Title 17. Education
Chapter 24-a. Proprietary Schools
17:3141.2 Definitions
The following words and phrases, when used in this Chapter, shall have the meaning ascribed in this Section to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) “Board” means Board of Regents.
(2) “Commission” means the “Advisory Commission on Proprietary Schools” created herein.
(3) “Notice to the school” means written correspondence sent to the address contained in the application or affidavit.
(4) “Owner” of a school means, if the school is owned by one or more individuals, each individual; if the school is owned by a partnership, the owners of the school are the partnership and each partner; if the school is owned by a corporation, the owners of the school are the corporation, the officers and directors of the corporation and any stockholder who owns five percent or more, of the total aggregate number of shares of all types of stock issued by the corporation that owns the school, or of any corporation owning stock, directly or indirectly, of the corporation that owns the school.
(5) “Proprietary school” or “school” means any business enterprise operated for a profit or on a nonprofit basis which maintains a place of business within this state, or which sells or offers for sale any course of instruction in this state, either by correspondence using the mails or by any other means of communication, or by personal solicitation, and which offers or maintains a course or courses of instruction or study, or at which place of business such a course or courses of instruction or study is available through classroom or internet instruction, or both, to a person or persons for the purpose of training or preparing such person for a field of endeavor in a business, trade, technical, or industrial occupation, except as otherwise provided by law. The definition of a proprietary school shall not include:
(a) A school or educational institution supported entirely or partly by public funds from either a local or state source;
(b) A parochial, denominational or eleemosynary school or institution that provides religious training or theological education; however, any school or institution that also offers training in a secular field of endeavor shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter;
(c) A school or training program which offers instruction primarily in the field of recreation, health, entertainment, or personal enrichment and which does not purport to prepare or qualify persons for employment as determined by the commission;
(d) A course or courses of instruction or study sponsored by an employer for the training and preparation of its own employees when the employer is not primarily engaged in the business of selling or offering courses of instruction or study;
(e) A course or courses of study or instruction sponsored by a recognized trade, business or professional organization for the instruction of the members of such organization;
(f) Private colleges and universities which only award a baccalaureate or higher degree and which maintain and operate educational programs for which credits are given;
(g) A private school which provides a basic academic education comparable to that provided in the public schools of the state;
(h) A school offering a program only for children under six years of age;
(i) A school which is regulated and licensed under the laws of this state;
(j) A private tutor, teacher or individual engaged in giving private tutoring or lessons to five persons or less in nonschool connected activities severed from the regular curriculum of a school as determined by the commission; or
(k) A day-camp.
(l) A training program that does not have attendance requirements in place for persons taking the courses and which offers for sale only nonsequential and noncontinuous courses of one week duration or less which do not exceed twenty hours of training.
(m) A manufacturer-certified training center that offers, at no additional charge to the person receiving training, manufacturer-authorized training that is included as part of the manufacturer’s pricing package to prepare persons for certification conferred by the manufacturer and that uses course equipment and materials which are developed and sold by the manufacturer and course instructors and facilities which are certified by the manufacturer.
(n) A school or business enterprise which offers instruction to prepare students for tests which are required for entry into a postsecondary program of study.
(o) A school or business enterprise which offers yoga teacher training.
(p) A school or business enterprise which provides students with advanced training techniques for police and service dogs.
(q) An educator preparation program that is approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
(6) “School employee” means all instructors, administrators, solicitors, clerical and office personnel employed by the school.
(7) “Solicitor” means a person who solicits business for a proprietary school or who offers to sell or sells in this state any instruction or course of instruction offered by a proprietary school.
(8) “Teach out” means the time remaining in an affected student’s course of study.
(9) “Treasurer” means the state treasurer.
(10) Repealed by Acts 1991, No. 943, § 2, eff. July 24, 1991.
(11) Repealed by Acts 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 151, § 3, eff. July 1, 1999.
Added by Acts 1972, No. 311, § 1. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 423, § 1; Acts 1980, No. 457, § 1; Acts 1989, No. 798, § 1; Acts 1995, No. 1270, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 280, § 1, eff. June 17, 1997; Acts 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 151, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2000, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 63, § 1, eff. April 17, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 140, § 1; Acts 2003, No. 267, § 1; Acts 2011, No. 80, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2016, No. 346, § 1; Acts 2017, No. 204, § 1.