This "Policy Brief" provides an overview of a new proposed accreditation policy framework in the United States that would focus on student outcomes to differentiate accreditor engagement with institutions. It is designed to address the core federal interest in ensuring that billions of annual student loan and taxpayer dollars are spent on quality higher education programs that graduate most students with a valuable credential. In the United States, in order that higher education institutions be eligible for federal government funds, they must be accredited by independent accrediting organizations that have been successfully reviewed or "recognized" by the federal government. Building on long-standing elements of the higher education accreditation process, this framework would focus federal requirements for institutions and recognized accreditors to emphasize student outcomes and better deployment of time, resources and attention to those institutions that need it most. As a result, the framework could help with increasing transparency, reducing regulatory bloat and improving institutional quality and student outcomes over time.