Information On Private Occupational Schools

The bill expands the information that private occupational schools (schools) must provide to prospective students before the student enrolls in a program. The additional information that must be provided is set forth in the bill and includes, in part, program completion rates, post-graduation employment rates, average and median student loan debt, loan repayment rates, and legal barriers to entry into an occupation for which the school provides a training program.

The division of private occupational schools in the department of higher education (department) shall collect the data schools are required to provide to prospective students and any other data requested by the department to populate a postsecondary education and training comparative tool (comparative tool) created in the bill. The private occupational school board (board) shall prescribe policies and procedures for the collection of information from the schools. The board may determine a time frame for schools to provide information that is temporarily unavailable and may exempt a school or schools from certain information that is unreasonably burdensome for the school or schools to provide.

The bill directs the department to use the information collected from schools to populate the comparative tool. The comparative tool is a free, public, online resource that allows prospective students and interested persons to access information regarding schools to assist in making informed decisions about postsecondary education and training program options in the state.

The comparative tool includes, in part, information on career selection and jobs in demand in the future and information relating to schools and programs including program completion rates, employment rates and earnings, and the aggregate amount of student debt.

The department shall report to the general assembly concerning implementation of the comparative tool.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)