WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) this week introduced “The Internet Equity and Education Act of 2001,” a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand options for higher education through telecommunications. Rep. Isakson, a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, co-chaired the Web-Based Education Commission, which last fall issued its report, “The Power of the Internet for Learning.”

            Last year the Web-Based Commission set out to discover how the Internet was being used to enhance learning opportunities for all learners regardless of age. Members of the commission heard testimony from experts in a number of fields, and witnessed many demonstrations of how technology could be used successfully in education.

            “Through hearings held last year we were able to identify specific areas that should be addressed immediately if we truly are to embrace anytime, anywhere and any pace learning,” said Isakson. “The bill I have introduced provides an expansion of internet-based educational opportunities for postsecondary students, while maintaining the integrity of the federal student aid programs.”

            House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) and Subcommittee on 21^st Century Competitiveness Chairman Howard P. Buck McKeon are co-sponsors of the legislation. “I want to commend Rep. Isakson for his hard work in the area of web-base education,” Boehner said. “This legislation is an important step in our continuing efforts to provide the best educational opportunities for students everywhere.”

            McKeon stated that the proposed amendments to the Higher Education Act are modest, but will provide an immediate benefit to students and improve the ability of postsecondary institutions to offer instruction over the Internet. “I believe the clarification of the incentive compensation provision, along with the provisions addressing the 12-hour rule and correspondence education limitations, will provide postsecondary institutions with much needed relief from outdated regulations that impede innovation,” he said.

            “By the next reauthorization of the Higher Education Act we will know if our efforts at expansion were successful and if greater expansions are needed,” Isakson said. “This legislation provides changes to the Higher Education Act that will allow all learners to take full advantage of what the newest technologies can provide for their education.”

###

The Internet Equity and Education Act of 2001
Bill Summary

1) Modifies the “50 percent rule” to allow institutions to offer more than 50 percent of their classes by telecommunications if:

• The institution already participates in the student loan programs; and
  
• The institution’s student loan default rate is less than 10 percent for the three most recent years.

2) Eliminates the burdensome 12-hour rule applicable to non-standard term programs and instead require that term programs that are offered on a non-semester basis be held to the same attendance criteria as those offered on a traditional semester basis.

3) Clarifies the incentive compensation restrictions with regard to student recruiting so that it is clear that the prohibition only applies to non-salary payments to persons directly involved in recruiting students or awarding financial aid as a result of their success in enrolling students at the institution. It would also move this provision out of the program participation agreement section, so that the Secretary of Education can impose appropriate sanctions in the case of violations, rather than trying to recoup every dollar of financial aid ever distributed by the institution.