Credits student progress in licensed trade or registered business schools

BILL NUMBER:A454

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to cred- iting of student progress in licensed trade or registered business schools

Summary of specific provisions

This bill is an amendment to Chapter 457 of 2003, to allow any licensed trade or registered business school that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may, for participation in the Tuition Assistance Program and which has received national accreditation may, for the purpose of calculation of federal financial aid only, measure students' academic progress in non-degree granting credit hours. The prior chapter allowed only not-for-profit business schools to be eligible.

Justification

Because the New York State Education Department measures academic progress for students who attend licensed trade or registered business schools in clock hours as opposed to credit hours, some students have found themselves receiving less federal financial aid than similarly situated students in other states. This bill would permit these schools to measure the academic progress of their students in non-degree granting credit hours for the sole purpose of receipt of federal financial aid, thus allowing students to qualify for more aid, receive the aid faster and retain more aid should they be forced to withdraw from school.

Legislative history

2008 - referred to Higher Education Committee. 2007 - referred to Higher Education Committee. 2006 - referred to High- er Education Committee.

Fiscal implications

Minimal

Effective date

Immediately