The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) as amended, authorizes the federal government's major federal student aid programs (Title IV), as well as other programs which provide institutional aid and support (Titles II, III and V). In addition, the HEA authorizes services and support to less-advantaged students (select Title IV programs), and to students pursuing international education and certain graduate and professional degrees (Titles VI and VII). The programs authorized by the HEA are administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and made available an estimated 70% ($94 billion) of all federal, state, and institutional aid awarded to postsecondary students in 2005-2006 (excluding tax benefits). The HEA was last comprehensively reauthorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 ( P.L. 105-244 ), which expired September 30, 2003. Since the initial expiration of the authorization, there have been several temporary extensions, which authorize the programs and activities of the HEA through March 31, 2008. Most recently, P.L. 110-198 , the Higher Education Extension Act of 2008, extends the HEA authorization to April 30, 2008. This report provides a brief overview of major provisions of the HEA. It is organized by title and part of the act. Other CRS reports provide much more detailed discussions and analyses of major HEA provisions. This report will be updated following reauthorization of the HEA. The HEA was initially authorized in 1965 (P.L. 89-329). Since that time, comprehensive amendment and reauthorization of the HEA has occurred seven additional times. The principal objective of the HEA is to expand postsecondary education opportunity, particularly for low-income individuals, and to increase affordability for moderate income families as well. The heart of the legislation is its student aid programs authorized under Title IV, which provide student aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study assistance. There are seven titles of the HEA that authorize numerous programs and provisions designed to provide assistance to postsecondary students and institutions. The seven titles of the HEA are: Title I—General Provisions Title II—Teacher Quality Enhancement Title III—Institutional Aid Title IV—Student Assistance Title V—Developing Institutions Title VI—International Education Programs; and Title VII—Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs Each of these titles and the major programs under each are discussed in greater detail. Title I of the HEA includes four parts, which establish the general provisions for the remainder of the HEA. Many of the provisions affect institutions' participation in the Title IV student aid programs. Title I, Part A of the HEA includes two definitions of an institution of higher education (IHE). The first definition, contained in Section 101, applies to institutional participation in non-Title IV programs. The second definition, contained in Section 102, applies only to institutions participating in Title IV programs. The Section 102 definition includes all institutions recognized as IHEs under Section 101 and expands the definition of IHEs for Title IV purposes to include for-profit (proprietary) institutions, postsecondary vocational institutions, and institutions outside of the United States (i.e., foreign institutions). While Section 102 includes requirements specific to proprietary institutions, postsecondary vocational institutions, and foreign institutions, it also includes requirements that all Title IV eligible institutions must meet regarding the course of study offered, student enrollment, and institutional management. Finally, Section 103 contains other definitions relevant to the HEA. Title I, Part B of the HEA contains several general provisions that address issues such as anti-discrimination, student speech, recognition of accrediting agencies, and drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses. More specifically, IHEs receiving federal funds may not use the funds to conduct a study or project in which the terms of the contract prohibit an individual from performing the study or project based on the individual's race, religion, sex, or national origin. Part B also includes a Sense of Congress regarding the protection of student speech and association rights. It also provides the Secretary of Education (Secretary) with waiver authority related to program eligibility criteria and the circumstances of the outlying areas. Part B authorizes the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which advises the Secretary on decisions related to recognition of accrediting agencies. Provisions are also included related to the disclosure of foreign gifts received by IHEs. The "Collegiate Initiative to Reduce Binge Drinking and Illegal Alcohol Consumption" is also included in Part B. The initiative, expressed in the form of a Sense of the Congress, is intended to change the culture of alcohol consumption on collegiate campuses. Also included in Part B is a requirement that an IHE must certify to ED that it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse by students. An institution failing to provide this certification is not eligible to receive funds or any other form of financial assistance under any federal program. Part B also authorizes Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Grants. Finally, Part B includes various provisions to meet long-term obligations related to previously funded programs supporting the construction of college housing and academic facilities. Title I, Part C includes provisions focused on collecting data on college costs and prices. It requires the redesign of postsecondary education data systems to improve the usefulness and timeliness of the data collected, standard definitions to be developed for various postsecondary education data elements, a national study of expenditures at IHEs, and the development of a higher education market basket that includes items related to the costs of higher education. Part C also authorizes the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). Title I, Part D authorizes a performance-based organization (PBO) responsible for managing the information processing and delivery systems for the student assistance programs authorized under HEA Title IV. The PBO is known as the Office of Federal Student Aid. Title II authorizes grants for improving teacher education programs, strengthening teacher recruitment efforts, and training prospective teachers. This title also includes the reporting requirements for states and IHEs regarding the quality of teacher education programs. Title II, Part A authorizes three competitive grants to improve the quality of K-12 teacher education—State, Partnership, and Recruitment grants. The authorization of appropriations provides that appropriated funds be divided as follows: 45% to State grants; 45% to Partnership grants; and 10% to Recruitment grants. These grants provide funding to states or to partnerships involving high-need school districts, higher education schools of education, and higher education schools of arts and sciences. Competitively awarded state grants support reform of teacher licensing, strengthening of accountability for high quality teacher preparation, and recruitment of high quality teachers for high-need schools. Partnership grants, also awarded competitively, are used to reform teacher preparation programs so they prepare high quality teachers, provide sustained pre-service clinical experiences to prospective teachers, and enhance the opportunities for professional development activities for current teachers. Further, states and partnerships are eligible for separate competitive grants that support teacher recruitment activities. These grants may be used for scholarships enabling students to complete teacher training programs, support services needed to complete postsecondary education, and support services during the initial three years of teaching. Students preparing for a career in teaching and who agree to teach for at least four years in a high-poverty school may receive a TEACH Grant of $4,000 for each year of study (prospective mathematics and science teachers may also receive Bonus TEACH Grants of $500 for each year of study). Recipients who do not complete their service requirement would be required to repay the amount of the TEACH Grant as a loan under HEA, Title IV, Part D. The Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology grant program has not been funded since FY2003 and therefore will not be discussed. Title III is intended to provide support for less-advantaged institutions serving students from low-income or racial minority backgrounds. There are six parts authorizing programs for IHEs that serve select groups of students, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs). Additionally, Title III, Part A authorizes funding for less-advantaged institutions and those serving low-income students. Title III, Part A authorizes development and planning grants for institutions that serve "needy" students. The grants are intended to assist eligible institutions with improving their academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. In order for an institution to be eligible for a Part A grant, at least 50% of the enrolled degree seeking students must be recipients of need-based financial assistance under Title IV of the HEA (Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work Study, Federal Pell Grant, or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), or the institution's Pell Grant recipients must exceed the median percentage for similar institutions receiving Pell Grants. In addition to serving needy students, the institution's average educational and general expenditures must be low in comparison with other comparable institutions. Further, Section 312(b) requires that the institution also be legally authorized by its state to award baccalaureate degrees or be a junior or community college (or be the College of the Marshall Islands, the College of Micronesia/Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau Community College); and be accredited or pre-accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation association or agency.