School Certifying Official Workshop State Approving Agency SAA

School Certifying Official Workshop State Approving Agency (SAA) April / May 2019 PA Department of Education Division of Veterans/Military Education 11/3/2020 1

SAA Overview • Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 • Over 50 state agencies • Under contract with the US Department of Veterans Affairs 2

Educational Institution VETERAN VA SAA 3

SAA Core Functions • • • Program Approval Visits to Facilities (including compliance survey) Technical Assistance Outreach Liaison Contract Management 4

SAA Program Approval • All Programs (except federal programs) must be approved by the SAA: • Degrees/Certificates/Diplomas/Teacher Certifications • Flight programs at an FAA approved pilot school • On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship Training • Licensing/Certification tests 5

SAA Program Approval – Cont’d • • State Requirements Federal Requirements 38 USC 3672 38 USC 3675 38 USC 3676 Accreditation (institution vs. programmatic) Policy Advisories 6

Map of Pennsylvania 7

SAA Program Approval Catalog • 2 or 3 (Pittsburgh jurisdiction) signed copies along with a listing of programs requesting approval • Paper (preferred) paginated • CD PDF format-sign CD or send separate signed letter referencing the CD • Program description/curriculum/courses • Academic policies 8

SAA Program Approval – Cont’d Catalog-Academic Policies • Credit for Previous Education/Training • Standards of Progress – Grading policy – Minimum grades considered satisfactory – Conditions for interruption for unsatisfactory grades or progress – Description of the probationary period – Conditions of reentrance 9

SAA Program Approval – Cont’d Catalog-Academic Policies • • Academic Calendar Advertising including use of trademark Admissions requirements Attendance Class Schedule (NCD Programs) Conduct Faculty/Governing Body Tuition/Fees 10

SAA Program Approval – Cont’d Catalog-Academic Policies Non Accredited • Pro-Rata Refund Policy – Ratio of the number of days of instruction completed by the student to the total number of instructional days in the course – Policy also on enrollment agreement • Interruption for Unsatisfactory Attendance • Class Cuts/Tardiness/Leave of Absence • Make-up Work 11

Other Program Approval Items Contract Training • • Control of curriculum Tuition Faculty Both entities may need to be approved 12

Other Program Approval Items – Cont’d Practical Training • • • Internship/Externship/Practicum Accredited Part of an approved program Meets graduation requirement Meet weekly with instructor 13

Other Program Approval Items - Cont’d Cooperative Education • Fulltime program alternating phases of classroom and business/industry • Class time at least as long as business/industry phase • Identified as cooperative education in publication • Credit granted for business/industry phase 14

Other Program Approval Items – Cont’d Developmental/Remedial/Deficiency • Courses designed to overcome a deficiency at the elementary or secondary level in a particular area of study [usually English, Reading, and/or Math] • Evaluation/Testing Documentation • Only in residence • May not be used for personal enrichment or electives 15

Other Program Approval Items – Cont’d Independent Study • • Accredited IHL or NCD program at an accredited IHL Accredited Career & Technology Center Accredited Vocational Postsecondary school Courses apply to the Degree, Certificate, or Diploma 16

Other Program Approval Items – Cont’d Distance Education • More than 50% of the program is via distance • Verification of Institutional Support, Faculty Support, Student Support • Description of curriculum, instruction, evaluation & assessment • Security Measures 17

Other Approval Items – Cont’d • • • Change in ownership Institution name change Change in location New programs Change to existing programs Change in accreditation 18

Program Not Approved • • No Longer Offered Avocational, bartending, self-improvement; audited Programs that do not meet approval criteria Some contracted training 19

Other Program Approval • On-The Job Training & Apprenticeship Training • License and Certification Tests • National Tests (VA Approved) 20

Visits To Facilities • • Technical Assistance Inspections Compliance Survey Other-Investigate Complaints, VA Requested 21

Outreach • • • Workshops Job Fairs Mailings (Governor’s) Presentations Newsletters 22

Liaison • Troops to Teachers – tttpennsylvania@j 2 tinfo. com – www. proudtoserveagain. com (National) • Department of Military and Veterans Affairs – https: //register. dmva. pa. gov • Priority Scheduling 23

Questions? ? ? 24

Contact Information Harrisburg 717 -787 -2414 Pittsburgh - 412 -565 -5364 Christine Hawk, Manager Randal Mc. Kinney, Supervisor Luke Suereth, Advisor Rod Niner, Advisor (Annuitant) Donna Matthews, Administrative Yuniya Cherednyk, Administrative John Ayres, Supervisor Emily Butler, Advisor Dennis Renner, Advisor Linda Gagliardo, Administrative 25

Contact/Mission For more information please visit PDE’s website at www. education. pa. gov The mission of the Department of Education is to ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. Further, the Department seeks to establish a culture that is committed to improving opportunities throughout the commonwealth by ensuring that technical support, resources, and optimal learning environments are available for all students, whether children or adults. 11/3/2020 26