I read that it expired and will be extended, but is not yet at this time... so will those of us affectded (who would normally qualify) be able to amend our return after filing date and eventually receive the deduction?
No, it is not available this year.
If that changes, you could always amend, but that happening is slight to none.
Is it true that it is getting extended, but is delayed?
Congress changed their minds after tax season last year, so no one wants to say it COULDN'T happen, but it is more than doubtful at this point. No, it is not just delayed, it has expired.
It did expire for last year, but congress expended it for one more year. No one see that happening again.
According to the IRS:
"The tuition and fees deduction has expired for 2018, so we have not
developed the 2018 revision of Form 8917, Tuition and Fees
Deduction. If Congress extends the tuition and fees deduction
retroactively for 2018 (as Congress did for 2017 on February 9,
2018), we will post the 2018 revision of Form 8917 here."
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8917">https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8917</a>