As institutions across the country grapple with new online education options for students seeking to continue classes remotely, the Department of Education (ED) today published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to restructure regulations related to distance education. A negotiated rulemaking committee met last year to discuss the regulations and reached consensus, which is reflected in ED’s proposed rule.
“With our support, colleges and universities were among the first to transition to online and distance learning so learning could continue during the coronavirus pandemic,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement. “Frankly, though, they are working within the confines of stale rules and regulations that are in desperate need of rethinking. We know there are fewer and fewer ‘traditional’ students in higher education, and this current crisis has made crystal clear the need for more innovation.”
Negotiations to rewrite distance education regulations kicked off in January 2019, when a subcommittee of higher education experts convened to discuss proposed language from ED before preparing a report of its recommendations for the larger negotiating committee. The larger committee was also tasked with tackling accreditation regulations, state authorization of distance education, and reviewing reports from other subcommittees on the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program and faith-based entities.