short-term program,” says @bencecil.bsky.social. More from Money 📰
buff.ly/A7PVQci
buff.ly/A7PVQci
Looking for your next career move in the new year? Here are some of the latest additions to our higher ed job board!
🔷Program Asst., PNPI
🔷Research Analyst, National Student Clearinghouse
🔷Senior Project Assoc., ACCT
Check out more or submit your own at higheredpolicyjobs.org.
🔷Program Asst., PNPI
🔷Research Analyst, National Student Clearinghouse
🔷Senior Project Assoc., ACCT
Check out more or submit your own at higheredpolicyjobs.org.
Higher Ed Policy Jobs Homepage
Higher Ed Policy Jobs
higheredpolicyjobs.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Looking for your next career move in the new year? Here are some of the latest additions to our higher ed job board!
🔷Program Asst., PNPI
🔷Research Analyst, National Student Clearinghouse
🔷Senior Project Assoc., ACCT
Check out more or submit your own at higheredpolicyjobs.org.
🔷Program Asst., PNPI
🔷Research Analyst, National Student Clearinghouse
🔷Senior Project Assoc., ACCT
Check out more or submit your own at higheredpolicyjobs.org.
ICYMI - Negotiators reached consensus on new accountability rules tying federal funding to earnings outcomes. Programs that repeatedly fail could lose loan access, and institutions dominated by those programs could risk Pell eligibility. Read more below. 🔽 www.linkedin.com/pulse/all-ey...
All Eyes on Accountability: AHEAD Committee Negotiated Rulemaking Recap Day 5
Happy final day of negreg to those who celebrate! Today, negotiators hashed out the details of revoking Pell Grant eligibility for some low-earning programs and came to consensus on the drafted text. ...
www.linkedin.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:51 PM
ICYMI - Negotiators reached consensus on new accountability rules tying federal funding to earnings outcomes. Programs that repeatedly fail could lose loan access, and institutions dominated by those programs could risk Pell eligibility. Read more below. 🔽 www.linkedin.com/pulse/all-ey...
Students still have strong paths forward. Even with the new earnings threshold, most programs meet the standard, and those that do not often have nearby alternatives that lead to better outcomes. Learn more. 👇
Earning Their Keep: Better Alternatives Abound Near Programs That Fail the Earnings Threshold
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January 8, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Students still have strong paths forward. Even with the new earnings threshold, most programs meet the standard, and those that do not often have nearby alternatives that lead to better outcomes. Learn more. 👇
Grad PLUS is gone. What comes next matters. Our policy menu shows what works:
➡️ State loans tied to workforce needs
➡️ Guardrails for private lending
➡️Outcomes-based financing
➡️Employer-funded training
➡️More grants & pay-it-forward models
Read more.
➡️ State loans tied to workforce needs
➡️ Guardrails for private lending
➡️Outcomes-based financing
➡️Employer-funded training
➡️More grants & pay-it-forward models
Read more.
Financing Graduate Training for the Next Generation
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buff.ly
January 7, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Grad PLUS is gone. What comes next matters. Our policy menu shows what works:
➡️ State loans tied to workforce needs
➡️ Guardrails for private lending
➡️Outcomes-based financing
➡️Employer-funded training
➡️More grants & pay-it-forward models
Read more.
➡️ State loans tied to workforce needs
➡️ Guardrails for private lending
➡️Outcomes-based financing
➡️Employer-funded training
➡️More grants & pay-it-forward models
Read more.
Some worry the earnings threshold will limit access, but 83% of failing programs have an alternative nearby. The data is clear.🔎 Dive into the findings. ⬇️ buff.ly/MWCCW4v
January 6, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Some worry the earnings threshold will limit access, but 83% of failing programs have an alternative nearby. The data is clear.🔎 Dive into the findings. ⬇️ buff.ly/MWCCW4v
Welcome to the new year and back to negotiated rulemaking as ED takes on accountability measures. Want a quick breakdown of how neg reg works? Our latest animated video has you covered. 💡
The 101 on Negotiated Rulemaking
Have you ever wondered how the Department of Education makes rules for financial aid? It all begins with negotiated rulemaking sessions—or "neg reg" for short—when the Department brings together…
buff.ly
January 5, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Welcome to the new year and back to negotiated rulemaking as ED takes on accountability measures. Want a quick breakdown of how neg reg works? Our latest animated video has you covered. 💡
Grad ed financing is entering a period of change. If policymakers get it right, we can build a system that delivers value for students & taxpayers. Explore options to redesign grad lending in latest from @michelledimino.bsky.social, @stephmhall.bsky.social & @emiliarounds.bsky.social
Financing Graduate Training for the Next Generation
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buff.ly
December 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Grad ed financing is entering a period of change. If policymakers get it right, we can build a system that delivers value for students & taxpayers. Explore options to redesign grad lending in latest from @michelledimino.bsky.social, @stephmhall.bsky.social & @emiliarounds.bsky.social
Next year marks a major shift in grad education financing. Ending unlimited federal borrowing by eliminating Grad PLUS protects students and taxpayers and moves us toward a sustainable system. How can policymakers fill the gaps? Read more→ buff.ly/HUgyxKS
December 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Next year marks a major shift in grad education financing. Ending unlimited federal borrowing by eliminating Grad PLUS protects students and taxpayers and moves us toward a sustainable system. How can policymakers fill the gaps? Read more→ buff.ly/HUgyxKS
ICYMI: We sat down with Viviann Anguiano, Managing Director of Higher Education Policy at @americanprogress.bsky.social, for a conversation about what students are facing amidst big policy moves this year, and how state and institutional support can help bridge gaps. 🎙️https://buff.ly/aDtvt3V
December 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
ICYMI: We sat down with Viviann Anguiano, Managing Director of Higher Education Policy at @americanprogress.bsky.social, for a conversation about what students are facing amidst big policy moves this year, and how state and institutional support can help bridge gaps. 🎙️https://buff.ly/aDtvt3V
Join our team! We’re stepping back into the K–12 space and looking for someone ready to do the work. If you or someone you know is a strong fit, apply today. 💼 buff.ly/tla3tz2
December 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Join our team! We’re stepping back into the K–12 space and looking for someone ready to do the work. If you or someone you know is a strong fit, apply today. 💼 buff.ly/tla3tz2
Workforce Pell will only work if we get it right. @mdrc-news.bsky.social argues that short term training must come with advising, wraparound supports, and lessons from the @cunyasap.bsky.social model. The evidence is there. Read why it matters.
OPINION: Workforce Pell can lead to good jobs for students if they get the support needed for long-term success - The Hechinger Report
Next summer federal funds will be available for Workforce Pell, which extends federal aid for career-focused education and training programs with the expectation that they will lead to “good-paying…
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Workforce Pell will only work if we get it right. @mdrc-news.bsky.social argues that short term training must come with advising, wraparound supports, and lessons from the @cunyasap.bsky.social model. The evidence is there. Read why it matters.
OBBBA reshapes graduate education. Grad PLUS loans are gone, ending nearly unlimited borrowing and forcing a rethink of student debt. ⬇️
www.thirdway.org/memo/how-we-...
www.thirdway.org/memo/how-we-...
How We Got Here: The Rise and Fall of the Grad PLUS Loan Program
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www.thirdway.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
OBBBA reshapes graduate education. Grad PLUS loans are gone, ending nearly unlimited borrowing and forcing a rethink of student debt. ⬇️
www.thirdway.org/memo/how-we-...
www.thirdway.org/memo/how-we-...
Did you know that nearly a million people have had their loans discharged because they were sold on failed promises from a school? That's why Borrower Defense exists. Watch our latest video to learn how the program works. 🎞️
The 101 on Borrower Defense
Students invest time, money, and trust into earning a degree—often taking out student loans expecting an earnings boost to help pay them off once they’ve graduated. But when an institution misleads…
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Did you know that nearly a million people have had their loans discharged because they were sold on failed promises from a school? That's why Borrower Defense exists. Watch our latest video to learn how the program works. 🎞️
Workforce Pell Grants for short-term credentials may seem like a commonsense policy, but w/o proper guardrails, we could be sending federal dollars to programs that leave their students worse off than if they never attended. More ➡️
Short Term Pell 101
There is very little data on the efficacy of short-term certificate programs in higher education. This is a collection of resources about the need for more data on short-term programs, to ensure…
buff.ly
December 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Workforce Pell Grants for short-term credentials may seem like a commonsense policy, but w/o proper guardrails, we could be sending federal dollars to programs that leave their students worse off than if they never attended. More ➡️
The new low-earnings indicator on the FAFSA helps students see real outcomes before they enroll. Greater transparency means students can make informed choices that lead to better outcomes.🎓 More from @michelledimino.bsky.social buff.ly/usAl9Zn
December 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The new low-earnings indicator on the FAFSA helps students see real outcomes before they enroll. Greater transparency means students can make informed choices that lead to better outcomes.🎓 More from @michelledimino.bsky.social buff.ly/usAl9Zn
Stronger accountability and curbing excessive graduate borrowing have been bipartisan priorities for over a decade, says Michelle Dimino. Learn more about how the controversial OBBBA could reshape higher ed:
New Deep Dive: Making OBBBA Implementation Work for Students
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the biggest shake-up to federal higher education policy in more than a decade. And while the bill passed on partisan lines, implementing it to maximize student…
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Stronger accountability and curbing excessive graduate borrowing have been bipartisan priorities for over a decade, says Michelle Dimino. Learn more about how the controversial OBBBA could reshape higher ed: