Virtual Education

On October 21-22, 2002, the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education and Converge Magazine hosted a national policy forum on virtual education in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the meeting was to help inform and shape a national virtual school agenda and bring together key stakeholders from the virtual school community to identify issues and challenges around virtual education. Work groups debated and discussed four specific sets of issues: accountability, equity, funding, and quality. The work group discussions focused on: 1) what are the barriers to virtual learning and 2) what roles can and should the federal government play in overcoming these barriers?

Paige Touts Technology, E-Learning on His No Child Left Behind Tour Across America

"By harnessing technology, we can expand access to learning and close the achievement gap in America," Paige says on the 15th stop of his cross-country tour.

New Information on the 12-Hour Rule Press Release and Report (7/2001)

Over the years, concerns were expressed about fraud and abuse in the Federal student financial assistance programs, especially the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the Federal Pell Grant Program. In response to these concerns, in 1990, the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) held hearings and, in 1991, issued a report that included 29 recommendations to the Department. A number of the recommendations made by PSI were adopted during the reauthorization of the HEA in 1992. In 1993 and 1995, PSI held related hearings concerning proprietary schools' fraud and abuse under the Federal Pell Grant Program.

Congressional Web-Based Education Commission

The Internet is in the process of transforming American business, culture, and society. Its potential as a learning tool is just beginning to be tapped. As educators turn more attention to online learning, individuals and organizations develop more Web content, and government supports these efforts with additional resources, leaders are searching to understand the real potential of the Internet, and the obstacles that inhibit students from realizing that potential.

Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships

LAAP is a grant program for asynchronous, innovative, scalable, and nationally significant distance education projects. Eligibility requirements for LAAP include at least two partners and a one-to-one matching of requested federal funds.

Star Schools

The U.S. Department of Education's Learning Technologies Division awards grants to telecommunications partnerships to operate Star Schools projects that deliver distance education courses and services. Partnerships include local school districts, state departments of education, public broadcasting entities and other public and private organizations.

U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige issued the following statement on FED UP legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.