AB427: Bill Text

b. Collecting and disseminating outcome and satisfaction information for the students of schools.

c. Performing annual reviews of schools.

d. Conducting regular on-site evaluations of schools.

e. Holding schools accountable for improving their performance and effectiveness.

f. Supporting options for innovative and quality programs offered by schools.

2. Accountability. Requires EAB to develop, periodically review, and, if appropriate, revise a strategic plan and to use the strategic plan to evaluate annually EAB's performance and effectiveness.

3. Authority. Requires EAB to approve schools, programs that another state agency or board is not authorized to approve or accept, changes of ownership or control of schools, teaching locations used by schools, and school representatives who, in places other than a school, attempt to secure the enrollment of students in the school if those schools, programs, changes of ownership or control, meet the requirements and standards established by EAB and that comply with rules promulgated by EAB. In the case of a school that offers a program that another state agency or board is authorized to approve or accept, including a program leading to a credential that is required for licensure or a program providing professional development for a licensee, the bill requires EAB to cooperate with that other state agency or board in the approval of the school by EAB and the approval or acceptance of the program by that other state agency or board. The bill also grants to the state superintendent of public instruction the exclusive authority to approve or accept programs offered in this state leading to the licensure of teachers and schools that, in this state, offer only those programs.

4. Responsibility. Requires EAB to perform certain actions to hold schools accountable for achieving satisfactory student outcomes and to ensure that programs meet generally accepted educational, occupational, and industry standards, including establishing standards and criteria for approving schools offering programs that are delivered primarily by distance learning and requiring a school, prior to enrolling a student who is a resident of this state, to provide the student with a catalog that includes information about the following:

a. The school's mission, facilities, programs, and instructors.

b. The school's policies concerning enrollment and admissions, academic progress, and student conduct.

c. Student services, including employment assistance services, that the school provides.

d. The school's complaint procedures.

e. Student outcome and satisfaction information.

f. The school's fees, refund policies, and policies concerning the negotiability of promissory instruments received in payment of fees.

g. Any other information EAB considers necessary to hold schools accountable for achieving satisfactory student outcomes and to ensure that programs meet generally accepted educational, occupational, and industry standards.

5. Reporting. Requires an approved school to submit annually to EAB all of the following:

a. Information about the school as prescribed by EAB, including a current school catalog, an enrollment contract, if one is used, copies of advertising used by the school, and financial information as EAB considers necessary.

b. Student satisfaction and outcome information, including information on the number of students from the prior year who are continuing in the current year, the number of new students starting in the current year, the number of students who have dropped out or withdrawn since the prior year, the number of students who are anticipated to continue next year, the number of students completing a program, the number of completers successfully employed, and such other information as EAB considers necessary.

c. A report on the school's progress in achieving the goals of its institutional plan.

6. Recruiting. Deletes, effective 24 months after the date of publication of the bill, the statutory provisions relating to solicitor's permits, but retains EAB's responsibility to regulate student recruitment and to issue permits to school representatives.

7. Student protection fund. Permits EAB to pursue any legal action it considers necessary to recover any losses paid from the student protection fund.

8. Student records. Eliminates the authority of EAB to take possession of the student records of a school not approved by EAB that has discontinued its operations, is proposing to discontinue its operations, or is in imminent danger of discontinuing its operations.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB427, s. 1 Section 1. 15.406 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB427,5,10 15.406 (6) (a) 1. Six massage therapists or bodywork therapists licensed under ch. 460 who have engaged in the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy for at least 2 years preceding appointment. One member appointed under this subdivision shall be a representative of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school approved by the educational approval board under s. 38.50 ch. 37. One member appointed under this subdivision shall be a representative of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy program offered by a technical college in this state. No other members appointed under this subdivision shall be directly or indirectly affiliated with a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school or program.

AB427, s. 2 Section 2. 20.292 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB427,6,6 20.292 (2) (g) Proprietary school programs. The amounts in the schedule for the examination and approval of proprietary school programs under ch. 37. Ninety percent of all moneys received from the issuance of solicitor's representative's permits under s. 38.50 (8) 37.70 and from the fees under s. 38.50 (10) 37.40 (3) (c) and all moneys received from the fees under s. 38.50 (13) (d) 37.65 (4) shall be credited to this appropriation account.

AB427, s. 3 Section 3. 20.292 (2) (g) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB427,6,12 20.292 (2) (g) Approval of school programs. The amounts in the schedule for the examination and approval of school programs under ch. 37. Ninety percent of all moneys received from the fees under s. 37.40 (3) (c) and all moneys received from the fees under s. 37.65 (4) shall be credited to this appropriation account.

AB427, s. 4 Section 4. 20.292 (2) (gm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB427,6,19 20.292 (2) (gm) Student protection. All moneys received from fees received under s. 38.50 (10) (c) 4. 37.40 (3) (d) and from amounts recovered under s. 37.50 (1), for the purpose of indemnifying students, parents, or sponsors under s. 38.50 (10) (a) 37.50 (1) and for the purpose of preserving under s. 38.50 (11) 37.55 the students student records of schools, as defined in s. 38.50 (11) (a) 2., that have discontinued their operations.

AB427, s. 5 Section 5. 20.292 (2) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB427,6,25 20.292 (2) (i) Closed schools; preservation of student records. All moneys received from fees collected under s. 38.50 (11) (d) 37.55 (4) to be used for the administrative costs of taking possession of, preserving, and providing under s. 37.55 copies of student records of schools, as defined in s. 38.50 (11) (a) 2., that have discontinued their operations.

AB427, s. 6 Section 6. 29.506 (7m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB427,7,6 29.506 (7m) (a) The department shall issue a taxidermy school permit to a person who applies for the permit; who, on August 15, 1991, holds held a valid taxidermist permit issued under this section; and who, on August 15, 1991, operates operated a taxidermy school approved by the educational approval board under s. 38.50 38.51, 1991 stats.

AB427, s. 7 Section 7. 37.01 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,7,9 37.01 (2) "Fee" means an application fee, a fee charged for tuition, books, or materials, or any other fee charged to attend a school.

AB427, s. 8 Section 8. 37.10 (2) to (6) of the statutes are created to read:

AB427,7,12 37.10 (2) Collecting and disseminating outcome and satisfaction information for students attending schools.

AB427,7,13 (3) Performing annual reviews of schools.

AB427,7,14 (4) Conducting regular on-site evaluations of schools.

AB427,7,16 (5) Holding schools accountable for improving their performance and effectiveness.

AB427,7,17 (6) Supporting options for innovative and quality programs offered by schools.

AB427, s. 9 Section 9. 37.15 of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,7,23 37.15 Accountability. The board shall develop, periodically review, and, if appropriate, revise a strategic plan for achieving its purposes under s. 37.10. The strategic plan shall include specific goals, objectives, and measurable results. The board shall use the strategic plan to evaluate annually the board's performance and effectiveness.

AB427, s. 10 Section 10. 37.30 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,7,25 37.30 (title) Authority.

AB427, s. 11 Section 11. 37.30 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,8,7 37.30 (2) In the case of a school that offers a program that another state agency or board is authorized to approve or accept, including a program leading to a credential that is required for licensure or a program providing professional development for a licensee, the board shall cooperate with that other state agency or board in the approval of the school by the board and the approval or acceptance of the program by that other state agency or board.

AB427, s. 12 Section 12. 37.35 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,8,10 37.35 (2) Establish standards and criteria for approving schools offering programs that are delivered primarily by distance learning.

AB427, s. 13 Section 13. 37.35 (3) (c), (d), (e) and (g) of the statutes are created to read:

AB427,8,13 37.35 (3) (c) Student services, including employment assistance services, that the school provides.

AB427,8,14 (d) The school's complaint procedures.

AB427,8,15 (e) Student outcome and satisfaction information.

AB427,8,17 (g) Any other information that the board considers necessary to accomplish the goals specified in s. 37.35 (intro.).

AB427, s. 14 Section 14. 37.35 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,8,21 37.35 (8) Require schools to comply with all applicable building, plumbing, electrical, and fire codes and all similar codes established for the protection of the health and safety of occupants of school buildings.

AB427, s. 15 Section 15. 37.40 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,8,23 37.40 (title) Approval; application; fees.

AB427, s. 16 Section 16. 37.45 of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,9,5 37.45 Reporting. (1) Information about school. An approved school shall annually submit to the board information about the school as prescribed by the board, including a current school catalog, an enrollment contract, if one is used by the school, copies of advertising used by the school during the preceding year, and financial information as the board considers necessary.

AB427,9,13 (2) Student outcome and satisfaction information. An approved school shall annually report to the board student satisfaction and outcome information, including information on the number of students from the prior year who are continuing in the current year, the number of new students starting in the current year, the number of students who have dropped out or withdrawn since the prior year, the number of students who are anticipated to continue next year, the number of students completing a program, the number of completers successfully employed, and such other information as the board considers necessary.

AB427,9,16 (3) Institutional plan. An approved school shall have an institutional plan and shall report annually to the board on the progress of the school in achieving the goals of the plan.

AB427, s. 17 Section 17. 37.50 of the statutes is created to read:

AB427,9,24 37.50 Consumer protection. (1) Student protection fund. If a school closure results in losses to students, parents, or sponsors, the board may authorize the full or partial payment of those losses from the appropriation under s. 20.292 (2) (gm). The board may pursue any legal action it considers necessary to recover any losses paid from that appropriation. Any losses recovered under this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.292 (2) (gm).

AB427, s. 18 Section 18. 37.70 of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

AB427, s. 19 Section 19. 38.50 (title) of the statutes is renumbered chapter 37 (title).

AB427, s. 20 Section 20. 38.50 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (intro.) and amended to read:

AB427,10,7 37.01 Definitions. (intro.) In this section chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

AB427, s. 21 Section 21. 38.50 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (1) and amended to read:

AB427,10,11 37.01 (1) Notwithstanding s. 38.01 (2), "board" "Board" means the educational approval board.

AB427, s. 22 Section 22. 38.50 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB427, s. 23 Section 23. 38.50 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (4) and amended to read:

AB427,10,21 37.01 (4) "Course of instruction" "Program" means a series of classroom or correspondence courses having a unified purpose which lead course of study that provides practical or academic instruction, education, or training leading to a diploma or, certificate, degree or to an occupational or vocational objective, or other indicia that a student has acquired knowledge or skills, but does not include education or training offered by an employer solely to its employees or a program that another state agency or board is authorized to approve or accept.

AB427, s. 24 Section 24. 38.50 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (3).

AB427, s. 25 Section 25. 38.50 (1) (e) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB427,11,5 37.01 (6) (intro.) "School" means any person doing business within this state, whether located within or outside this state, that offers, maintains, provides, or conducts a program for a fee, including any private trade, correspondence, business, or technical, career, distance learning, or degree-granting school, but does not include not including any of the following:

AB427, s. 26 Section 26. 38.50 (1) (e) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB427,11,10 37.01 (6) (a) (intro.) In-state schools that are An in-state school that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and that either were meets any of the following requirements:

AB427,11,12 1. Was incorporated in this state prior to January 1, 1992, or had their and has continuously been in good standing under ch. 181 since the date of incorporation.

AB427,11,14 2. Had its administrative headquarters and principal places of business in this state prior to 1970.

AB427, s. 27 Section 27. 38.50 (1) (e) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (b) and amended to read:

AB427,11,18 37.01 (6) (b) Schools A school that are supported mainly by taxes is governed by a public board.

AB427, s. 28 Section 28. 38.50 (1) (e) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (c) and amended to read:

AB427,11,23 37.01 (6) (c) Schools A school offering only programs that are of a parochial or denominational character offering courses having, that have a sectarian objective, and that are limited to use in the ministry of a religion, as determined by the board.

AB427, s. 29 Section 29. 38.50 (1) (e) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 37.01 (6) (d) and amended to read:

AB427,12,3 37.01 (6) (d) Schools primarily offering instruction A school offering a program that is avocational or recreational in nature and not leading to that does not have a vocational objective.