Washington Post 2003 Annual Report Download - page 32

Kaplan's Professional Division offers continuing education, certification, licensing, exam preparation and professional
development to corporations and to individuals seeking to advance their careers in a variety of disciplines. This division
includes Deaborn Financial Services, a provider of continuing education and test preparation courses for financial services
and insurance industry professionals; Dearborn Publishing, publisher of a variety of business and real estate books as well
as printed and online materials for licensing, test preparation and continuing education in the real estate, architecture, home
inspection, engineering and construction industries; The Schweser Study Program, a provider of test preparation courses
for the Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager examinations; Kaplan CPA, which offers test preparation
courses for the Certified Public Accounting Exam; Kaplan Professional Schools, a provider of courses for real estate and
financial services licensing examinations and continuing education; Perfect Access Speer, a provider of software consulting
and software training products, primarily to the legal profession; and Kaplan IT, which offers online test preparation
courses for technical certifications in the information technology industry.
Kaplan's Score Education Division offers computer-based learning and individualized tutoring for children in grades K
through 10. In 2003 this business, which provides educational after-school enrichment services through 153 Score centers
located in various areas of the United States, served more than 80,000 students, up from nearly 70,000 students in
2002. Score's services are provided in facilities separate from Kaplan's test preparation centers.
The Higher Education Division of Kaplan currently consists of 63 schools in 15 states that provide classroom-based
instruction and three institutions that specialize in distance education. The schools providing classroom-based instruction
offer a variety of bachelor degree, associate degree and diploma programs primarily in the fields of healthcare, business,
paralegal studies, information technology, criminal justice and fashion and design. These schools were serving more than
26,700 students at year-end 2003 (which total includes the classroom-based programs of Kaplan College), with
approximately 40% of such students enrolled in accredited bachelor or associate degree programs. Each of these schools
has its own accreditation from one of several regional or national accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education. The institutions that specialize in distance education are Kaplan College, Concord University School of Law
and The College for Professional Studies. Kaplan College offers various bachelor degree, associate degree and
certificate programs, principally in the fields of financial planning, criminal justice, paralegal studies, information technology
and management, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and
Schools. Some of Kaplan College's programs are offered online while others are offered in a traditional classroom format
at the school's Davenport, Iowa campus. At year-end 2003, Kaplan College had approximately 12,000 students
enrolled in online programs. Concord University School of Law, the nation's first online law school, offers Juris Doctor and
Executive Juris Doctor degrees wholly online. At year-end 2003, approximately 1,650 students were enrolled at
Concord. Concord is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council and has
received operating approval from the California Bureau of Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education. Concord
also has complied with the registration requirements of the State Bar of California; graduates are, therefore, able to apply
for admission to the California Bar. The College for Professional Studies, which had over 1,300 students enrolled at year-
end 2003, offers bachelor and associate degree and diploma correspondence programs in the fields of legal nurse
consulting, paralegal studies and criminal justice; however, that school is no longer enrolling students and will discontinue
operations after its current students complete their programs.
One of the ways a foreign national wishing to enter the United States to study may do so is to obtain an F-1 student visa.
For many years, most of Kaplan's Test Preparation and Admissions Division centers in the United States have been
authorized by what is now the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (the ""USCIS'') to issue certificates of eligibility to
prospective students to assist those students in applying for F-1 visas through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Under a
program that became effective early in 2003, educational institutions are required to report electronically to the USCIS
specified enrollment, departure and other information about the F-1 students to whom they have issued certificates of
eligibility. All of the Kaplan U.S. Test Preparation and Admissions Division centers that applied have been certified to
participate in this program. Once certified, a center must apply for recertification every two years. During 2003 students
holding F-1 visas accounted for approximately 1.6% of the enrollment at Kaplan's Test Preparation and Admissions
Division and an insignificant number of students at Kaplan's Higher Education Division.
In addition to its four divisions, during 2003 Kaplan acquired a number of foreign-based schools and other businesses that
provide educational services. The largest acquisition was The Financial Training Company (""FTC''), a U.K.-based
provider of training and test preparation services for accounting and financial services professionals. Kaplan also acquired
several other related businesses which are now operated through FTC. At year-end 2003, FTC was the publisher of more
than 100 textbooks and manuals and during the year had provided courses to over 30,000 students. Headquartered in
London, FTC has 28 training centers around the UK as well as operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore. During
2003 Kaplan also acquired Dublin Business School (""DBS''), an undergraduate institution located in Dublin, Ireland. DBS
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