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H.R. 4054: Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-06-20 · Education · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 360.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act

Plain summary

Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act This bill revises the accreditation process for reviewing the quality of education offered by institutions of higher education (IHEs). Under current law, an IHE seeking to participate in many federal programs (e.g., federal student aid programs) must be accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education (ED) as a reliable authority on the quality of the education being offered at the IHE. An ED-recognized accrediting agency must meet various provisions under the Higher Education Act of 1965 and in regulations. Under this bill, states may designate an entity (e.g., an industry-specific quality assurance entity) as an accrediting agency for programs or IHEs in the state. The bill outlines the requirements for the state to submit a plan to ED and for ED to respond to the plan. Additionally, the bill provides an accelerated path to recognition by authorizing ED to recognize new accrediting agencies within two years of their application. ED must convene a panel of experts to develop common terminology for accrediting agencies to use in making accrediting decisions and publish those recommendations. Further, the bill (1) requires accrediting agencies to establish specified standards for measures assessing student success (e.g., labor market outcomes), and (2) requires accrediting agencies to establish procedures for assessing compliance with agency standards that reflect an IHE's risk of losing accreditation. The bill reauthorizes through September 30, 2028, and revises the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which advises ED on matters related to accreditation.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6] · 1 cosponsors

Money: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4054, Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act (2025-10-24) No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hr4054 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills