State Policy Network

The November 2025 edition of the TICAS State Policy Digest, a quarterly newsletter for state leaders that highlights state and federal efforts to increase affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education.

We collaborated with the Partnership for College Completion and the Here Lab on a new report that shows how targeting aid specifically to low-income, low-wealth students would increase college enrollment, raise graduation rates by state, and reduce student loan defaults.

As part of HR 1, Congress expanded Pell Grant access to short-term programs for the first time. Without careful implementation, this move may leave students and Pell dollars vulnerable to untested, low-quality, overly expensive, or fraudulent programs. In response, TICAS created model legislation to provide a blueprint for states to protect students and taxpayers.

This blog and accompanying fact sheet summarize higher education bills that have advanced in the first year of New York's 2025-2026 legislative session across TICAS priority areas.

As the federal government scales back essential programs and funding, state action is crucial. This blog provides a case study of efforts to remove barriers to SNAP eligibility for students in Illinois. Advocates across the country can learn from the Greater Chicago Food Depository's work as they seek to reduce basic needs insecurity among students in their own states.

The second edition of the TICAS State Policy Digest, a quarterly newsletter for state leaders that highlights state and federal efforts to increase affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education.