2022 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-21-102.1. Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools - Director - Powers and duties.

The Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools is authorized to:

1. Appoint and fix the compensation of a director who:

• a.shall employ and fix the duties and compensation of such clerical or other assistants as are reasonably necessary to effectuate the provisions of Section 21-101 et seq. of this title, and
• b.may execute contracts on behalf of the Board;

2. Promulgate rules to include but not be limited to the implementation of minimum standards for the operation of private schools and the requirements for application of a school, seminar or workshop for a license of state authorization;

3. Approve or disapprove:

• a.applications for state authorization,
• b.other applications for licensing including applications for sustained licenses,
• c.requests for exemption, and
• d.requests for a definition exception;

4. Issue a private school license to document state authorization or other licensing upon determination that such school meets the standards fixed by the Board;

5. Prescribe, except as is otherwise provided by law and subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, such penalties as it may deem proper for the enforcement of Section 21-101 et seq. of this title, not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00);

6. Fix minimum standards through promulgation of rules for private schools, which shall include standards for:

• a.courses of instruction and training,
• b.qualifications of instructors,
• c.financial stability,
• d.advertising practices, and
• e.refund of tuition and fees paid by students for courses of instruction or training not completed;

7. Where possible, to regulate degrees offered by distance education, make use of the State Regents for Higher Education's interstate reciprocity agreements to create a more efficient and cost-effective means of the regulation of private schools;

8. Make use of interstate reciprocity agreements that reasonably satisfy the Board's minimum standards to approve state authorization or other license application, if such agreements become available for other programs the Board approves for state authorization or other license;

9. Require an entity to repay any fees charged to the Board by a financial institution or the State Treasurer for a returned check or other failed form of payment;

10. Develop and present mandatory annual compliance training to emphasize standards relating to the operation of a school and relicensing processes, and require attendance by a representative of each school, seminar or workshop;

11. Develop and present or arrange for the presentation of optional training for schools to emphasize continuing development of school personnel and processes and to address emerging issues;

12. Provide all licensing forms free of charge via one or more electronic means, but shall charge for the pick up or mailing of a hard-copy licensing application packet to a person requesting information about private school licensing requirements;

13. Certify an electronic record or the printing of an electronically stored record as an original, subject to approval by the Oklahoma Archives and Records Commission and when in accordance with the record retention and destruction policy of the Board;

14. Conduct announced or unannounced site visits to an applicant or licensed school or seminar including joint visits with an accrediting organization or federal or state agency;

15. Invoice a travel fee to conduct site visits to an applicant, school, seminar or workshop;

16. Collect or require the submission of data, including but not limited to:

• a.admissions,
• b.certification scores or passage rates,
• c.complaints or grievances,
• d.enrollment,
• e.funding,
• f.graduation,
• g.job longevity or retention,
• h.job placement,
• i.data required to be reported to the U.S. Department of Education, any state or federal agency or an accrediting organization, and
• j.other data, as necessary, to carry on the mission or duties of the Board, or to assist in the state's workforce development initiatives; and

17. Carry out such other duties as necessary to provide state authorization for private vocational schools, seminars, and workshops and such other schools that make offerings of courses or programs as permitted by Section 21-101 et seq. of this title.

Added by Laws 2014, c. 276, § 4. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 349, § 1, emerg. eff. April 28, 2021.