Program Manager
Harv Lyter
332-1587

Proprietary Schools Registration

News and Updates

As of October 8, 2009

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Oct 2- Oct 29) on the new Temporary Administrative Rule:

The Rule will be published on the Department of Administration website October 2, 2009. (see, www.adm.idaho.gov --Administrative Rules -- look under Idaho Administrative Bulletin for October 2009)
We solicit your active participation. Please submit written comments about your business's experience with any aspect of this Rule. Those inputs will be rolled into a new Proposed Rule the State Board will take to the Jan 2010 legislative session for ratification. Once ratified, the new Permanent Rule will become effective on July 1, 2010. Written comments may be mailed to Ms. Tracie Bent at the Board Office, 650 West State St (POB 83720), Boise, ID 83720-0037. (The Program Manager would also appreciate receiving a copy of your comments by email.)

Make sure you're on the list for future updates!

Please send an email including your business name / name of the primary school official, email, & phone number to the Program Manager.

2009-2010 Registration Instructions

All Proprietary Schools (PS) conducting business in Idaho are now required to register with the State Board Of Education (SBOE) or apply in writing to be granted an exemption. Title 33, Chapter 24 of Idaho Law defines Proprietary Schools are private business entities or corporations that provide educational services or training courses for a fee. Proprietary Schools may not offer College-level or academic degrees. Note: If your school offers college-level degrees, you must instead register as a Postsecondary Educational Institution (PEI). Ask the Program Manager to clarify …

Also: If your business/school operation is already specifically governed by another Board or Commission under Title 54 of Idaho Code, please check with the Program Manager to clarify your responsibilities before applying here. You will need to cite the specific Idaho Statute assigning "governance of schools" to another Board in order to claim exemption from SBOE registration.

Also: If you feel your school should be EXEMPT from Registration for any reason, contact the Program Manager to clarify the procedure to request exemption under Title 33, Chapter 24 of Idaho Code.

Please Note: Your school will not be eligible to participate in the Veteran's Benefits Assistance Program or to be a Dept of Labor/WIA Service Provider unless it is FIRST properly registered with SBOE.

SCHOOL CLOSURES:

In the event of a school closure, School Officials Must Immediately;

Notify the Registration Program Manager by Email or Letter ASAP of the Date and Reasons for closing.
Arrange for a "teach out" for all current students; (provide opportunity to transfer to another school to complete their instructional program) ... OR ... Directly refund 100% of their paid tuition. (NOTE: If all tuition costs are not refunded , the State Board will file a claim against your Surety Bond to recover 100% of student tuition paid.)
Publish a public media notice of where, when and how for the next 30 days all current and former students may obtain their school transcripts. (Coordinate this activity with the Program Manager. OSBE will not hold closed school records, but needs to know what happened to them for future reference.)

To Register:

All Proprietary Schools must complete the Checklist and Application Form posted below. In addition, schools should submit proof of a Surety Bond and a business check (no personal checks) for the required annual registration fee. Please refer any questions directly to the Program Manager at 208-332-1587, or harv.lyter@osbe.idaho.gov.

Annual Registration Fees: The new fee will be one-half of one percent of gross Idaho tuition revenue (.005 x $GITR) of the School during the previous registration year, or not less than $100. (Administrative Rule sets a $100 minimum fee.) A Business Check for that amount must accompany the application package.

NOTE-1: for 2009, Please Submit your application package ASAP; do not be overly concerned with the Sep 30 deadline -this year.

NOTE-2: for 2009, If you will be delayed getting the Surety Bond, please notify the Program Manager by email of your expected delivery date, then submit the application without it. -- If you are experiencing problems obtaining a Surety Bond that fully complies with the Aug 20, 2009 Temporary Rule, we counsel you to forge ahead under the "spirit of the law" and obtain the best bond you can get right now. Submit that bond with your application - and most importantly - work with us during the Public Comment Period to craft the Admin Rule in a more satisfactory manner for all.

Criminal History/Background Checks: (see §33-2404, and Temporary Admin Rule, section 302.07.) Each Proprietary School Must;

) Conduct a National Child Protection Act-1993 Fingerprint Background Check on all employees who will have "unsupervised" contact with minors in the minor's home or at a secondary school.
-- Background Checks MUST be completed prior to issuing an agent his/her school identification card.
Conduct a Central Sex Offender registry check on those employees.
Proof of these checks on those agent/employees must be submitted to OSBE along with your annual registration application.

Directions:
** go to www.isp.state.id.us/identification/ (the ISP/Bureau of Criminal Identification home page)
-- Find it by going to your web browser; type in Idaho State Police, then select Criminal Identification Home (page)
-- Then review the information on a) Criminal History Repository, b) Applicant Background Checks, and c) Central Sex Offender Registry.

** Under the Applicant Background Checks section, select the "Criminal History under the National Child Protection Act" ... then look on the RH side for "Downloadable Forms"
-- NCPA Application, User Agreement, must be completed by the school and submitted to ISP/BCI. Once approved, you will receive a supply of fingerprint cards along with your approval letter.
-- The Waiver Agreement & Statement must be completed by each Agent/Employee that agrees to have the background check done on them. (Remember, without this check they cannot act as an Agent with "unsupervised" contact. Note: Normal "supervised" recruiting activities do not require the background check.)

** Once you have the ISP/BCI - NCPA-93 Agreement in place and the fingerprint cards in hand, your school may begin processing background checks directly with Ms. Maria Wiley, Applicant Unit Supervisor. Contact her directly (208-884-7130 maria.wiley@isp.idaho.gov) anytime you have questions about these procedures.
-- Be sure to identify yourself as an Idaho Proprietary School (not a "public school") representative.

** If you have questions about this process, contact Ms. Maria Wiley, Criminal Records Supervisor/Applicant Section of the Idaho State Police, Bureau of Criminal Identification, (ISP/BCI). Phone 208-884-7159,or email her at maria.wiley@isp.idaho.com.

NOTE-3: Criminal Background Checks apply ONLY to the category described above. If your school does not deal with this clientele or does not use recruiting agents in this manner, you have no background check requirement. -- For 2009, Schools may submit proof of Background Checks ASAP after submitting the application.

Checklist, Application and other related forms

Registration CHECKLIST

APPLICATION FORM

New Surety Bond FORM (completed by Insurance Company)

Mail the Annual Registration Application package to:

Office of the State Board Of Education
Attn: Registration Program Manager
650 West State Street (POB 83720)
Boise, ID 83720-0037

Advice to Consumers

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO! The world of private educational services is a “buyer beware” market. Although there are many reputable, legitimate businesses out there providing quality service for your dollar, some others could be disorganized, ill-prepared and even dishonest. If you are considering enrolling in education course work at either the College Degree level or the Professional-Technical certificate level, you should carefully investigate the school you wish to attend. Ask yourself (and school officials) these questions:

(for Colleges) Are they “accredited” by one of the national or regional accrediting agencies recognized by both the US Dept of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)? -- Please Note: This is an Idaho state requirement in order to receive Degree-granting authority from the State Board.

(All) Are they properly registered with SBOE? Ask to see their Registration Certificate for the current year. Every registered school will have one.

(All) Did they provide complete, direct contact information on their web site or printed advertisements? [i.e., Names of school officials (Pres, Provost, or Dean of Academics, etc), email addresses, phone numbers, mailing & street addresses, etc]

(All) Did they provide a clear and complete list of Costs for credits, tuition, application fees, etc, ... or clear direction on where/how to find them? Did you check this out?

(All) Did they provide details on the full number of credits required for the Degree or Certificate you are interested in? (How much will my complete “program of study” cost me?)

How long have they been in business? ... in this state? ... at this location?

Has the school Changed its Name in the last two years? ... Why?

Has the school moved from one state to another in the last 2 years? ... Why?

(for Trade/Professional Schools) Who is their Surety Bond Agency? They must report this to OSBE when registering; after that, it's "public" information.

NEVER give out any “personal information” (Social Security or bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.) or sign any type of contract at the first meeting. Ask to take a copy of their advertising or registration paperwork with you to study later and then you’ll get back to them with your answer. If they won’t let you do that, be suspicious.

• If you have any doubts about a school or business, contact the Office of the State Board Of Education immediately. Other agencies you might also want to check with include;

The local Better Business Bureau: Have other people complained about them?

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office: Are they properly incorporated to do business in Idaho?

The Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses: Is this business or service governed by a state board or commission, other than the State Board Of Education?

Idaho Dept of Labor/Workforce Investment Act office: Are they properly registered to be a state service provider, where DOL financial assistance might be available?