News
How Courts Have Responded to Student Loan Borrowers in Historic Ways This Month | Blog
This month has brought forth a lot of historic decisions for student borrowers: student borrowers testified in front of a judge, and he slammed the way the Department has handled their borrower defense cases; Betsy DeVos is held in contempt, again; our new case against a private lender, Navient. Here are the latest updates on our work.
Update | Student Borrowers Speak Out in Unprecedented 500-Person Court Hearing on Borrower Defense
During a time when people have been more isolated than ever, student borrowers came together from across the country, gathering on Zoom for a remote hearing. They were there to share their views with the court about the proposed settlement in the borrower defense class action lawsuit, Sweet v. DeVos, in which the Department of Education agreed to decide on the more than 100,000 pending borrower defense applications within 18 months.
A Reckoning with Private Loan Cancellation: Jorge Villalba’s Quest for Full Loan Cancellation | Blog
Jorge Villalba was one of tens of thousands of students scammed by ITT and was left with a worthless degree and insurmountable debt in the form of both federal and private student loans. Now, after getting his federal loans discharged, he's fighting to get his private loans cancelled too.
Update | CFPB and States Settlement with Private Loan Lender to Cancel Millions of Dollars in Student Loan Debt
As Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education issue blanket denials on borrower defense applications to former ITT students, the CFPB and a group of 44 states and the District of Columbia filed proposed settlements with one of ITT’s private lenders, known as PEAKS.
Student Loan Truth: Chelsea’s Art Institute Story | Blog
After her 8 years in the Army, Chelsea Mack wanted to pursue her passion in fashion design and enrolled in the Art Institute of Seattle. She soon realized that her education wasn’t the prestigious one she was promised. Now, she wants the Art Institute of Seattle to be held accountable, but it shut down in 2019.
Project Interns Practice Social Justice with Social Distance | Blog
Despite working remotely during the pandemic and never physically meeting the team, our summer interns quickly learned the ropes. In their few months with us, they each made an impact and became valued members of our team, so we asked them some questions about their experience.
COVID College Cons – Bad Education Deals Sold in the Pandemic | Blog
In this second installment of COVID Cons with the Republic Report looks at some of the COVID-themed pitches, and poor educational records, of the some of the for-profit colleges seeking to enroll students and cash their federal aid checks during the pandemic.
Vara v. DeVos: The persistence of students and the power of the law | Blog
Students' massive win in Vara v. DeVos spanned over 5 years, multiple administrations, two Massachusetts Attorneys General, multiple lawsuits, and dozens of legal filings. It is the result of student borrowers who refuse to give up on their legal rights, and an Education Department that stubbornly refuses to acknowledge them, no matter what the law says.
Six Months into 2020: Wins for Students and Fighting for Justice | Blog
Six months into 2020 and the Project on Predatory Student Lending has won a major lawsuit against the Department of Education in Vara v DeVos, and agreed to a proposed settlement in Sweet v DeVos. They've also continued to fight for justice in across other new pieces litigation this year.