Credit for Prior Learning Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4897
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand federal student aid calculations by allowing costs for prior learning assessments to be included in a student's cost of attendance. The goal is to support students who earn academic credit based on knowledge or skills gained outside traditional coursework.
Key Provisions
- Cost of Attendance Allowance: Adds an allowance of up to $2,000 per award year (adjusted for inflation after the 2025-2026 year) for reasonable costs, such as test fees, associated with eligible prior learning assessments.
- Definition of Eligible Assessment: Establishes criteria for assessments that evaluate evidence of learning (not time or experience), use generally accepted standards by subject experts, and result in the awarding of academic credit toward program requirements without additional enrollment.
- Accreditation Standards: Requires accrediting agencies to verify during reviews that institutions maintain sufficient, publicly disclosed standards for prior learning assessments aligned with expert-accepted levels of skills, competencies, and knowledge.
- Transparency Reporting: Mandates colleges to report the number of students receiving prior learning credit and the average credits awarded, disaggregated by race, income, and Federal Pell Grant recipient status.
- Effective Date: Provisions take effect on July 1, 2027.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill modifies four sections of the Higher Education Act:
- Section 472 adds the new allowance to cost-of-attendance calculations.
- Section 481 introduces a definition for eligible credit for prior learning assessments.
- Section 496 adds requirements for accrediting agencies regarding prior learning standards.
- Section 132 expands consumer information disclosures to include new data on prior learning credit recipients.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Education would incorporate the new allowance into federal student aid determinations and oversee related reporting.
- Citizens/Students: Eligible students could access additional financial aid to cover assessment costs, potentially reducing out-of-pocket expenses for earning credit.
- Institutions: Colleges and universities would need to align assessment practices with new standards, disclose information publicly, and collect/report demographic data.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students seeking academic credit through prior learning assessments.
- Institutions of higher education and their accrediting agencies.
- Federal student aid administrators and the Department of Education.
- Federal Pell Grant recipients and other aid-eligible individuals, due to the disaggregated reporting requirements.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The changes are limited to amendments within the Higher Education Act framework, with no alterations to constitutional provisions or federal authority structures. The legislation introduces new compliance and data-collection obligations for institutions and accreditors, effective in 2027, while maintaining existing aid eligibility rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Credit for Prior Learning Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (4 pages)