Education
Friday, December 2, 2022

Biden to Extend Student Loan Pause in Face of Lawsuits 

In the midst of continued legal challenges to the President’s plan to eliminate student loan debt for millions of American borrowers, the Biden Administration has extended the student loan repayment pause through June 30, 2023 or the end of litigation. If the legal challenges are settled before June 30, 2023, borrowers will still receive a grace period of 60 days to repay. The Administration had begun notifying borrowers that their applications for forgiveness were accepted pending the legal challenges.  However, the Administration has since stopped sending out such notifications. 

On November 30, a federal appeals court rejected the administration’s petition to lift a federal court judge’s decision to shut down the program while litigation continues.  On December 1, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear arguments on the merits of the administration’s student debt relief plan in February. The High Court has left the federal court’s order blocking the plan in place. You can read a recap of the current status from CNBC by clicking here. 

 

City Council Resolution for Hearings on New PA Graduation Requirements 

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas introduced a resolution at a recent City Council meeting to hold hearings on Act 158, the statewide requirement regarding graduation for high school students. According to Research for Action, a non-profit research organization, 70% of Black students and 75% of Hispanic students would not meet the requirements for graduation set out by Act 158. In addition, the Philadelphia Education Research Consortium, another non-profit, estimates that over 55% of students will need significant support in meeting the Act 158 requirements. The policy allows for “alternative pathways,” but does not give guidelines for students to follow.