WASHINGTON D.C. – The Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) lost its recognition from the Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency last week. In July, the CPC called for the U.S. Department of Education to strip ACICS of its accrediting authority because of repeated negligent behavior and mismanagement of funds, which put students and federal funds at risk.
“The Department of Education made the right decision to end the federal government’s relationship with ACICS – an agency that continued to recommend for-profit institutions to students even while they were under investigation. Every student deserves a quality education. ACICS put students and taxpayers at risk.
“Institutions like Corinthian and ITT –both of which received accreditations from ACICS – should be examples that some for-profit colleges do not serve their students effectively. The Department of Education is correct to sanction for-profit colleges that put profits over the quality of the education they provide. Although ACICS has appealed the decision, their repeated lack of oversight warrants the Department of Education's decision to take away their accrediting authority.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
