§2006a Assistance for Education and Training: Availability of Certain Assistance for Use Only for Certain Programs of Education

Summary

Starting August 1, 2014, people using Department of Defense education benefits can only spend those benefits on programs that meet certain rules. The program must be one that the Higher Education Act calls an eligible program and must be offered by a school that has a participation agreement under that Act. If the program is meant to prepare students for a state license or certificate, it must meet that state’s curriculum rules. If the program trains people for jobs that require state board approval or a license, the program must be approved or licensed by that state board or agency. The Secretary of Defense can make exceptions by rule. To allow an exception, the program must be accredited by an accreditor the Department of Education recognizes, must not have been eligible in the most recent two-year period, must further the goals of the DoD education programs, and the school must not pay recruiters commissions or bonuses tied to enrolling students or getting financial aid (except for recruiting foreign students living abroad who cannot get federal aid). The law covers specific DoD programs, including spouse education help (section 1784a), off-duty tuition payment (section 2007), Selected Reserve benefits (chapter 1606), reserve contingency-support benefits (chapter 1607), and any other DoD education programs the Secretary names. "Institution of higher education" means the same as in the Higher Education Act (section 102).