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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Courtesy of Cheryl Dowd of WCET/SAN and Wanda Barker of S-SARA</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">You may be aware that Monday, August 24, 2020, the Department of Education unofficially released the final rule of the Distance Education & Innovation Regulations. This final release of regulations;
which is the third and final package of regulations, brings closure to the Negotiated Rulemaking process that came to consensus in April 2019. <br>
<br>
Following is a recap of the first packages:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">1. Accreditation & State Authorization</span></strong> –
<a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2019%2F11%2F01%2F2019-23129%2Fstudent-assistance-general-provisions-the-secretarys-recognition-of-accrediting-agencies-the&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C0%7C637340438763854649&sdata=il%2Bg%2BSjk%2BZh2D40Niw02GcJrwF9sEj%2FSQE%2BD0qycD7Q%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/01/2019-23129/student-assistance-general-provisions-the-secretarys-recognition-of-accrediting-agencies-the">
Final Rule – November 1, 2019</a> | <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fpolicy%2Fhighered%2Freg%2Fhearulemaking%2F2018%2Faccredfactsheetfinal22.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763854649&sdata=UbbR1707F8Kiu%2FplHpmwnkMiJMxGb4pMgM0N7ettTAM%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/accredfactsheetfinal22.pdf">Fact
Sheet</a><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">2. TEACH Grants & Faith-Based Entities</span></strong> – <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fpolicy%2Fhighered%2Freg%2Fhearulemaking%2F2018%2Fteachandfaithbasedfinalrule.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763864647&sdata=BIRo%2F2O69lMS3wqT2aBbf5BKqyuW0ntShraIH9zDe%2Fo%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/teachandfaithbasedfinalrule.pdf">Final
Rule – August 14, 2020</a> | <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fpolicy%2Fhighered%2Freg%2Fhearulemaking%2F2018%2Fteachfaithbasedfinalreg712020.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763864647&sdata=EwMEBea3R8CQmSgU%2Fwozw3S4G53aXZs2KmknzrbIzuY%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/teachfaithbasedfinalreg712020.pdf">Final
Rule - July 1, 2020 (unofficial version) </a>| <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fpolicy%2Fhighered%2Freg%2Fhearulemaking%2F2018%2Ftechfaithbasedfactsheet.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763874643&sdata=RMaYn7cHuCWn0NJLAS5ot1%2FmxTf75N9qknWQRlKUO3Y%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/techfaithbasedfactsheet.pdf">Fact
Sheet</a><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">3. Distance and Innovation</span></strong> – <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fpolicy%2Fhighered%2Freg%2Fhearulemaking%2F2018%2Fdistanceandinnovationunofficialreg.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763874643&sdata=eNsHXP0rkA3i%2FC9fmA4y2aTem52VOpV1RlLFCkKs6BQ%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/distanceandinnovationunofficialreg.pdf">Final
Rule – (unofficial copy) August 24, 2020</a> | <a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fpolicy%2Fhighered%2Freg%2Fhearulemaking%2F2018%2Fdistanceandinnovationfactsheet.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763884635&sdata=NjR3UakZd%2F1rPnqWKX%2F1efpm%2BnAd4RzV0%2B8s45BRWzU%3D&reserved=0" title="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/distanceandinnovationfactsheet.pdf">Fact
Sheet</a><br>
<br>
The Distance Education and Innovation Regulations provide new and revised definitions of terms and processes related to providing innovative and flexible learning opportunities to students. The USDE summary and analysis of the new regulations is attached, or
you can read the press release and quick takes from <i>Inside Higher Ed</i> at the links below.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ed.gov%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2Fsecretary-devos-issues-new-distance-learning-regulations-spur-high-quality-distance-and-competency-based-programs-better-serve-diverse-population-higher-education-students&data=02%7C01%7CElisa.Jaden%40SREB.org%7Cb1c19f72f85b4976491f08d8491c2a53%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C0%7C637339732785372642&sdata=iiGztnYQMf7ujNw7EVl9BmhNUCm5WTI0xcBnP5DHJOg%3D&reserved=0">https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/secretary-devos-issues-new-distance-learning-regulations-spur-high-quality-distance-and-competency-based-programs-better-serve-diverse-population-higher-education-students</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidehighered.com%2Fquicktakes%2F2020%2F08%2F25%2Fed-dept-issues-final-distance-learning-rule&data=02%7C01%7CElisa.Jaden%40SREB.org%7Cb1c19f72f85b4976491f08d8491c2a53%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C0%7C637339732785372642&sdata=ozMqUwtJA8jKOUtVlsscTcTA6tJYTF0lLB%2B4bRhbTdA%3D&reserved=0">https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/08/25/ed-dept-issues-final-distance-learning-rule</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">There are only a few changes to the final language since the proposed regulations were released in April. You may also wish to review the April three-part series about the proposed regulations available
here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="entry-title" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwcetfrontiers.org%2F2020%2F04%2F03%2Fnew-regs-review-1-regular-substantive-interaction%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763894626&sdata=uvA5Ck9kHX0zYKjjgDRw4HMT%2B8YS0EJuhgMaLK2sRsI%3D&reserved=0" title="https://wcetfrontiers.org/2020/04/03/new-regs-review-1-regular-substantive-interaction/">New
Regulations Review #1: Regular & Substantive Interaction</a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="entry-title" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwcetfrontiers.org%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2Fnew-regulations-review-2%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763894626&sdata=Q8JxsCfjyqxisO3rpG5%2BQXHwRncGSa0FPCw65Z3InDA%3D&reserved=0" title="https://wcetfrontiers.org/2020/04/06/new-regulations-review-2/">New
Regulations Review #2: Credit Hour, Title IV Eligibility, & What Exactly is a Week?</a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="entry-title" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwcetfrontiers.org%2F2020%2F04%2F13%2Fnew-regulations-3-direct-assessment-cbe%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C2859c30e7aac49b002e008d849c093d2%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C1%7C637340438763904620&sdata=rPqvfMb1cVZAfoswHIu1XKqQdBeocuittx3UgPM1k6M%3D&reserved=0" title="https://wcetfrontiers.org/2020/04/13/new-regulations-3-direct-assessment-cbe/">New
Regulations #3: Direct Assessment and Competency-Based Education</a><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">These new regulations, per the regulatory process, will be effective
<b>July 1, 2021</b>. However, the announcement informs us that the Secretary has the authority to allow for early implementation. She is offering early implementation of these regulations that will start on the date that these regulations are released in the
Federal Register. There is no date for that release at this time, but expect it will be very soon.</span><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">SARA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Southern Regional Education Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">(404) 879-5517<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue"><a href="mailto:SARA@sreb.org">SARA@sreb.org</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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