Federal Judge Hands a Victory to Embattled Accreditor

The Obama administration did not consider all of the relevant evidence before revoking the federal recognition of an embattled accreditor of for-profit colleges, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

Reggie B. Walton, a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia, wrote in a 66-page opinion that the Education Department under President Barack Obama had “procedurally erred” in terminating the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, violating the Administrative Procedure Act. Walton remanded the case to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to consider the relevant evidence.

The opinion does not immediately undo the termination, but it paves the way for the Trump administration to potentially reverse the Obama-era decision.

It is a crucial time for colleges that had formerly been accredited by the agency as they approach a June deadline to find a new accreditor. The Education Department is currently considering a new application from Acics for federal recognition.

Steve Gunderson, president of Career Education Colleges and Universities, the main trade group for the for-profit sector, applauded the ruling.

“We now hope the current secretary will recognize the need to work with Acics, the schools impacted by this ruling to find a path that keeps students in school and on their way to achieving career skills,” he said in a written statement.

Adam Harris is a breaking-news reporter. Follow him on Twitter @AdamHSays or email him at adam.harris@chronicle.com.