School Certifying Official Information
Each school must designate at least one School Certifying Official (SCO) to carry out VA reporting requirements on behalf of the school. Responsibilities include:
Keep VA informed of the enrollment status of Veterans and other eligible persons. Use basic forms to keep VA informed, such as:
Enrollment Certification (VA Form 22-1999) to report required enrollment information
Notice of Change in Student Status (VA Form 22-1999b) to report changes to enrollment information
Monitor the subjects pursued by a student to certify to VA only those subjects that apply to the student's program
Monitor student's grades to ensure s/he is making satisfactory progress
Report when a student is terminated due to unsatisfactory progress
Monitor student's conduct and report when student is suspended or dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct
Keep up-to-date on current VA rules and benefits
Provide e-mail address to VA Education Liaison Representative (ELR)
Read and maintain VA bulletins provided by your ELR
Attend VA training opportunities
Maintain records of VA students and make all records available for inspection:
Retain file of VA papers submitted & records of academic progress, program pursuit, etc.
Maintain records for at least three years following the student's last date of attendance
Ensure that records are kept in a safe place and that the privacy of VA students is protected
Additional responsibilities required of a Yellow Ribbon school:
Certify in accordance with the school's Yellow Ribbon agreement
Maintain these additional records
Track the number of students enrolled under Yellow Ribbon
Track the annual amount of tuition and fees
Develop and document a process for the first come-first served enrollment of students into the Yellow Ribbon Program
A U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Liaison Representative (ELR) is the school's primary contact for all questions pertaining to certification of training.
Schools should not attempt to determine student eligibility, as benefit programs change frequently. It is recommended that the student receive this information directly from the VA. The toll free telephone number for students to call is (888) 442-4551. In addition, the GI Bill® website provides useful student information relating to benefits and eligibility.
School Training & Information Resources also provides useful information for SCO's, including access to the School Certifying Official Handbook and VA-Once access and online training. SCO's are encouraged to become familiar with the contents of the SCO Handbook and website information.
Regulations governing Veterans education and training may be found at: Code of Federal Regulations Title 38 – Veteran's Benefits.