Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision Room 974 EBA Albany, NY 12234 www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss

June 2, 2004 (Updated June 8, 2004)

Dear Drake Student:

The Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision (BPSS), an office within the New York State Education Department (NYSED), along with the Drake Schools is hoping to make the transition in your education as smooth as possible during this difficult time. Toward this end, we want to let you know what your options are under the Education Law.

 Option 1: Participate in a Teach-out: Since NYSED became aware of Drake’s intention to close on Thursday May 27, 2004, BPSS has worked very hard to get as many schools as possible to participate in this teach-out. We have appealed to other schools and asked them to help out during this difficult time. Fortunately, many schools have graciously come forward and offered their assistance. Below you will find a table which contains a partial and tentative list of schools. NYSED is currently working with these schools to negotiate a teach-out on your behalf. Also included is the school’s address, telephone number, name of a contact person and the program(s) the school can teach-out. Please keep the following points in mind in considering attending a teach-out school. 

1. There is no extra cost to you as the student. Even if the teach-out school has a higher tuition than Drake, you may continue your education at their school at no additional cost to you beyond that which was contracted originally with Drake. You are only responsible for the balance of the tuition you would have paid to Drake or would have been paid on your behalf.
2. Additionally, the teach-out school will make an assessment of where you are in the program and what you have learned at Drake and place you into a comparable program, if not the same program, at the school.
3. Should you decide to take the teach-out, you can give the new school a try for one week of instruction. If you decide at the end of the week you are not happy or do not wish to continue, you can still apply for Option 2.

As NYSED will continue to work with these and other schools to offer you as many options as possible, this list will be updated and finalized. A bulletin will be posted on the BPSS website with an updated list by early next week. We encourage you to visit our website at www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss beginning on Monday June 7, 2004 and throughout the next week for an updated listing. We hope you will seriously consider this option and continue your education.

*Curricula Code:
CBC = Computerized Business Certificate – 900 hours;
CBD = Computerized Business Diploma – 900 hours;
COS = Computerized Office Specialist – 1500 hours;
EOS = Executive Office Specialist – 1500 hours;
IOS = Integrated Office Systems – 660 hours;
MA = Medical Assistant – 900 hours;
MOA = Medical Office Assistant – 1500 hours;
SBD = Specialized Business Diploma – 625 hours
Stand Alone Courses = Office Technology using MS Outlook (20 hours), Advanced Spreadsheet Applications (20 hours), MS Outlook (25 hours), and Advanced Excel Applications (25 hours). 
Internship Module - While the internship module at Drake was 250 hours, Global Business School is willing to take students who did not complete this last module and incorporate them into Global's 375 hour internship.

Option 2: A Refund of all pre-paid tuition:

Drake Schools were licensed proprietary schools.  Therefore, the money which you paid or which was paid out on your behalf (in the form of a private loan) is protected.  Under Section 5007(4)(c) of the Education Law, a student who is currently enrolled when a school closes is entitled to receive a refund of any pre-paid tuition, provided the student chooses not to participate in the teach-out.  If you choose not to participate in the teach-out, you are entitled to receive a refund of any pre-paid tuition.  If you paid the money, then the refund will be sent to you.  If the money was paid on your behalf from a lending institution (in the form of a private loan), then the lending institution will receive a refund. Please keep in mind that Federal and State grants such as PELL and TAP do not have to be reimbursed or repaid. However, any TAP money paid out on your behalf to Drake will be counted toward the total TAP money you as a student are allowed.  (Please keep this in mind and seriously consider the teach-out.)  Also any Title IV loans are forgiven.  In order to receive the refund, you must fill out a complaint form which is available to you from the SED representatives visiting your school or through the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision’s website at www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss.

We encourage you to review both options and discuss it with your family. Please feel free to contact one or more of the teach-out schools and arrange to meet with a representative of the school as this may be especially helpful to you as you make a final decision.  Whatever your decision, we wish you good luck in all your future endeavors.

NYSED would like to express a special thank you to Ms. Donna Hallam from Drake who worked with us since last Thursday including over the Memorial Day weekend and all day yesterday to offer you as many options in terms of the teach-out schools as possible. Thank you, Ms. Hallam!!

Sincerely,

The Representatives of the New York State Education Department, Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision.

See also Drake TAP Information

Contact information:

NYSED, BPSS: website – www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss or (212) 643-4760.

Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) for information on TAP – (518) 473-1600 or 1 (800) 642-6234.

United States Department of Education for information on PELL - (212) 264–4022.