A brief history and some observations are given of the federal Education Amendments of 1980, amending the Higher Education Act of 1965, which provides basic authority for a variety of federal student aid and college assistance programs. Much of the current legislation is extended intact, and most of the programs are reauthorized through fiscal year 1985. A few authorizations that have never been funded (such as community college assistance) are deleted from the Higher Education Act, some of the titles are reshuffled or consolidated, and a new Title XI authorizes grants to urban universities. A title-by-title review of the legislation is provided. Notable changes or new thrusts include these: Title I (continuing education) substantially reduces barriers to continuing education for adults, particularly those whose educational needs have been inadequately served in the past; Title III (institutional aid to developing institutions) tightens application and grant review procedures and specifies in detail many operational aspects of the program; the major student aid programs of Title IV are altered; Title VI boosts foreign language, area studies, and international education programs; and Title IX (graduate programs) consolidates several existing programs and authorizes a new National Graduate Fellows Program. (MSE)