Dive Brief:

• California Attorney General Kamala Harris sent a letter Thursday urging the U.S. Department of Education to revoke federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, the leading accreditor of for-profit schools.
• In the letter, Harris slammed ACICS for continued accreditation of Corinthian Colleges despite enforcement actions by the California Department of Justice and the federal government, calling on the department to protect students by removing the council's ability to accredit other schools.
• This week Harris also joined 10 other attorneys general along with the State of Hawaii’s Office of Consumer Protection in a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee opposing an amendment that would allow colleges approved for military tuition benefits to recruit on military bases with unrestricted access.

Dive Insight:

ACICS has been under attack in its quest for a renewal of its recognition by the Department of Education. In April, a dozen other state attorneys general sent a strongly worded letter outlining the failings of colleges accredited by ACICS and the harm they did to students. The accreditor has been in the crossfires of public opinion since Corinthian collapsed. Shortly after the group letter, the president of the accrediting body stepped down, making way for new leadership of the embattled organization. At its annual conference and business meeting in May, ACICS adopted a comprehensive set of reforms to its accreditation criteria. While there seems to be a concerted effort to clean up the organization, it is unclear whether it will be able to overcome the damage done to its reputation by Corinthian's failure.