CTDOL stops sending students to Hartford vocational training program after NBC CT Responds investigation – NBC Connecticut

The Connecticut State Department of Labor has removed Fresh Start Technical School from its “Eligible Provider List” after NBC CT Responds first reported on former students’ frustration.

Earlier this year, student drivers told us that they had gone weeks without the opportunity to earn money elsewhere because they were working toward a larger life goal: getting their CDL license.

And yet the state-approved school did not offer proper driving training for practical use.

Before NBC CT Responds or the state investigated, Fresh Start of Hartford held a graduation ceremony and even booked driver's license tests for students, according to pictures and emails from former students we reviewed.

CTDOL now believes that the program did not prepare students for licensure and no longer supports the program.

According to CTDOL, Capital Workforce Partners, which contracted Fresh Start to train the 21 students and paid $104,000, is now demanding tuition reimbursement and is “investigating non-compliance with the contract.”

CTDOL funds Capital Workforce Partners and similar workforce development programs throughout the state.

Meanwhile, Fresh Start's website continues to state that the company offers truck driver training.

NBC Connecticut reached out to Fresh Start for comment, but we have not received a response.

CTDOL says Capitol Workforce Partners has since helped 18 of those 21 truck driving students get accepted into new training programs.

They say they have not received a response from the other three students.

The technical college continues to advertise training courses for nursing assistants and phlebotomists on its website.

The state Office of Higher Education told NBC CT Responds that it reviewed and approved both programs earlier this year and will continue to monitor the school closely.