Devolving Watch Dogs on For Profit Schools Is A Bad Idea
Randy Newman sang: "It's a Jungle Out There". Private for profit vocational schools need to be watched to make sure that they provide what they promise. It's in the best interest of all because tax money is used and it should be used to get the most bang for the money spent.
And the dance goes like this. Schools recruit students and they put together a package that includes Pell Grants and loans to pay for books and tuition. The students are on the hook for the loans that are needed to pay the schools.
Sometimes the students are unable to complete the course work for any variety of issues. The school has its money but the student does not have the promised training. This is a crying shame. It might be poor screening of students at best, but too often the screeners are motivated by filling slots as very little money is held back if the student does not complete the course. Results at the end of training like placements are often lacking because the poor and unemployed move a lot and are scrambling all the time because of issues regarding child care, transportation, and even part time work schedules.
The schools blame the students for poor attendance, inadequate preparation, and poor motivation when it comes to job seeking and job keeping skills. The students blame the schools for outdated programs, poor teachers, lack of placement assistance or lack of supportive services. And the folks in the middle are torn between helping those who are most likely to succeed and taking a chance on folks who need the most help.
Ultimately any training program should be judged on results related to obtaining jobs, retaining jobs, and increases in wages. Judging success is difficult because circumstances are always changing. Technology and the labor markets are fluid and this is a big country and what might work in one place may not work in another place. And almost as sadly sometimes folks have to move for better opportunities.
And lest we forget it is employers that hire graduates of high schools, community colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
And the dance goes like this. Schools recruit students and they put together a package that includes Pell Grants and loans to pay for books and tuition. The students are on the hook for the loans that are needed to pay the schools.
Sometimes the students are unable to complete the course work for any variety of issues. The school has its money but the student does not have the promised training. This is a crying shame. It might be poor screening of students at best, but too often the screeners are motivated by filling slots as very little money is held back if the student does not complete the course. Results at the end of training like placements are often lacking because the poor and unemployed move a lot and are scrambling all the time because of issues regarding child care, transportation, and even part time work schedules.
The schools blame the students for poor attendance, inadequate preparation, and poor motivation when it comes to job seeking and job keeping skills. The students blame the schools for outdated programs, poor teachers, lack of placement assistance or lack of supportive services. And the folks in the middle are torn between helping those who are most likely to succeed and taking a chance on folks who need the most help.
Ultimately any training program should be judged on results related to obtaining jobs, retaining jobs, and increases in wages. Judging success is difficult because circumstances are always changing. Technology and the labor markets are fluid and this is a big country and what might work in one place may not work in another place. And almost as sadly sometimes folks have to move for better opportunities.
And lest we forget it is employers that hire graduates of high schools, community colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
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