Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. Education § 6502. Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Admissions representative.” A person acting for a private licensed school who, for a consideration, at locations off the premises of the school solicits or procures through an enrollment agreement an individual in Pennsylvania to enroll in a private licensed school.

“Annual.” Twelve months from the date of initial licensure.

“Biennial.” Twenty-four months from the date of renewal licensure.

“Board.” The State Board of Private Licensed Schools.

“Branch facility.”A facility of a private licensed school when all of the following occur:

(1) The facility has the same ownership, management or control as that of the private licensed school.

(2) The curriculum offered at the facility is substantially the same as the curriculum offered at the private licensed school.

(3) The number of tuition-paid students enrolled at each facility does not exceed 50 per class.

(4) The facility is administratively an integral part of the private licensed school.

“Department.” The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.

“Distance education.”Instruction offered by any means where the student and faculty member are in separate physical locations so that in-person communication is absent and communication is accomplished instead by one or more technological media. The term includes, but is not limited to, real-time or delayed interaction using voice, video, data or text, including instruction provided online, via correspondence or via interactive video. Instruction provided via synchronous video from an institution in this Commonwealth to additional campus sites of the same institution in this Commonwealth is not considered distance education. The term does not include independent study or instruction which is not instructor led.

“Enrollment agreement.” A written contract between the student and the private licensed school.

“Multibranch training school.”A school licensed to do business in Pennsylvania having at least one branch facility at which instruction is offered to the general public for a fee.

“Private licensed school.”A school or classes operated for profit or tuition that provides resident instruction to prepare an individual to pursue an occupation in the skilled trades, industry or business, or systematic instruction by distance education in a field of study. It shall not include a private academic school as defined in section 2 of the act of January 28, 1988 (P.L. 24, No. 11),  1 known as the Private Academic Schools Act; a school maintained or a class conducted for training for the vocation of homemaking or to give training in public and other service occupations; a barber school; a school of cosmetology; a flight school; a private tutorial school, including, but not limited to, a school of music or dance; an institution granting a degree other than those approved to award the degree of associate in specialized business or associate in specialized technology; a school or class conducted by an employer or trade union for employees or union members where no fee or tuition is charged; a school owned and operated by a bona fide religious institution whose only purpose is the providing of religious instruction; a school conducted by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof; or a school which is operated by a hospital licensed under the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L. 130, No. 48),  2 known as the Health Care Facilities Act, and which is accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency.

“Registered school.” The official designation for an out-of-State school which has met all the requirements of the board for approval to enroll Pennsylvania residents in its resident school or home-study course.

“Secretary.” The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

“Teach-out.” The continuation of instruction to students to complete the program or course in which the students are enrolled when the school's license has expired, been revoked or a school has ceased enrollment.