House favors adding Mass. to online learning compact - Katie Lannan, State House News Service

The $40.3 billion budget that cleared the House last week includes language higher education officials say will make it easier for colleges and universities to offer online learning programs. One of the amendment packages the House tacked on to its fiscal 2018 budget included a proposal from Minority Leader Brad Jones that would authorize Massachusetts to join 47 other states in a reciprocity agreement dealing with online learning and distance education. Participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) will allow public and private colleges and universities in Massachusetts to "offer online programs to students in other states in a much more efficient and far less costly manner," according to the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts. http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/house-favors-adding-mass-to-online-learning-compact,506296