Distance Education Resources & Compliance

Resources to support the sudden shift to distance modalities

U.S. Department of Education (USED)

• On December 11, 2020 USED updated its guidance to institutions and accrediting bodies in response to continued interruption of their activities as a result of COVID-19. (Note: Initial department guidance and FAQ were issued on March 5.)
• The language ensures that schools will not be in violation of 34 CFR 600.9 state authorization requirements. Please continue reading for clarification regarding State level approvals and reciprocity. If an institution chooses to continue offering a new program or use distance education in a manner requiring USED’s approval after that point, it must seek approval under USED’s normal process.

USED strongly recommends that institutions document, as contemporaneously as possible, any actions taken as a result of COVID-19.

USED: Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel 

Reciprocity in distance learning

• States have the authority to regulate educational activities within their borders and they may choose to regulate out-of-state institutions that conduct activities in their state.
• Participation in a reciprocal agreement, such as the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), under the policies and procedures of the agreement, will support state level compliance with distance education delivery.
• A non-SARA participating institution, that may not have the approval to operate online in another state, will have that green light at the federal level during this time. Institutions may provide distance learning temporarily to accommodate students as a result of a COVID-19 interruption, including in cases where students began attendance in classes offered in a brick-and-mortar setting but were transitioned to a distance education format in the middle of the term.
• At the state level, however, non-participating institutions must separately address state law requirements.The temporary relaxations of federal requirements for distance education do not have an impact on SARA policy.
• View NC-SARA’s State Authorization Guide for state level compliance information, including States who regulate purely online programs by out-of-state institutions without regard to physical presence.

Read NC-SARA’s Statement on COVID19

Additional compliance considerations

• CooleyED: Accessibility, FERPA, GI Bill Benefits, etc.
• SHEEO: State level plans and resources
• WCET State Authorization Network: Compliance Management for out-of-state activities

SARA in the time of coronavirus by Sheridan Miller