ERIC ED375270: A Review of the Operations of the State Board of Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business Schools. Report 1.

37 Pages·1993·0.83 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CE 067 414
ED 375 270
A Review of the Operations of the State Board of
TITLE
Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical,
Trade, and Business Schools. Report 1.
Florida State Postsecondary Education Planning
INSTITUTION
Commission, Tallahassee.
93
PUB DATE
37p.
NOTE
Research/Technical (143)
PUB TYPE
Reports
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Postsecondary Education; *Proprietary Schools; *State
DESCRIPTORS
Legislation; *State Licensing Boards; *State
Standards; *Vocational Education; Vocational
Schools
*Florida
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
A review was conducted of the operations of the State
Board of Independent Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade, and
Business Schools in Florida. The review had the following aims: to
determine the history of board action upon school closure and
recommend changes to protect students adequately when their schools
egarding adoption of
close; to examine the implementation issues
competencies for vocational programs; to determine if Florida law is
sufficient to ensure that students benefit from their education
o determine if any other issues need to be reviewed.
programs; and
Information was gathered through public meetings and written and oral
opinions from persons within and outside the proprietary schools
sector. Among the recommendations made as a result of the review were
the following: (1) a set of standards for assessing programs should
(2) schools should administer a basic skills test to
be created;
students before they enter the:.r programs and refer those who do not
pass them to other programs if they do not 1-ove the resources to
(3) records should show why and how a school
serve such students;
closed, and procedures for ensuring that students receive the
education they have paid for in the event of school closings should
(5) common
(4) a student bill of rights should be created;
be set up;
data elements should be included in the transcripts of all students
(6) adequate fee structures that
from all the proprietary schools;
the schools pay to protect their students from school closures should
be adopted; (7) degree requirements should be standardized; and (8) a
plan should be made to update and maintain the board's data system.
(Appendixes to the document include statutes governing the board;
commission survey and results; and student protection plan, student
complaints, and school closure data.)
(KC)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
*
from the original document.
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PEPC
"777"
A REVIEW OF THE
OPERATIONS
OF THE STATE BOARD
POSTSECONDARY
OF INDEPENDENT
VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL, TRADE, AND
BUSINESS SCHOOLS
EDUCATION
U S DEPARTMENT OF
improvement
FCluCalOr,a1 Research and
THIS
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE
INFORMATION
ATONAL RESOURCES
ED
BY
-
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED
CENTER (ERIC)
reproduced as
This document has been
organization
received from the person or
6*-
originating it
made to
Minor changes have been
quality
improve reproduction
staled in this
Points of view or opinions
represent
RESOURCES
document do not necessarily
TO THE EDUCATIONAL
official OERI position or policy
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Report and Recommendations of the
Florida Postsecondary Education Planning Commission
2
REPORT 1
1993
-
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING COMMISSION
Tully Patrowicz
Alan G. Fickett
H. Clyde Hobby, Chairman
Mount Dora
Haines City
New Port Richey
James M. Talley
Thomas A. Heath
Inez W. Bailey
Tallahassee
Auburndale
Niceville
Robert M. Taylor
Ramiro Inguanzo
Ivie R. Burch
Fort Myers
Tallahassee
Panama City
Mark K. Wheeler
Robert B. Mautz
Vilma T. Diaz
Fort Lauderdale
Gainesville
Margate
William B. Proctor, Executive Director
The Postsecondary Education Planning Commission, initially created by executive order in 1980 and subsequently given statutory authority
(SS 240.145 and 240.147, Florida Statutes), set ves as a citizen board to coordinate the efforts of postsecondary institutions and provide
independent policy analyses and recommendations to the State Board of Education and the Legislature. The Commission is composed
of 11 members of the general public and one full-time student registered at a postsecondary education institution in Florida. Members
are appointed by the Governor with the approval of three members of 'he State Board of Education and subject to confirmation by the
Senate.
The major responsibility of the Commission is preparing and updating every five years a master plan for postsecondary education. The
enabling legislation provides that the Plan "shall include consideration of the promotion of quality. fundamental educational goals,
programmatic access, needs for remedial education, regional and state economic development, international education programs,
demographic patterns, student demand for programs, needs of particular subgroups of the population, implementation of innovative
educational techniques and technology, and the requirements of the labor market. The capacity of existing programs, in both public and
independent institutions, to respond to identified needs shall be evaluated and a plan shall be developed to respond efficiently to unmet
needs."
Other responsibilities include recommending to the State Board of Education program contracts with independent institutions; advising
the State Board regarding the need for and location of new programs, branch campuses and centers of public postsecondary education
institutions; reviewing public postsecondary education budget requests for compliance with the State Master Plan; and periodically
conducting special studies, analyses, and evaluations related to specific postsecondary education issues and programs.
Further information about the Commission, its publications, meetings and other activities may be obtained from the Commission office,
231 Collins Building, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-0400; telephone [phone]; FAX [phone].
3
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING COMMISSION
A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF
INDEPENDENT POSTSECONDARY VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL,
TRADE, AND BUSINESS SCHOOLS
Prepared in Response to
Section 7 of Chapter 93-170, Laws of Florida
Report 1
1993
December, 1993
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I.
INTRODUCTION
1
3
PROPRIETARY EDUCATION IN FLORIDA
II.
Curriculum Frameworks/Competencies
School Closure and Student Protection
Ability to Benefit
Dual Licensure
Board Staff and Resources
7
III.
ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Curriculum Frameworks/Competencies
Ability to Benefit
School Closure and Student Protection
Dual Licensure
Board Staff and Resources
Follow Up
APPENDICES
Statutes Governing State Board of Independent Postsecondary Vocational,
A
Technical, Trade, and Business Schools
Commission Survey and Results
B
Student Protection Plan, Student Complaints, and School Closure Data
C
$
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
five separate studies,
Since 1982, in
the
the
directed
Legislature
The
1993
Planning
Commission has made recommendations for
Education
Postsecondary
improving proprietary education in Florida.
Commission to review the operations of the
some of the
This review
issues
revisits
State Board of Independent Postsecondary
contained in those previous studies and raises
Vocational, Technical, Trade, and Business
Although there
some new areas of concern.
Schools (SBIPVTTBS). The review was to
relating
to
issues
are
important
many
accomplish at least the following:
proprietary education in Florida, none have
to any discussion of
remained as central
(1) Review the history of board action upon
private vocational education as school closure,
school closure and recommend changes in
readiness.
student
content,
and
program
law, rule, board policy, or board staff needed
Progress in each of these areas has been
to adequately protect students when their
made, in part due to recommendations made
schools close before the students complete an
by the Commission and enacted by the
educational program.
Legislature and the
yet
Board,
licensing
throughout the proprietary sector there is still
Review the policy and implementation
(2)
a need to ensure program consistency, protect
issues associated with adding a requirement
of
affects
adverse
the
from
students
that the board must adopt competencies for
unexpected school closure, provide for the
vocational programs conducted by independent
retrieval and safekeeping of student records,
The review should consider the
schools.
and ensure that students are able to benefit
competencies adopted for public vocational
from their educational programs. In short, the
schools by the State Board of Vocational
Board needs to use its statutory authority to
Education and determine what changes would
implement the rules and procedures necessary
be needed in law, rule, or board resources if
accountability
more effectively
ensure
to
independent vocational schools were required
among the schools under its auspices. At the
to adopt and teach those competencies.
This
same time, the Commission recognizes that
inquiry may include a review of the duties of
oversight
the
study
last
since
its
licensing boards in other states and by the
responsibilities of both the Board and its staff
Department of Professional Regulation.
It
the State no longer
have increased,
yet
may also include an assessment of sanctions
provides general revenue funding to support
required to ensure that competencies adopted
the activities required of the SBIPVTTBS.
were actually achieved.
The number of professional and support staff
required to adequately serve and regulate the
Determine whether the requirements in
(3)
be
needs
to
schools
proprietary
State's
Section 246.213(2) (b), Florida Statutes, are
seriously revisited.
necessary and sufficient to ensure that students
have an ability to benefit from their education
The Commission's specific recommendations
programs.
for change and improvement in the proprietary
sector are as follows:
(4) Survey board members, staff and licensed
schools to determine if any further issues need
The survey may be by
to be reviewed.
sample.
6
clock-hours or more should identify and
Recommendations:
publish in their catalogues the basic skills
test(s) used by the school for each program
In accordance with Section 246.207(2)
1.
and the cut-off scores for each program.
should
F.S.,
SBIPVTTBS
the
(d),
Schools should also report to the Board each
immediately appoint a committee of Board
year the number of students taking, passing
members and school owners to adopt a set of
standards for
and failing the examinations by program.
program
each
assessing
As part of this
licensed by the Board.
data system should
The SBIPVTTBS
process, the committee should review any
5.
identify why and how a school closed and if
existing standards or guidelines developed by
student records were received in a timely and
of
and
Adult
Vocational,
Division
the
The data system should
accurate manner.
Community Education (DVACE), individual
identify the number of students who were
or
professional
proprietary
institutions,
The Board should establish
trained out, received a refund from the student
associations.
protection plan, or received no assistance of
clearly defined definitions for each standard
used to assess the programs licensed by the
any kind.
Board.
The SBIPVTTBS should appoint and
6.
a
School
Committee"
Section 246.213(2) (b), F.S., and State
"Closed
activate
2.
comprised of Board members, school owners
Board of Education (SBE) Rule 6F-2.002(5)
and staff who, in the event of school closure,
(b) should be amended requiring nonpublic
can assist in overseeing train-out agreements
schools offering programs of 450 clock hours
and the transfer of student records to the
or more that do not have the qualified staff
Board. Team members should develop close
and adequate resources necessary to provide
contact with the accrediting agencies and the
basic skills remediation to : (a) administer a
Federal Department of Education's financial
basic skills test to all students who do not
aid division to encourage early warnings of
have a high school diploma or GED before
they enter the program, and (b)
refer
school closure.
students who fail the tests to a public or
The SBIPVTTBS should identify school
private institution that provides adequate
7.
closure warning indicators based on the
shall
remediation.
be
skills
basic
Tests
review of financial statements, default rates,
selected from among those currently listed in
student complaints received by the Board,
rule, or from among any of the federally
and other measurable information.
Such
approved Ability to Benefit examinations.
indicators could forewarn Board members and
staff of institutions which are operating with
The SBIPVTTBS should enforce Section
3.
F.S. and SBE Rule 6F-
increased risk of closure and should activate
246.213(2)
(b),
a visit by the Closed School Committee to
2.002(5) (b) that require basic skills testing
school
assist
resolving
in
and remediation. The Board's Annual Report
financial/administrative/programmatic
is out of
should identify any school that
problems before a school closes.
compliance with the statute and rule and what
that
on
been
imposed
have
sanctions
The SBIPVTTBS should develop and
8.
institution.
of Rights and
Bill
a
"Student
adopt
As part of their initial or renewal
Responsibilities" and require its inclusion in
4.
handbooks and
registration
all
student
licensure process, all schools licensed by the
materials. Such a document should explain
SBIPVTTBS that offer programs of 450
11
7
the provisions of the
degree-granting colleges or universities which
Protection
Student
also offer vocational non-degree programs.
Plan, existing train-out agreements, grievance
procedures, and the Board's address and
Only those programs should be subjected to
or be
programmatic required
review
phone number.
to
participate in the Student Protection Plan.
The SBIPVTTBS should require, as a
9.
14. The SBIPV7TBS should develop a plan
condition of initial licensure, that all new
and related budget request to update and
schools obtain a train-out agreement(s) for
In addition, the
maintain its data system.
each program that they offer. Such train-outs
plan and budget request should address the
must be maintained for the first five years of
the Board shall
increased staff workload and responsibilities
after
operation,
which,
of such
mandated by
if
and
Legislature
1993
the
continuation
the
determine
Copies of all
To the
recommended by the Commission.
warranted.
agreements
is
any additional personnel
extent possible,
agreements
should
current train-out
be
needed should be on a contracted service
If a new school is
provided to the Board.
unable to enter into a train-out agreement
basis.
with another proprietary or public institution
for any program, the Board should require
that school to be assessed at a higher rate for
participation in the Student Protection Plan.
The SBIPV77'BS should
identify
10.
common data elements to be included in the
transcripts of all institutions licensed by the
Each licensed
institution should
Board.
the permanent
catalogue
its
identify
in
location of student records and the process for
As part of its
obtaining those records.
the SB1PV7TBS
responsibilities,
licensing
this
compliance
should monitor
with
requirement.
The Board should periodically review
11.
and adjust as necessary the fee structure of
the Student Protection Plan to ensure that it
is equitable and that projected fee revenues
are adequate to meet future student demand.
Section 246.203(1), Florida Statutes
12.
should be amended to read: Any diploma
prozram offered by a non-public college,
university, or junior college shall, for the
purposes of ss. 246.201-246.231, be included
in the definition of "school."
The SBIPVT7'BS should develop a
13.
separate abbreviated license form for those
iii
I. INTRODUCTION
overall quality of private vocational education
The 1993 Legislature enacted Chapter 93-170,
in Florida.
Laws of Florida which contains revisions and
to Chapter 246 of the Florida
additions
Statutes (See Appendix A). The law further
the Commission
years
has
the
Over
continually stressed that proprietary schools
review
the
Commission
directed
the
to
are a vital component of the postsecondary
operations of the State Board of Independent
educational sector in Florida. Moreover, the
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical, Trade,
Commission has emphasized the necessity of
and Business Schools (SBIPVTTBS). The law
developing and maintaining a coordinated
called for the Commission to review, at a
delivery of postsecondary education in which
minimum, the history of board action upon
duplication is avoided and quality education is
school closure and to recommend changes in
provided in the most cost-effective manner
law, rule, board policy, or board staff needed
Private vocational
are
schools
possible.
to adequately protect students if their schools
particularly adept at providing training that is
close; review the policy and implementation
or job
careers
geared
issues associated with adding a requirement
specific
toward
opportunities and have the ability to quickly
that the Board must adopt competencies for
meet the changing needs of the job market.
vocational programs conducted by independent
The tremendous growth of and changes within
whether
determine
the
and
schools;
sector have increased the
the proprietary
requirements in section 246.213(2) (b), F.S.,
governance and oversight responsibilities of
are necessary and sufficient to ensure that
both the Board and its staff, yet the State no
students have an ability to benefit from their
longer provides general revenue funding to
education programs. The SBIPVTTBS review
of
the
activities
was assigned to the Program Committee by
required
the
support
SBIPVTTBS. Since 1992, the full operating
the Commission Chairman. Members of the
costs of the Board have been paid for through
Program Committee included Inez Bailey,
fees collected from the 491 licensed schools.
Chairwoman, James Talley, Robert Taylor
The required duties of the professional and
and Mark Wheeler.
staff have
their
increased
while
support
numbers remain disproportionally
low
in
The Commission has conducted several studies
For
comparison to
responsibilities.
their
pertaining to proprietary education in Florida.
of five
staff
a professional
In its 1989 study, An Update of Proprietary
instance,
is
day-to-day
oversight,
for
the
responsible
Florida,
Education
Commission
in
the
including on-site visitations, for all licensed
addressed the need for a student protection
schools. The other state licensing board, the
for program
consistency
need
plan,
the
State Board of Independent Colleges and
throughout the proprietary sector, and the
Universities (SI3ICU), has a professional staff
need to ensure that students have the ability to
of four, yet the majority of private universities
benefit from their educational programs. The
and colleges in Florida (192) are exempt from
Commission's recommendations in these areas
licensure because of accreditation status or
have been implemented in part over the last
This review revisits these and
educational mission.
five years.
other areas of concern and recommends ways
of
review
thorough
the
To facilitate
of further strengthening existing laws, rules
a
SBIPVTTBS, the Commission held public
and procedures to better protect the students
the written and oral
meetings and solicited
and consumers of Florida while improving the
9
In
and outside of the proprietary sector.
addition, Commission staff conducted a survey
of school owners (See Appendix B) and met
of the
Board,
members and
staff
with
and
owners
school
staff,
legislative
Department of Education personnel to discuss
The
the study and
its recommendations.
last public hearing on
Committee held its
December 14, 1993 and presented a final
15 for
report to the Commission on December
action and transmittal to the Legislature and
1994.
State Board of Education by January 1,