September 21, 2009

For more information: Bob Cohen                            Luke Thomas
                                 202-336-6836                       202-336-6803
                                 bobc@career.org                   luket@career.org

Career College Association Statement on GAO Proprietary School Findings

Washington, DC – The Career College Association (CCA) today issued the following statement in response to a Government Accountability Office Report on Department of Education oversight of proprietary schools:

We are very pleased with the positive comments about career colleges in the GAO report.  However, given our heavy focus on compliance, we are disappointed to learn of a limited number of abuses allowing unqualified students to attend our schools using federal Title IV funds.  We abhor any practice that breaks the rules or the law to admit unqualified students, whether through fraudulent testing practices or bogus high school degrees.  We share the government’s interest in eliminating any form of fraud and abuse associated with the Title IV program.   

Market funded postsecondary institutions provide valuable education to over two million students.  At a time where high school graduation rates are below 50 percent in major metropolitan areas, the GED and ATB processes remain extremely important routes to higher education for many Americans.  There is, however, no room in this activity for subterfuge. 

The GAO report describes the actions of a few school personnel and testing personnel behaving in an unethical manner.  Nothing in the GAO report suggests that the practice of admitting unqualified students is widespread or indicative of the sector as a whole.

Our focus remains providing students with a purposeful education designed to speed entrance to a competitive and productive workforce.  We will continue working with our member institutions to assure that each maintains the highest level of ethical conduct, whether in the admissions processes or any other aspect of school operations and conduct.

We also will continue to work with the Department of Education, our members, the lenders, and the students on lowering default rates for students in our sector through our Default Prevention Initiative. 

The Career College Association (CCA) is a voluntary membership organization of accredited, private postsecondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that provide career-specific educational programs. CCA has more than 1,600 members that educate and support over one million students each year for employment in over 200 occupational fields. CCA member institutions provide the full range of higher education programs: masters and doctoral degree programs, two- and four-year associate and baccalaureate degree programs, and short-term certificate and diploma programs. Visit CCA at www.career.org.