[January 03, 2013]

Penn Foster Announces Recommendation for Federal Recognition of the Distance Education and Training Council

Penn Foster, a leader in career-focused online education designed to address the skills gap in America, today announced its accrediting association, Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), was recommended to receive continued national recognition as a reputable and reliable accrediting body for online and distance learning institutions by The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). The Committee, which advises the Secretary of Education on matters related to higher education accreditation, voted to recommend to the Secretary that DETC's federal recognition be continued without condition.

"This recommendation for continued national recognition of DETC's accreditation program not only enhances the credibility of DETC, but also Penn Foster," said Frank Britt, CEO of Penn Foster. "Like DETC, Penn Foster is committed to ensuring high-quality education options are available and accessible to any person interested in furthering their education. Through DETC's recent recognition, Penn Foster will be able to continue offering career-oriented, accredited programs, teaching the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly difficult job market."

Founded in 1926, DETC is a nonprofit education association focused on promoting educational excellence in distance education institutions by fostering quality assurance, protection of the rights of students and institutional self-improvement through voluntary accreditation via peer evaluation. Today, DETC serves as the accrediting body for more than 100 institutions in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including Penn Foster, a founding charter member of the Council.

"DETC is very proud of this recommendation for the renewal of our federal recognition, especially because it solidifies our years of experience and ongoing commitment to providing quality evaluations," said Michael P. Lambert, DETC Executive Director. "For DETC, this is a testament to the trust students place in our accreditation."

The recommendation, pending final acceptance by the Secretary of Education, means DETC's current Federal recognition dates from June 2012 and DETC will next be scheduled for recognition renewal in 2017. DETC's recognition signifies its qualification to evaluate the quality of its institutions, based on its experience accrediting educational institutions and its acceptance as a reliable accrediting agency by the institutions it monitors.

About Penn Foster

Founded in 1890, Penn Foster is a leader in career-focused distance learning education for more than 100 years. Since its inception, more than 13 million people have enrolled in the career school to learn advanced skills, further their education and better position them for life success. Today, Penn Foster graduates 25,000 students yearly and enrolls more than 100,000 new students each year in programs designed to address the massive skills gap in middle skilled careers. Penn Foster combines high-quality, distance education with flexible and affordable programming and allows students to design a program and curriculum based around their schedules. For more information, visit www. pennfoster.edu.

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