July 2011

HB 38 has been reported favorably from the Committee on Higher Education. 

The bill has been amended and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.  The bill has a new number.  It is HB 3512.

The legislation would repeals the one hundred thousand dollar cap on surety bonds and transfer the responsibility for oversight of private occupational schools from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) to the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

Click here to review new bill -- HB 3512

Click here to send a letter your legislator

Click here for a sample letter

Click here to find your legislator

Click here for a Ways and Means Committee list

June 2011

Legislation to Move Massachusetts Office of Proprietary Schools to Division of Professional Licensure  

The Joint Higher Educational Committee is currently considering HB 38, the bill that would transfer the responsibility for oversight of private occupational schools from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) to the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
 
The Committee will hold a public hearing on June 8, 2011. The hearing will run from 10:00 am-12:00 pm in the State House, Room A-2. If we don't act now to tell our legislators that we are against this bill it will likely pass.   

We urge you to write, call, or email your state legislators NOW to let them know of your opposition to HB38.  We also recommend you target communications to your own legislators and to the members of the Joint Higher Educational Committee. 
 
You can also click onto the MAPCS Voter Voice grassroots advocacy system, which makes it easy for you to communicate with your representatives.  Your participation will only take a few moments of your time.  

Click here to send a letter to all of the members of the Joint Committee On Education

Click here to send a letter to your own representatives

MASSACHUSETTS H.B. 38 
Career Colleges - Governance & State Oversight

Status:

The billed was filed on January 27, 2011. The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Higher Education. The Committee chairs are Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Milbury) and Representative Tom Sannicandro (D-Auburn).

Summary:

This bill transfers the responsibility for oversight of private occupational schools from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) to the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

If passed the legislation would also:

• Repeal the one hundred thousand dollar cap on a career school surety bond and allow for an open-ended bond;

• Allow the Office of Proprietary Schools to raise the surety bond at will, instead of by statute, as is currently the case;

• Give the Office of Proprietary Schools the ability to change the way a school develops its curriculum and hires faculty; and

• Give the Office of Proprietary Schools greater enforcement authority, the ability to raise revenue and impose new civil penalties.

MAPCS is opposed to the passage of HB 38.  MAPCS member schools are post secondary institutions of higher learning just like any other college, community college, junior college, and non-profit private school located within the state.

MAPCS believes that the Office of Proprietary Schools should be moved to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and be provided the funding necessary to continue its important work with our schools.

MAPCS also believes the additional oversight and enforcement authority provided by this legislation is excessive.

We certainly understand and applaud Governor Patrick's plan to reduce redundant state oversight.  However, MAPCS believes that the Office of Proprietary Schools should be a supportive professional partner engaged in pursuit of educational excellence, not an agency primarily concerned with its consumer protection function.

If you are concerned about this legislation, MAPCS urges you to contact your legislator and let him or her know.  MAPCS is reaching out to the legislation's authors and proponents to determine if there are mutually agreeable, but alternative solutions to the proposals. In the meantime we need you to voice your opinion so the legislation does not move towards passage without school input.

Please send a letter to your elected officials today.  If you get a response please forward it to MAPCS, as feedback is critical.

Sample Letter

HB 38 Fact Sheet

Click here to find your legislator.

February 2011

The Winter 2011 Issue of MAPCS newsletter has just been published. The newsletter contains information about recent and upcoming educational programs, key legislative issues, as well as other articles relevant to the private career school industry.

To read a copy of the newsletter click here.

Gainful Employment -- August 2010

MAPCS members have joined the fight to protect private sector career college education. Working with the Career College Association (CCA) MAPCS members have weighed in on the US Department of Education's proposed regulations that define whether or not certain postsecondary educational programs would lead to “gainful employment” in a recognized field.  Members have contacted their elected officials and submitted comments.

Click here for more information

Gainful employment talking points

Write a letter to the Department of Education

CCA Legislative Reports

Please find a link below to the most recent CCA Legislative Report.

August 2010

May 1, 2010

September 2010 -- MAPCS Membership Directory is Published

The MAPCS 2010 Membership Directory has just been published.  It contains a comprehensive listing of member schools and trade partners as well as an economic report that provides a profile of the Massachusetts private career school industry.

The Directory has been distributed to the membership and to all of the career schools in Massachusetts, to high school guidance counselors, workforce development agencies and to public officials. 

MAPCS 2010 Membership Directory

MAPCS Members Can Now Save Money At Staples!

MAPCS has partnered with Staples Advantage to offer member savings on office supplies. With StaplesLInk.com you can now order supplies electronically and save time and money. Click on the link below to start saving today!

Staples Advantage