N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8 § 159.2

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 159.2 - Standards of instructional quality

(a) For purposes of sections 200 (3) and 212 (3)(c) of the Economic Development Law and of this Part, the following standards of instructional quality shall apply to economic development skills training programs and entrepreneurship support center training programs:

(1) Administrative and instructional personnel shall have at least a high school diploma. Instructional personnel shall also have four years of either work experience or teaching experience in the program area to be taught. Administrative personnel shall also have a minimum of three years of administrative experience and/or of supervision of skills training programs.

(2) Programs shall involve training concerning changes and/or innovations in relevant business, industrial and/or economic technologies. Entrepreneurship support center training programs shall provide, and economic development skills training programs may provide, training in the successful management and/or operation of a business, including but not limited to worker-owned cooperatives or employee stock ownership plans. Each program shall be conducted in accordance with a curriculum design which shall, at a minimum, be comprised of:

(i) the identification and development of instructional goals related to the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be obtained;

(ii) the identification of the entry behaviors and characteristics of participants;

(iii) the design and development of performance objectives; and

(iv) effective evaluation to assess participant achievement of curriculum objectives.

(3) The buildings, rooms or space in which staff and participants are housed for any purpose while attending the program, and all facilities and equipment therein, shall meet the standards, for school purposes, of local fire, health and building authorities.

(4) Fire and liability insurance shall be provided for all facilities.

(5) Heating, lighting and ventilation of instructional facilities shall be conducive to learning.

(6) Equipment to be used in the program shall enable participants to use successfully the corresponding equipment which is used in the business or industry for which the program will provide training, so that participants will have the potential to be successfully employed or to successfully operate a business.

(7) Appropriate and accurate administrative, financial and participant records shall be maintained, as well as any other records that may be required by the commissioner. Such records shall include:

(i) a statement from a certified public accountant or public accountant that indicates that the agency's fiscal procedures are consistent with standard fiscal practices;

(ii) registration forms;

(iii) test data;

(iv) attendance data;

(v) records of participant progress and achievement while in the program; and

(vi) records of participant placements and achievements after successful completion of the program, which indicate the percentage of entering participants who completed the program, and the percentage of program completers who retained or obtained employment, including employment directly related to the program training, or who started a business enterprise. Standards of acceptability for records of placement of completers will be determined on an annual basis by the commissioner.

(8) Individual participants records shall be easily accessible to teachers and participants.

(9) Admission standards shall be such that individuals admitted to the program have the prerequisite skills, knowledge and competencies to complete the program successfully, to obtain or retain employment related to the program training, or to operate a business.

(10) Participants shall be graded or evaluated at intervals necessary to determine their progress, and shall be regularly provided with reports of their progress.

(11) A participant attendance policy which will assure the successful completion and achievement of the stated curriculum objectives shall be developed and enforced.

(b) Approval may be granted for a variance from the standards set forth in subdivision (a) of this section upon a finding by the commissioner that the requirements of that subdivision will be substantially met.

(c) The commissioner may recommend to the commissioner of the Department of Economic Development the suspension or revocation of a particular program for failure to comply with the standards set forth in this section or failure to demonstrate a record of placement of completers which meets standards of acceptability established by the commissioner.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 8 § 159.2