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The Council for Opportunity in Education and the U.S. Department of Education Reach a Settlement in TRIO Grant Cases

October 1, 2026 — by Terrance L. Hamm

*Agreement reinstates affected grants and provides additional time and protections for TRIO programs*

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) announced today that it has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, resolving two cases involving the termination, cancellation, and denial of Federal TRIO grants.

Under the agreement, all terminated or canceled grants at issue in the litigation will be reinstated for the 2026–2027 program year. Previously reinstated grantees whose grants expire in 2026 will receive an additional 12 months to operate their grants. Reinstated grantees also will not be penalized for their inability to serve students during periods when their grants were inoperable.

“We are pleased to have reached a resolution that provides greater certainty for the TRIO programs and students affected by these funding decisions,” said COE President Kimberly Jones. “Our focus throughout this process has been ensuring that students continue to have access to the educational opportunities and support that TRIO provides.”

COE filed the cases in September 2025 following decisions affecting existing TRIO grants and applications for Student Support Services funding. In January 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted COE’s motions for preliminary injunctions, resulting in reconsideration of the affected funding decisions.

The litigation also received support from attorneys general representing 21 states and the District of Columbia, who filed an amicus brief in support of COE’s challenge. The multistate effort was led by Nevada and Massachusetts and included Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a TRIO Upward Bound alumnus.

“This agreement provides affected programs with something they have needed throughout this process: a clear path forward,” said COE Executive Vice President Aaron Brown. “The additional operating time and protections included in the settlement will help programs focus on reconnecting with students and continuing the work they were funded to perform.”

For more information about the Federal TRIO Programs, visit coenet.org.

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Terrance L. Hamm, vice president for communications and marketing at COE via email at [email protected] or call (202) 347-7430.

The Council for Opportunity in Education and the U.S. Department of Education Reach a Settlement in TRIO Grant Cases

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