NC-SARA Statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Many of you have become aware of a recent communication from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education offering Guidance on interruptions of student education related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Here is what this means for state authorization and NC-SARA.

The language in the recent guidance letter will ensure that schools will not be in violation of 34 CFR 600.9 state authorization requirements. 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. These temporary relaxations of federal requirements for distance education do not have an impact on SARA policy.

Click here to read an analysis from our colleagues at CooleyEd on Managing COVID-19 Disruption

Click here to read an analysis from our colleagues at CooleyED on this USED communication

Click here to read the announcement from the United States Department of Education (USED) regarding COVID-19 guidance

Click here to read an analysis from our colleagues at Hogan Lovells on this USED communication

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