[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E77-E78]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE INDEPENDENT STUDY OF DISTANCE EDUCATION ACT OF 2007

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                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2007

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Independent Study 
of Distance Education Act of 2007. This bill requires that the National 
Academy of Sciences (NAS) conduct a scientifically correct, 
statistically valid study of the quality of distance education programs 
as compared to campus-based programs.
  Allow me to provide some background on congressional actions related 
to distance education. During the 1992 reauthorization of the Higher 
Education Act, Congress passed a rule to counter fraud and abuse 
perpetuated by diploma mills and some correspondence programs in the 
1980s. This rule, known as the ``50-percent rule'', prevents any 
college or university that enrolls more than 50 percent of its students 
in distance education or provides more than half of its courses via 
distance education from participating in federal financial aid 
programs.
  During the 1998 reauthorization, Congress recognized that, with 
changes in technology, schools are increasingly offering courses via 
distance education. The Distance Education Demonstration Program was 
established to examine the quality and viability of expanding distance 
education programs. This demo program allowed 24 colleges and 
universities to waive several program requirements for participating in 
the federal financial aid programs, including the 50-percent rule, in 
exchange for participating in studies by the Secretary of Education.
  The Secretary provided Congress with three studies of the Distance 
Education Demonstration Program. The Secretary found that the ``mode of 
distance education delivery does not appear to be a salient factor in 
student outcomes.'' However, in 2004, the Office of the Inspector 
General found that the Secretary's conclusions about the impact of 
distance education methods on student learning was unsupported, 
fostering uncertainty about the quality of distance education programs 
as compared to the quality of campus-based programs.
  As a scientist, I strive to base my policy decisions and voting on 
reliable studies and data. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Higher 
Education Act and distance education, there is no scientifically 
correct, statistically valid study of the quality of distance education 
programs as compared to campus-based programs.
  You may think that this has halted congressional action related to 
distance education programs. Certainly, it would be prudent to know 
whether distance education is effective before allowing for the rapid 
proliferation of federal financial aid funds going to students in such 
programs.

[[Page E78]]

  However, in 2005, as part of the Deficit Reduction Act, Congress 
repealed the ``50-percent rule'', which could potentially result in 
rapid expansion of distance education programs. While the House-version 
of this bill included an amendment I offered to have the National 
Academy of Sciences conduct a study, this provision was stripped out 
during conference because of the arcane ``Byrd rule,'' which prohibits 
provisions without a fiscal impact in budget reconciliation bills.
  Please know that I am not against distance education. In fact, as a 
K-12 student, I completed correspondence courses by distance. But, 
before we spend more federal dollars on this, we need to know more 
about the quality of distance education programs, as compared to 
campus-based programs. Simply put, the Independent Study of Distance 
Education Act will provide scientifically correct, statistically valid 
information on which to base future votes and policy decisions related 
to distance education programs.
  I urge all Members to support this important legislation.

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