DeVos reinstates for-profit college watchdog cut under Obama

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is restoring federal recognition of an accrediting group that oversees dozens of for-profit colleges but was shut down by the Obama administration.

Her decision released Wednesday says the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools passed muster in 19 of 21 areas reviewed. DeVos says she is restoring the group’s recognition and giving it a year to fix lingering problems.

The group, known as ACICS, was responsible for ensuring the quality of 250 institutions before the Obama administration cut ties with it in 2016, alleging poor oversight.

It had previously certified now-defunct for-profit chains including Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute.

A judge ordered DeVos to revisit the case in March after ACICS sued, saying the previous administration failed to consider thousands of pages of evidence.