Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act

This bill protects access to federal student aid for certain job-training programs. It says a program that prepares students for a licensed job can be longer than the state’s required training hours and still keep its eligibility for aid—as long as it doesn’t go over 150% of the state’s (or a federal agency’s) minimum hours. For example, if a state requires 600 hours, a program up to 900 hours could still qualify. The change takes effect once the bill becomes law and applies starting with the 2024–2025 award year and every year after that.

The bill also responds to a recent push to limit these programs to 100% of the state minimum. The Department of Education tried to make that change through regulation, but a court temporarily blocked it. This bill would put the 150% limit into law, making it clearer and harder to change by regulation alone.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Students in clock-hour job training programs, and the schools that run them (like career schools and some community colleges).
• What changes: Programs can be up to 150% of state or federal minimum training hours and still qualify for federal aid, rather than being capped at 100% by regulation .
• When: Applies upon enactment to the 2024–2025 award year and beyond.