How to Successfully Close an Institution
Few institutions consider closure while focusing on daily operations, yet unplanned institution closures can
disrupt or derail a student’s education. Careful planning is essential.
California law and regulations require institutions to notify the Bureau at least 30 days before closing and
submit a separate closure plan for each campus type (e.g., Main, Branch, or Satellite). A closure plan form
with required details is linked below.
This guide helps institutions close responsibly and comply with state law and regulations. It focuses on
California state requirements only; other regulators or accrediting agencies may have additional requirements
not addressed here.
This summary highlights key points but does not replace a full review of relevant laws.
Key Resources
Private Postsecondary Education Act, Article 15: Orderly Institutional Closure and Teach-Outs (California
Education Code sections 94926-94927.5)
Title
5, California Code of Regulations section 76240: Required Notices and Closure Plan.
Closure Reporting Forms and Samples:
- School Closure Plan form to submit to the Bureau.
- Blank roster template for submitting required student information to the Bureau.
- Sample closure notifications for students (review and revise as needed based on closure circumstances)
- Scenario 1: All students have completed their programs prior to closure
- Scenario 2: Teach-out options are available at no additional cost to students
- Scenario 3: No teach-out options are available for students to complete their programs
- Download a PDF copy of these instructions