The organization of the educational process in the second half of the 2019/2020 academic year in the condition of the declared coronavirus pandemic has become a difficult test not only for pupils, students and their parents, but also for the entire educational system of the Russian Federation. The regulation of this issue was formed in real time, and the rules were subject to immediate application to ensure not only the continuation of training, but also to ensure the epidemiological welfare of citizens. That is why the authors attempted to analyze in-depth the legal aspect of regulating the organization of distance education in the conditions of the spread of a new coronavirus infection. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2020.