The sudden closure of Business Career Training Institute comes at a time when private career schools are under increased scrutiny.

But career school leaders urge against painting them all with one brush because of what they call one bad apple.

“It’s a very isolated incident … We are a highly regulated sector of education. So this is an unusual and unfortunate circumstance,” said Gena Wikstrom, executive director of the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges, a nonprofit trade group of more than 70 schools.

The Gig Harbor-based company’s closure of its Everett school and six other campuses in Washington and Oregon caught everybody’s attention, said Jeff Day, administrator of the 100-student Northwest Technical College in Lynnwood.

“It’s always been a struggle for us to establish credibility with” government agencies that provide financial aid for worker training programs, Day said.

And the BCTI shutdown doesn’t help.

State and national education groups had been investigating the 20-year-old company for improper recruiting and record keeping, including luring students from outside welfare offices and trumping up their job placement success.

The company’s storefront schools offered training in basic computer and workplace skills in two sections, each lasting 71/2 months and costing more than $10,000.

Besides BCTI’s own troubles, the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission in the last year have been investigating such big players as ITT Educational Services, which has a campus in Bothell. There have been no charges, an ITT spokesman said.

And a U.S. House of Representatives committee is reviewing oversight and funding of career schools as it looks at renewing the Higher Education Act.

The scrutiny is a reminder to students to be savvy when researching schools to attend.

“I don’t care if it’s a community college or (private) career school or (public) four-year university, the student should research that program to make sure the educational outcome is what they would expect,” Wikstrom said.

Meanwhile, some former teachers at the BCTI Everett campus say it is getting a bad rap.

“They make it sound like this is some sort of capitalistic, malicious conspiracy. What it really is is a business and personal tragedy,” said Paul Goddard of Everett, who taught part time at the company’s Everett and Southcenter campuses since October.

BCTI was a caring place, he said. Many students were poor, some homeless, and it wasn’t unusual for teachers to bring in food to share for a meal.

“It’s a school that was trying to give a piece of that American dream to the people at the bottom of the pyramid,” Goddard said. “In the long run, what’s better? To be homeless and owe nothing, or to owe money (on a student loan) and have a job and a place to live?”

Former substitute teacher Gene Sams said he also bears no ill will against the owners.

“Going out of business has got to be far more painful for them than it was for me. They had this business 20 years,” he said.

The owners, Tom Jonez and G. Morris Piggott Jr., could not be reached for comment, and their lawyer has not returned calls.

Other local career schools are being urged to give former BCTI students special attention if they apply for enrollment, Wikstrom said.

There also are federal loan forgiveness options through the U.S. Department of Education. And the state Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board administers a trust fund to reimburse students for tuition if a school closes.

Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.

Choosing a private career school

Here are questions to help you choose a quality school. Before enrolling in any school, think critically about your skills and talents and research the field you want to work in.

* What is the school’s placement record?

* What are the completion rates of their students?

* If having a state license or being bonded is required for your field, does the school meet the education and training requirements?

* Is the school authorized to operate in Washington state?

* Are facilities and equipment up to date?

* Does the program have an advisory committee made up of individuals representing that business or industry? Can you have a list of their names and addresses?

* What other costs are there besides tuition?

* What is the school’s refund policy?

* Are extra services provided, such as academic counseling and job placement help?

Authorizing agencies

Degree-granting schools: Higher Education Coordinating Board

Non-degree granting educational institutions: Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

Cosmetology and barbering schools: Department of Licensing

Source: Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board