Library Advocacy Watch: Issues We Are Tracking

Dear MiALA members,
There are several key issues that affect libraries that the advocacy committee would like to share with membership. Below we have gathered information on three issues. Recommended actions are bolded.

H.R. 7661 Stop the Sexualization of Children Act

H.R. 7661, a house bill introduced February 24, 2026 would restrict the use of federal education funds to “develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote programs or materials” that include what the bill broadly defines as “sexually oriented material” for individuals under the age of 18.

MLA, MASL, and ALA have all stood in opposition to H.R. 7661, noting that “The bill’s language raises significant concerns about censorship, the professional autonomy of library personnel, and students’ access to diverse and developmentally appropriate materials.”

Action: we encourage library advocates to contact their members of Congress through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to oppose H.R. 7661.

MASL response to Take Back the Classroom

The reporter Jackie Smith from MLive published an article on 2/14/2026 with a follow up on 2/16/2026. The Michigan Association of School Librarians’ (MASL) information about this resource is important for education stakeholders and a summarized version of the information they shared is provided below.

“Take Back the Classroom” does not use trained and degreed educators, librarians, or professional reviewers. Contributors do not consider a work’s literary or educational value for students.

Using websites that assess books based on a group or individual’s subjective feelings about a book’s content introduces viewpoint and content-based biases into decisions about a library’s collections. Using these rating systems as rationales for restricting the purchase of library materials or for access to materials is a form of unconstitutional viewpoint and content-based censorship that violates the First Amendment rights of readers, including students. Allowing an individual or small group of parents to limit all minors’ access to library books violates other parents’ rights to choose what is best for their own children.

Here is an excellent article about “Take Back the Classroom,” including information about who is behind this website. Here is a memorandum from the Michigan Department of Education about best practices for school library collections.

This is an informational item only, at this time there are no actions noted.

Federal Update: Proposed Earnings Test and Federal Aid Implications

The U.S. Department of Education’s Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) negotiated rulemaking committee reached consensus in January on proposed regulations that would create a new earnings accountability test for all postsecondary programs. The regulations are anticipated to take effect July 1, 2026, following a public comment period.

Under the proposed regulations, graduates of undergraduate programs would be required to earn more than individuals age 25-34 with a high school diploma, and students who complete graduate programs would need to earn more than individuals age 25-34 with a bachelor’s degree. Students enrolled in degree and certificate programs that fail this earnings test in two out of three consecutive years may lose access to federal Direct Loans.

Additionally, institutions would be required to demonstrate that at least half of their Title IV recipients and at least half of their total Title IV funds are not associated with programs that fail the earnings test in two of three consecutive years. Students enrolled at institutions that do not meet this requirement twice within a three-year period could lose all access to federal student aid. If a program fails the test for two consecutive years, an additional test will determine if 50% of the institution’s Title IV aid recipients are enrolled in or 50% of the institution’s Title IV revenue come from programs deemed “low earnings.” If either threshold is met, students in the affected programs may lose access to Pell Grant funds.

Institutions would be required to begin reporting program- and student-level data by October 1, 2026, and annually thereafter. ED would then calculate the earnings test and notify institutions in early 2027 and early 2028. Under the proposed timeline, July 1, 2028, is the earliest date a program could lose access to federal student loans.

This is an informational item only, at this time there are no actions noted.

Thank you,
MiALA Advocacy Committee