Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
STUDENTS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!READ CAREFULLY "BEFORE" TAKING ANY COURSE!!
This page has numerous information on Private Trade Schools and your rights and protection as a student. Make a copy and study it, it could save you money and aggravation.Private Trade School is a school maintained, or classes** conducted, for the purpose of teaching any trade or industrial occupation for profit or for a tuition charge. Exemptions are 'private business schools,' colleges chartered and authorized to grant degrees and any courses conducted by an employer for the training of their OWN employees. (As per MGL Chapter 93: Sect 21A)
** Only short term training of less than 15 hours per year and NOT scheduled each year are exempt from the law.
All required schools must be licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.
CORRESPONDENCE OR TRADE SCHOOLS
Chapter 93: Section 21G Penalties
Section 21G. Whoever operates a private trade school without being licensed under section twenty-one B or whoever acts as a representative of a private trade school without being licensed under section twenty-one E shall be punished by imprisonment in jail or house of correction for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
If you are taking any course of more than 15 hours per year, (classroom or correspondence) other than a course from YOUR employer or an authorized degree granting institution, that school MUST be licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.
ATTENDING A LICENSED SCHOOL
Attending a licensed school offers many advantages for the student such as:
- School must prove their financial stability to the satisfaction of the Mass. State
Auditor. - School must have surety in the amount determined by the State Auditor to protect the students tuition.
- School records must be available to the Department of Education.
- School ownership may not change without prior approval of the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.
- School must go through an extensive application process to obtain State license.
Including building inspections by local building inspector and fire department for safety of students. - Any school sales representatives must be licensed by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.
School must maintain a list of all books and supplies for instructional purposes to be made available to the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. - School must maintain student records for seven years.
- Enrollment Contract must be approved by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education and the State Auditor. Contract must contain numerous protections for the student as well as schools tuition refund policy as provided by law.
- All school advertisement must be approved by the Department of Elementary & Secondary ducation and conform to present laws.
- Prior to employment all instructors must be approved by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education and provide the required qualifications.
- School licenses are valid for two years and school must be approved by State Auditor yearly.
- School must provide a set of written policies, to all new students, approved by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, to settle student complaints. These policies are to include procedures to file written complaints to the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.
Students have numerous protections 'under the law' when attending a school licensed by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.
For additional information about the Department of Ellementary & Secondary ducation, and your protection 'under the law' visit their web site at: www.doe.mass.edu/ops/
