Jonathan D. Tarnow is a partner on the Education Law team in the firm's Government & Regulatory Affairs Practice Group.  His practice primarily focuses on issues pertaining to the federal Higher Education Act, particularly matters related to postsecondary educational institutions' participation in the Title IV student financial assistance programs.  He also has significant experience advising clients on related accreditation and state authorization matters, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Clery Act, the supplemental educational services provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and federal debarment and suspension regulations.  Jonathan has advised nonprofit and for-profit educational institutions, education companies and private investors on complex transactions, including numerous changes of ownership involving postsecondary institutions, private K-12 academies and special education providers; counseled institutions through regulatory compliance reviews and investigations; and represented educational institutions in administrative appeals of adverse regulatory findings.  He has testified before state legislative committees regarding changes in federal education law, represented clients in federal court in Qui Tam cases under the False Claims Act, and represented a state department of education before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in a matter involving federal impact aid funding to local school districts.

Jonathan has presented at several annual conferences of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (formerly the Career College Association) and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.  He has been published in both organizations’ membership periodicals, and has conducted numerous training webinars focused on compliance with federal education laws and regulations.

Jonathan has served on the Board of Trustees of The George Washington University, where he was particularly active on the Student Affairs and Information Technology Committees.  He was also a member of the university’s NCAA Certification Committee on Academic Integrity.  He is past co-chair of the D.C. Bar Administrative Law and Agency Practice Section, and also served as chair of the section's Education Law and Policy Committee.

Jonathan received both his bachelor's degree in political science and his J.D from The George Washington University.  He presently serves on the board of directors and executive committee of The George Washington Alumni Association.