• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video
You are here: Home / Soup Du Jour / Senator Bean's SARA Bill Passes Florida Legislature, Heads to Governor

Senator Bean's SARA Bill Passes Florida Legislature, Heads to Governor

Posted on May 5, 2017

SB 668/HB 859, Postsecondary Distance Education, by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) and Representative Amber Mariano (R-Hudson), has passed the Florida Legislature. The bill establishes the Postsecondary Reciprocal Distance Education Coordinating Council within the Florida Department of Education. This council will administer the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) with other states to authorize higher education institutions to offer online courses in such states.
“This is a common sense bill that makes sure Florida’s students are not at a disadvantage while pursuing their postsecondary educations, even if they choose to do so in another state,” said Senator Bean. “It also makes Florida’s colleges and universities more competitive in offering online courses to students in other states by eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape.”
Reciprocity agreements are voluntary agreements between states that establish comparable national criteria for interstate online education courses and programs. This reciprocity agreement is intended to simplify and improve the process for students who take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in other states.
“Online learning is a powerful tool, and this legislation will help ensure students enrolled in online courses are receiving high-quality education wherever they choose to attend,” stated Representative Mariano. “This bill allows Florida schools to be even more competitive nationwide and provides options for students searching for a flexible degree program.”
Florida currently participates in the SREB Electronic Regional Reciprocity Agreement (SECRRA), which allows Florida’s approved colleges and universities to offer online courses in SREB member states. However, since the current SECRRA dissolves in June of this year, Florida students will be unable to attend many out-of-state institutions. SB 668/HB 859 prevents this lapse by applying for Florida to participate as a member of the SARA. HB 859 will now go before Governor Scott to be signed into law.

Share this article! Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Filed Under: Soup Du Jour Tagged With: Florida Legislature, Postsecondary Distance Education, SARA Bill

Primary Sidebar

    Submit News    

Democratic Lawmakers Condemn GOP Legislation Targeting Civil Rights Protests

Prominent Democratic lawmakers on Thursday sharply condemned Republican-backed legislation filed for the … [Read More...] about Democratic Lawmakers Condemn GOP Legislation Targeting Civil Rights Protests

MEGA MILLIONS jackpot increases to $625 million ahead of tonight’s draw

MEGA MILLIONS® and POWERBALL® Combined Jackpots climb to $1.1 Billion! Players have a chance to win big this … [Read More...] about MEGA MILLIONS jackpot increases to $625 million ahead of tonight’s draw

Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network Partners with Law Enforcement to Reduce Opioid Deaths

In response to the rising opioid epidemic, Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network is working with the … [Read More...] about Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network Partners with Law Enforcement to Reduce Opioid Deaths

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Newsletter signup

Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive a brief recap of the week's most popular stories.

Footer

News

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video

About Us 

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021
Terms & Conditions

© Copyright 2021 Capital Soup · All Rights Reserved ·