The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulatory language this week laying out how short‑term training programs could qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grants created in the summer spending bill. The draft would require governors and state workforce boards to certify that programs prepare students for high‑skill, high‑wage occupations and align with employer hiring needs, and it mandates at least a one‑year program history before federal approval. Negotiated rulemaking begins next week with representatives from colleges, students and employers; if stakeholders reach consensus the department must use that language in a formal proposed rule. Clarification: “Workforce Pell” refers to the new federal Pell eligibility for short workforce‑training certificates (as short as eight weeks) enacted in the 2025 budget law.