The U.S. Department of Education finalized regulations for Workforce Pell, setting out a new approval pathway for short-term programs as brief as eight weeks. The rule specifies how governors and state workforce boards will collaborate with the federal government to determine which programs qualify, and it ties eligibility to student outcomes such as completion and job placement. Key timelines start July 20 for Workforce Pell provisions, with institutions allowed to adopt earlier starting July 1. Programs will need to align with local employer demand and produce stackable credentials (or, if a single credential is used, ensure students can earn academic credit and enter relevant occupations that recognize that credential). Under the completion standard, at least 70% of students must finish each program annually. Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the policy as an alternative to high-cost, long-degree pathways, while regulators will evaluate whether approved programs meet the new completion and placement requirements.