[S-SARA] Surprise! Newly Released Final Regulations

Wed Aug 26 08:29:33 CDT 2020

Courtesy of Cheryl Dowd of WCET/SAN and Wanda Barker of S-SARA

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.

Following is a recap of the first packages:

1. Accreditation & State Authorization -  Final Rule - November 1, 2019<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> | Fact Sheet<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>
2. TEACH Grants & Faith-Based Entities - Final Rule - August 14, 2020<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> | Final Rule - July 1, 2020 (unofficial version) <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> | Fact Sheet<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>
3. Distance and Innovation - Final Rule - (unofficial copy)  August 24, 2020<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> | Fact Sheet<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>

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 Inside Higher Ed at the links below.

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<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.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/08/25/ed-dept-issues-final-distance-learning-rule<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>

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:

  *   New Regulations Review #1: Regular & Substantive Interaction<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>
  *   New Regulations Review #2: Credit Hour, Title IV Eligibility, & What Exactly is a Week?<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>
  *   New Regulations #3: Direct Assessment and Competency-Based Education<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>
These new regulations, per the regulatory process, will be effective July 1, 2021.  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.

SARA
Southern Regional Education Board
(404) 879-5517
SARA at sreb.org<mailto:SARA at sreb.org>

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