Tracker
Council meetings, standards revisions, guidance memos, and the Core Principles Review — upcoming first, then recent. A living list, refreshed as new items are announced. Every item links to its source. Confirm details on americanbar.org before acting on them.
Next scheduled meeting of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. Open sessions with published materials. Council In person
Source: americanbar.org ↗
The Department's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity deadlocked on a recommendation regarding the Council's continued recognition as the national accreditor of law schools (a role held since 1952). The Under Secretary's decision is expected by year's end. Schools should watch this — it affects the federal funding and bar-eligibility architecture built on Council approval. Recognition Watch
Source: ABA Journal, Oct 1, 2026 ↗
Scheduled Council meeting. Council In person
Source: americanbar.org ↗
Scheduled Council meeting. Council In person
Source: americanbar.org ↗
The revised Standards 204, 301, 302, 314, 315, and 403 took effect with the 2026–27 academic year (House-concurred February 3, 2025): program and course learning outcomes (302), formative assessment in first-third courses (314), five-year outcomes review (315), and the revised faculty instructional role (403) — including the 80% rule and every-three-years teaching-effectiveness activities. Schools should be operating under the revised text now. Standards
Source: americanbar.org ↗
Scheduled Council meeting. Council In person
Source: americanbar.org ↗
The Council voted 10–6 (one abstention) to repeal Standard 206 (Diversity and Inclusion), effective immediately — ending the suspension that had been scheduled to run through August 2027. The ABA House of Delegates concurred at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Do not build self-study narratives around Standard 206. Standards
Source: Reuters, Sept 8, 2026 ↗
The ABA House of Delegates concurred in Council amendments dated August 2026 to Standard 316 (Bar Passage) and Standard 509 (Required Disclosures). Read the amendment text in the House's 2026 Annual Final Calendar before treating current 316/509 summaries as settled. Standards Watch
Source: ABA 2026 Annual Final Calendar ↗
The current edition — reflects all changes approved by the Council and concurred in by the ABA House of Delegates through August 2026. Standard 309 is listed as RESERVED in this edition. Standards
Source: 2026-2027 Standards (PDF) ↗
The House of Delegates calendar records concurrence in Council amendments dated February 2026: Definition 8 (Distance Education Course), Standard 105 (Acquiescence), Standard 306 (Distance Education), Standard 404 (Responsibilities of Full-Time Faculty), Standard 507 (Student Loan Programs), Standard 508 (Student Support Services), and Rules 15, 19, 24, 50, and 51. Standards
Source: ABA Midyear 2026 Final Calendar ↗
The Council is conducting a Core Principles Review — revising Standards in accordance with its published Core Principles and Values (August 2025), which state the Standards are minimum standards for quality legal education and should not unnecessarily increase the cost of legal education. Expect rolling revisions. Standards Watch
Source: 2026-2027 Standards Preface ↗
Adopted in 2024, this standard requires schools to protect the rights of faculty, students, and staff to communicate ideas that may be controversial or unpopular. Multiple interpretations (208-1 through 208-6) clarify scope. Standards
Source: 2026-2027 Standards (PDF) ↗
Compiled from public announcements by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. Details can change — verify with the official source before acting on them. Know of an ABA accreditation development that should be listed? This tracker is refreshed regularly.