On this date in 2001, the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 was amended in 1998 to include a provision that denied federal financial aid to students with drug convictions. This policy, which took effect on July 1, 2000, resulted in thousands of students losing access to grants, loans, and work-study programs.

Critics argued that the law disproportionately harmed low-income students and people of color, making it harder for them to access education and move beyond past mistakes. Many advocacy groups fought for its repeal, and in 2020, Congress removed the drug conviction penalty as part of a broader overhaul of financial aid policies in the FAFSA Simplification Act.

This change was a major victory for education equity, allowing more students to pursue higher education regardless of past legal issues.