A group of students and educators have sued Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos for delaying rules meant to protect students studying online programs.
Backed by the National Education Association and the California Teachers Association and represented by non-profit National Student Legal Defense Network, the plaintiffs have challenged the department’s delay of requirements for online universities to inform the students that the programs they are enrolled in may fail the established licensing standards or may face unfavorable action from accreditor or the government
“It’s shocking but not at all surprising that the Department of Education would roll back student protections because this latest brazen attack on student rights is consistent with everything we have seen from the Trump administration and Secretary Betsy DeVos,” NEA President Lily Eskelsen García said.
She further said, “Without these rules, current and prospective students will remain in the dark. Students will be denied critical information about which programs are right for them and which would be a waste of their time and money.”
Both the associations say that the lawsuit in the court for the Northern District of California is aimed to end the delay in the framing of rules which will protect millions of students studying in different online degree programs and see the recent regulations by DeVos a direct attack on students and their future.
“Betsy DeVos’ latest move that removes students’ protections from predatory online universities is a direct attack on our students and their future,” CTA President Eric Heins said.
“The common-sense disclosures help prospective and enrolled students evaluate the legitimacy of online programs and the institution that offers them,” Heins added.