California Attorney General Kamala Harris Thursday called on the federal Department of Education to cease recognition of the nonprofit accreditation agency that approved the now shuttered Corinthian Colleges, which was taken down by legal challenges from Harris and multiple other attorneys general.
“The predatory scheme devised by executives at Corinthian Colleges Inc. was unconscionable,” Harris, a Democratic candidate for a California U.S. Senate seat in Tuesday’s primary election, said. “And despite enforcement actions by the California Department of Justice and the federal government against Corinthian, (the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools) continued to accredit Corinthian, hurting thousands of students in the process.”
Harris said the for-profit educator intentionally lured low-income students through deceptive advertising that misrepresented how many graduates get jobs.
“Students relied on Corinthian’s accreditation status, believing they were obtaining a high-quality education with real job prospects,” Harris said. “The Department of Education should not renew ACICS’ federal recognition and protect students from harm by predatory, for-profit colleges.”
A spokesman for ACICS declined comment.
Harris joins 13 other attorneys general in raising concerns about the renewal of ACICS as an agency extending accreditation to for-profit colleges.
Harris led the way in winning a $1.1 billion judgment against Corinthian in March.
— Wire reports