For the purpose of providing vocational education courses on an individual or group basis, boards of education may, according to rules prescribed by the commissioner and approved by the State board, enter into contracts with private vocational schools when such courses cannot be provided by the county or regional vocational schools or other school districts or a private vocational school can provide substantially equivalent training at a lesser cost. Each private vocational school shall hold a current license or certificate of approval issued by the State Board of Education or other appropriate State board or agency and shall be approved for the purposes of this act by the Commissioner of Education. Such license or certificate of approval must have been held by the private vocational school for at least 2 consecutive years immediately preceding execution of the contract.

L.1977, c. 290, s. 1, eff. Dec. 6, 1977.