This bill modifies requirements for VA educational assistance programs regarding independent study, emphasizing regular instructor interaction and aligning higher education institution eligibility with the Higher Education Act of 1965, effective for academic terms starting August 1, 2025, or later.
Juan Ciscomani
Representative
AZ-6
The Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025, or VETS Opportunity Act of 2025, refines the requirements for independent study programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs. It clarifies necessary regular interaction between students and instructors, and hones the definition of eligible higher education institutions. These changes will apply to academic terms starting on or after August 1, 2025.
VA Updates Rules for Online Learning Programs: Changes Coming for Veteran Education Benefits in 2025
The "Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025," or the "VETS Opportunity Act of 2025," tweaks the rules for veterans using their education benefits for online independent study programs. It clarifies what counts as a legit higher education institution and sets some new ground rules for how these online programs need to work, starting August 1, 2025.
School's In... Session
The main change is a clearer definition of what kind of interaction is required between students and instructors in online independent study programs. The bill amends Section 3680A(a)(4)(A)(ii)(III) of title 38, United States Code. It also points to Section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to specify which institutions qualify. Think of it like this: if you're a veteran using your benefits to take online classes, this bill makes sure those classes have enough real contact with instructors to count.
Real-World Rollout
For veterans, this means that starting in August 2025, any independent study program you're using VA benefits for needs to meet these updated standards. For example, imagine a veteran taking an online coding bootcamp. Under this bill, that bootcamp would need to prove there's regular interaction between the student and the instructor, not just pre-recorded lectures and automated quizzes. For schools, it means making sure their online programs fit the new definition of "regular interaction." This could mean more live online sessions, more direct feedback on assignments, or other ways of keeping students and instructors connected.
Potential Roadblocks
While the goal is to ensure quality education, there is a chance that some institutions may try and bend the definition of "regular interaction" to qualify for the funding, without actually providing the support veterans need. The bill doesn't provide a concrete definition of "regular interaction", so it's up to the VA and educational institutions to make sure the learning experience is legit.