Nationally accredited "assoc. degree"distance lear

Hello all, I am a Teacher Assistant who loves her job!!!!!!!! I was pretty upset when I heard about the new State & Federal requirements that we now have to meet. MY first reaction was "When we first got hired all they asked for was a high school diploma" I am still upset that even though a lot of us have been in the system for awhile has to either take a test or get an associates degree. I feel that should be for the new hired people coming in as of now. But anyway there is no way around this, so I will do whatever I have to do to keep my job. I found out about ASHWORTH COLLEGE it is in Georgia. They have an Associate's Degree program in Early CHildhood Education. It is a nationally accredited distance learning curriculum. You receive home study instructions & curriculum, so basically you can get your associates degree right at home. THey mail everything to you & you mail everything back etc......... It takes about two years. My thing is, I live in Rhode Island & I am trying to find out if they would accept this Associates Degree?? If it will meet the State & Federal requirements?? I can't enroll until I find out that answer. I have tryed asking the Dept. Of Education & a lot of other people. No one can answer my question. I rather do that than go to a local college or take that test. If worse comes to worse & they don't accept it then I will have to take the test. Just thought maybe someone could give me some information on this. I would greatly appreciate it!! Thank you :D