Lincoln Educational Services
Annual Report 2007

Plain-text annual report

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 Form 10-K x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 Commission File Number 000-51371 LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICESCORPORATION(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) New Jersey 57-1150621 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 200 Executive Drive, Suite 340West Orange, NJ 07052(Address of principal executive offices) (973) 736-9340(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:Common Stock, no par value per share Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No x Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 duringthe preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirementsfor the past 90 days. Yes x No o Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the bestof registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to thisForm 10-K. x Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. Seedefinition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer xNon-accelerated filer ¨Smaller reporting company ¨ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x The aggregate market value of the 4,668,347 shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant issued and outstanding as of June 29, 2007, thelast business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $69,371,636. This amount is based on the closing price of thecommon stock on the Nasdaq Global Market of $14.86 per share on June 29, 2007. Shares of common stock held by executive officers and directors andpersons who own 5% or more of outstanding common stock have been excluded since such persons may be deemed affiliates. This determination of affiliatestatus is not a determination for any other purpose. The number of shares of Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 13, 2008 was 25,986,648. Documents Incorporated by ReferencePortions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report onForm 10-K. With the exception of those portions that are specifically incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such Proxy Statementshall not be deemed filed as part of this Report or incorporated by reference herein. IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2007 PART I. 1ITEM 1. BUSINESS1ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS21ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS30ITEM 2. PROPERTIES31ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS32ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS32 PART II. 33ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUERPURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES33ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA36ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS38ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK52ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA52ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE52ITEM 9A. DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES53ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION53 PART III. 54ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE54ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION54ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATEDSTOCKHOLDER MATTERS54ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE54ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES54 PART IV. 55ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE55 IndexForward-Looking Statements This Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, asamended, which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation andavailability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed new programs; expectations thatregulatory developments or other matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity;statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results and future economicperformance; and statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words suchas “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,”and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of thetimes at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time thosestatements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that couldcause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that couldcause such differences include, but are not limited to: ·actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations;·our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to our industry or our failure to obtain timely regulatory approvals inconnection with a change of control of our company;·our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timelybasis;·risks associated with the opening of new campuses;·risk associated with integration of acquired schools;·industry competition;·our ability to continue to execute our growth strategies;·conditions and trends in our industry;·general and economic conditions; and·other factors discussed under the headings “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition andResults of Operations.” Except as required under the federal securities laws and rules and regulations of the SEC, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. We caution you not tounduly rely on the forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented herein. IndexPART I. ITEM 1.BUSINESS OVERVIEW We are a leading and diversified for-profit provider of career-oriented post-secondary education as measured by total enrollment and number of graduates. Weoffer recent high school graduates and working adults degree and diploma programs in five principal areas of study: automotive technology, health sciences,skilled trades, business and information technology and spa and culinary. For the year ended December 31, 2007, our automotive technology program, ourhealth science program, our skilled trades program, our business and information technology program and, our spa and culinary program accounted forapproximately 39%, 30%, 15%, 7%, and 9%, respectively, of our average enrollment. We had 18,013 students enrolled as of December 31, 2007 and ouraverage enrollment for the year ended December 31, 2007 was 17,687 students, an increase of 1.7% from our average enrollment of 17,397 for the year endedDecember 31, 2006. For the year ended December 31, 2007, our revenues were $327.8 million, which represents an increase of 5.5% from the year endedDecember 31, 2006. Excluding our acquisition of New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc., or FLA, in May 2006, our revenues and averageenrollments would have increased by 3.2% and decreased by 0.4%, respectively, compared to the year ended December 31, 2006. For the year endedDecember 31, 2006, our revenues were $310.6 million, which represents an 8.1% increase from the year ended December 31, 2005. Excluding ouracquisition of Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, or Euphoria, in December 2005 and FLA in May 2006, our revenues and average enrollmentswould have increased by 2.8% and decreased by 3.3%, respectively, compared to the year ended December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2007 we operated 34 campuses in 17 states. We operate our campuses under the following five brand names: Lincoln Technical Institute,Lincoln College of Technology, Nashville Auto-Diesel College (NADC), Southwestern College and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences. InFebruary 2007, we completed a re-branding initiative to consolidate 26 of our schools under the Lincoln Technical Institute and Lincoln College of Technologybrand names, with the remaining schools continuing to operate under their pre-existing names. Most of our campuses serve major metropolitan markets andeach typically offers courses in multiple programs. Five of our campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and,in some cases, from abroad. Our other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas. All of our schools arenationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education, or DOE, and applicable stateeducation agencies and accrediting commissions which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.In May 2007, we announced a realignment pursuant to which we created separate managerial oversight for two groups of educational programs: ·Lincoln Technical Group. The Lincoln Technical Group primarily focuses on our largest automotive technology and skilled trades programs. ·Lincoln Education Group. The Lincoln Education Group primarily focuses on our health sciences, spa and culinary and business and informationtechnology programs, as well as our online programs.This realignment is intended to promote efficiencies across our operations and further enhance our ability to execute on our strategy. On January 11, 2005, we acquired the rights, title and interest in the assets used in the conduct and operation of New England Technical Institute which wasre-branded as Lincoln Technical Institute (“NETI”), for approximately $18.8 million, net of cash acquired. NETI operates four schools in New Britain,Hamden, Shelton and Cromwell, Connecticut and provides programs in automotive technology, health sciences, business and information technology, skilledtrades and spa and culinary. This acquisition expanded our presence in the northeastern United States. On December 1, 2005, we acquired the rights, title and interest in the assets used in the conduct and operation of Euphoria for approximately $9.2 million,net of cash acquired. Euphoria operates two campuses, in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. Euphoria currently offers certificates programs in esthetics,cosmetology and nail design. On March 27, 2006, we opened our new automotive campus in Queens, New York. On May 22, 2006, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of FLA for approximately $40.1 million. The purchase price was $32.9 million, net ofcash acquired plus the assumption of a mortgage note for $7.2 million. FLA operates two campuses, serving approximately 1,000 students. FLA currentlyoffers associates and bachelor’s degrees in various areas including automotive, skilled trade, health science, business and information technology, and spaand culinary. We believe that we provide our students with the highest quality career-oriented training available for our areas of study in our markets. We offer programs inareas of study that we believe are typically underserved by traditional providers of post-secondary education and for which we believe there exists significantdemand among students and employers. Furthermore, we believe our convenient class scheduling, career focused curricula and emphasis on job placementoffer our students valuable advantages that have been neglected by the traditional academic sector. By combining substantial hands-on training with traditionalclassroom-based training led by experienced instructors, we believe we offer our students a unique opportunity to develop practical job skills in key areas ofexpected job demand. We believe these job skills enable our students to compete effectively for employment opportunities and to pursue on-going salary andcareer advancement.1IndexOur principal business is providing post-secondary education. Accordingly, our operations aggregate into one reporting segment. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONSOn July 31, 2007, our Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at our Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, Norcross, Georgia and Henderson,Nevada campuses. As a result of the above decision, we reviewed the related goodwill and long-lived assets for possible impairment in accordance with SFASNo. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”As of September 30, 2007, all operations had ceased at these campuses and, accordingly, the results of operations of these campuses have been reflected in theaccompanying statements of operations as “Discontinued Operations” for all periods presented.The results of operations at these three campuses for each of the three year period ended December 31, 2007 were comprised of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Revenue $4,230 $10,876 $11,853 Operating expenses (13,760) (13,493) (14,432) (9,530) (2,617) (2,579)Benefit for income taxes (4,043) (1,085) (1,004)Loss from discontinued operations $(5,487) $(1,532) $(1,575)AVAILABLE INFORMATION Our website is www.lincolnedu.com. We make available on this website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports onForm 8-K, annual proxy statement on Schedule 14A and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnishsuch materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can access this information on our website, free of charge, by clicking on “InvestorRelations.” The information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of this annual report on Form 10-K. BUSINESS STRATEGY Our goal is to strengthen our role as a leading and diversified provider of career-oriented post-secondary education by continuing to pursue the following: Maximize Utilization of Existing Facilities. We believe that by creating separate oversight for two groups of educational programs, we will be able toimprove the day-to-day management, operational efficiency and capacity utilization of our campuses. We are also focused on improving capacity utilizationthrough increased enrollments, and we expect to continue investing in marketing resources to attract new students. Expand Existing Areas of Study and Existing Facilities. We believe we can leverage our existing operations to capitalize on demand from students andemployers in our local markets. We are adding new programs and degree offerings in our current areas of study and are expanding several of our campusfacilities.Expand Existing Areas of Study. We are expanding our program offerings in our existing areas of study by replicating existing programs in newlocations and increasing our degree offerings. In 2006 we opened our expanded Grand Prairie campus and added collision repair to its existing offerings of automotive and diesel technology. In 2007 wecompleted construction of the Center for Culinary Arts at our Columbia, Maryland facility and our first class started in the third quarter. Similarly, weadded a Euphoria cosmetology program to our Lincoln, Rhode Island campus and classes began in the third quarter. Throughout 2007 we also expandedour criminal justice program, which we introduced in 2006, into five additional campuses. Finally, we were able to accelerate the expansion of ourpractical nursing program into New Jersey by acquiring a troubled program which we improved and subsequently received approval to expand to twoother locations within the state. Today we have three campuses offering practical nursing in New Jersey. In total for 2008, we expect to replicate at leasteight existing programs across six different campuses.2IndexWe are also continuing to expand our associate degree offerings. We currently offer associate degrees at 16 of our campuses bringing the total enrollment inassociate degree programs to approximately 21.4% and 16.5% of our enrolled students as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In 2008 we expectto receive approval to offer degrees at our Grand Prairie, Texas campus. In 2006, we acquired our first bachelor’s degree program in culinary arts, and wewill launch in 2008 at least five internally developed bachelor degree programs. Expand Existing Facilities. We are expanding our existing facilities and relocating other schools to expand capacity. In October 2005, we acquired anadditional 100,000 square foot facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, which combined with our existing facility, tripled the size of the original 50,000 squarefoot facility. We opened this new facility in the second quarter of 2006 and combined with the existing school will be able to serve approximately 2,200students. Also in Grand Prairie, we completely renovated our former auto school and converted it to a skilled trade school which will open in the firstquarter of 2008. With the additional space we will be able to add electrician and welding programs to our existing HVAC program. This additional spacewill allow us to grow our student population and further diversify our product offerings to obtain greater penetration in a large existing market. Also in2007 we enlarged two Southwestern College facilities, Tri County and Dayton in order to accommodate the increased demand in those markets. In 2008we will open an expanded Brockton campus which will allow us to expand that school’s offerings from two programs to four. Operationally, these newfacilities are more efficient to manage and will accommodate increased enrollments and programs. Expand Existing Geographic Markets. In certain markets we believe that we can leverage our marketing and advertising dollars by opening additionalcampuses and obtaining greater market penetration. One example of this strategy is our expansion in the New York metropolitan area with the opening of ourQueens, NY automotive school in partnership with the Greater New York Area Automobile Dealers Association. We opened the school on March 27, 2006. In2008 we will be expanding our presence in Las Vegas with the opening of the our Euphoria campus in the north end of Las Vegas which will enable us to betterserve this fast growing city. Enter New Geographic Markets and New Areas of Study. We believe we can increase our student enrollments by entering selected new geographicmarkets and new areas of study. We target new markets and areas of study that we believe have significant growth potential and where we can leverage ourreputation and operating expertise. We expect that our entrance into new geographic markets and areas of study will increase our diversification and potentialfor future program expansion. Enter New Geographic Markets. We continually search for entry into markets where we can start new schools. In May 2006 we entered the Floridamarket with the acquisition of FLA . This acquisition provides a presence within one of the largest states as well as an opportunity to more easily marketto the Caribbean market. In 2008 we expect to open a campus in one new market. Enter New Areas of Study. We continually search for new, high-growth areas of study that are in demand by students and employers. We typicallyrequire six to 18 months to develop new programs and to obtain necessary regulatory approvals. In 2006, we launched Criminal Justice programs bothon ground and online and in 2007 we rolled it out to additional campuses. Similarly we have created a new Network Communication and InformationSystems program that we launched in several schools in the fourth quarter of 2007 and will expand to an additional eight schools in the first half of2008. Also, our research indicates that there is a strong demand for skilled trades professionals, especially in the industrial and commercialsector. Consequently we developed our first welding program which will launch in the first quarter of 2008. We expect to roll these programs out toadditional campuses over time.We are developing several other new programs in the health sciences, business and information technology and skilled trades, and some of these programs areexpected to be approved for offering in 2008. Opportunistically Pursue Strategic Acquisitions. We continue to evaluate attractive acquisition candidates. In evaluating potential acquisitions, we seekto identify schools with the potential for program replication at our existing campuses, new areas of study, new markets with attractive growth opportunitiesand advanced degree programs. We also look for schools whose operations we can improve by leveraging our sales and marketing expertise, businessmanagement systems and our experienced management team. Introduce Online Education Alternatives. We recently launched our online initiative to capitalize on the rapidly growing demand for, and flexibilityprovided by, online education alternatives. Initially, we were offering some of our diploma graduates the opportunity to earn their associate degree online and inJune 2006 we launched our first 100% online program. In December 2006, we launched our second 100% online program. In 2007 we launched five programsin information technology, or IT, and ten degree completer programs which will enable diploma students in a range of programs from automotive to culinary toobtain an associates degree. In 2008 we expect to launch five associate and bachelor business programs. We believe that our online initiatives will broaden ouraddressable market and be an attractive option for students without the geographic or financial flexibility to enroll in campus-based programs.3IndexPROGRAMS AND AREAS OF STUDY We structure our program offerings to provide our students with a practical, career-oriented education and position them for attractive entry-level jobopportunities in their chosen fields. Our programs are designed to be completed in 14 to 105 weeks. Tuition for programs ranges from $8,800 to $34,900,depending on the length of the program and the area of study. All of our schools offer diploma and certificate programs, 16 of our schools are currentlyapproved to offer associate degree programs and one school is approved to offer a bachelor’s degree program. In order to accommodate the schedules of ourstudents and maximize classroom utilization, we typically offer courses five days a week in three shifts a day and start new classes every month. Also forthose students who do not live near one of our campuses or whose schedules prevent them from attending school we offer several programs online. We updateand expand our programs frequently to reflect the latest technological advances in the field, providing our students with the specific skills and knowledgerequired in the current marketplace. Classroom instruction combines lectures and demonstrations by our experienced faculty with comprehensive hands-onlaboratory exercises in simulated workplace environments.4IndexThe following table lists the programs offered as of December 31, 2007 and the average number of students enrolled in each area of study for the year endedDecember 31, 2007: Program Offered Area of Study Bachelor Associate Diploma or Certificate AverageEnrollment Percent ofTotalEnrollment Automotive Technology - Auto Service Management,Collision Repair, DieselTechnology, Diesel & TruckService Management Automotive Mechanics,Automotive Technology, CollisionRepair, Diesel Truck Mechanics,Diesel Technology, Diesel &Truck Technology, MasterAutomotive Technology 6,840 39% Health Sciences - Medical Assisting Technology,Medical Administrative AssistantTechnology, Dental OfficeManagement Medical Administrative Assisting,Medical Assisting, PharmacyTechnology, Medical Billing andCoding, Dental Assisting,Licensed Practical Nurse 5,386 30% Skilled Trades - Mechanical / ArchitecturalDrafting, Electronics EngineeringTechnology, HVAC Electronic Servicing, ElectronicsEngineering Technology,Electronics System Technology,HVAC, Mechanical / ArchitecturalDrafting, Electrician 2,591 15% Spa and Culinary CulinaryManagement Culinary Arts, CosmetologyManagement, Food and Beverage,Baking and Pastry, CulinaryManagement Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry,Cosmetology, Esthetics, NailTechnician, Therapeutic, Massage& Body Technology 1,640 9% Business and InformationTechnology - PC Systems & NetworkingTechnology, Network SystemsAdministration, BusinessAdministration, Criminal Justice Business Administration,Network Systems Administrating,PC Support Technology, CriminalJustice 1,230 7% Total: 17,687 100%5IndexAutomotive Technology. Automotive technology represents our largest area of study, with 39% of our average student enrollments for the year endedDecember 31, 2007. Our automotive technology programs are 38 to 92 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $10,000 to $34,900. We believe we are a leadingprovider of automotive technology education in each of our local markets. Graduates of our programs are qualified to obtain entry level employment rangingfrom positions as technicians and mechanics to various apprentice level positions. Our graduates are employed by a wide variety of employers, ranging fromautomotive and diesel dealers, independent auto body paint and repair shops, to trucking and construction companies. We have an arrangement with BMW that offers our automotive technology students the opportunity to work for BMW through the Service TechnicianEducation Program (STEP). The STEP program is a "graduate" school program for individuals who have successfully earned an automotive certificationeither at one of our schools or any of our competitor's schools. Students who are admitted to the STEP program have their tuition paid by BMW and uponsuccessfully completing the program are typically employed as BMW mechanics. The BMW STEP program commenced at our Columbia, Maryland facilityin 2004. Our arrangement with BMW signifies our high quality education capabilities and is an attractive marketing program. Each of our Lincoln Technical Institute schools, with the exception of our Allentown, Pennsylvania campus, offer programs in automotive technology inaddition to other technical programs. Lincoln College of Technology (formerly Denver Automotive & Diesel College) (“Denver LCT”) and Nashville Auto-Diesel College currently offer programs exclusively in automotive technology. Denver LCT, Nashville Auto-Diesel College, Grand Prairie, Texas LincolnTechnical Institute and our Indianapolis, Indiana Lincoln College of Technology schools are destination schools, attracting students from throughout theUnited States and, in some cases, from abroad.Health Sciences. For the year ended December 31, 2007, health sciences represented our second largest area of study, representing 30% of our total averageenrollments. Our health science programs are 30 to 92 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $10,900 to $30,700. Graduates of our programs are qualified toobtain positions such as licensed practical nurse, medical administrative assistant, EKG technician, claims examiner and pharmacy technician. Ourgraduates are employed by a wide variety of employers, including hospitals, laboratories, insurance companies, doctors' offices and pharmacies. Our medicalassistant and medical administrative assistant programs are our largest health science programs. We offer health science programs at 21 schools, including five Southwestern Colleges and 16 Lincoln College of Technology and Lincoln Technical Instituteschools. Skilled Trades. For the year ended December 31, 2007, 15% of our average student enrollments were in our skilled trades programs. Our skilled tradesprograms are 30 to 91 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $15,300 to $28,500. Our skilled trades programs include electrician, heating, ventilation and airconditioning repair, drafting and computer-aided design and electronic system technician. Graduates of our programs are qualified to obtain entry levelemployment positions such as electrician, cable, wiring and HVAC installer and servicer and drafting technician. Our graduates are employed by a widevariety of employers, including residential and commercial construction, telecommunications installation companies and architectural firms. We have introduced our electronic system technician program to seven campuses and plan to expand it to additional campuses. Students in these programs aretrained to install and service equipment such as alarm systems, cable infrastructure, home entertainment systems, fiber-optic wiring in homes and offices,and satellite and telecommunication systems.In 2007 we developed our first welding program, which we will launch in the first quarter of 2008. This program was developed based on the National Centerfor Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum. NCCER is a not-for-profit education foundation created to help address the criticalworkforce shortage facing the construction industry and to develop industry-driven standardized craft training programs with portable credentials. We offer skilled trades programs at 13 of our 25 Lincoln Technical Institute and Lincoln College of Technology campuses. Spa and Culinary. For the year ended December 31, 2007, 9% of our average student enrollments were in our spa and culinary programs. Our spa andculinary programs are 14 to 97 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $8,800 to $27,300. Our spa programs include therapeutic massage, cosmetology andesthetics. Graduates work in salons, spas, cruise ships or for themselves. We offer massage programs at 14 campuses and cosmetology programs at sixcampuses. Our culinary graduates are employed by restaurants, hotels, cruise ships and bakeries. We offer culinary programs at the Florida CulinaryInstitute and three Centers for Culinary Arts. Business and Information Technology. For the year ended December 31, 2007, 7% of our average student enrollments were in our business andinformation technology programs, which include our diploma and degree criminal justice programs. Our business and information technology programs are 30to 96 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $12,000 to $27,165. We have focused our current IT program offerings on those that are most in demand, suchas our PC systems technician, network systems administrator and business administration specialist programs. Our IT and business graduates work inentry level positions for both small and large corporations. Our criminal justice graduates work in the security industry and for various government agenciesand departments. We offer these programs at 15 of our campuses.6IndexMARKETING AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT We utilize a variety of marketing and recruiting methods to attract students and increase enrollments. Our marketing and recruiting efforts are targeted atpotential students who are entering the workforce, or who are underemployed or unemployed and require additional training to enter or re-enter the workforce. Marketing. Our marketing program utilizes media advertising such as television, the Internet, and various print media and is enhanced by referrals. Wecontinuously monitor and adjust the focus of our marketing efforts to maximize efficiency and minimize our student acquisition costs. Media. Our media advertising is directed primarily at attracting students from the local areas in which our schools operate. Television advertising, which iscoordinated by a national buyer, is our most successful medium. Systems we have developed enable us to closely monitor and track the effectiveness of eachadvertisement on a daily or weekly basis and make adjustments accordingly. The Internet is our second most successful medium and its effectiveness iscontinuously increasing. We also advertise via direct mail, in telephone directories and in newspapers. Referrals. Referrals from current students, high school counselors and satisfied graduates and their employers have historically represented over 20% of ournew enrollments. Our school administrators actively work with our current students to encourage them to recommend our programs to potential students. Wecontinue to build strong relationships with high school guidance counselors and instructors by offering annual seminars at our training facilities to furthereducate these individuals on the strengths of our programs. Graduates who have gone on to enjoy success in the workforce frequently recommend ourprograms, as do local business owners who are pleased with the performance of our graduates whom they have hired. Recruiting. Our recruiting efforts are conducted by a group of approximately 403 field- and campus-based representatives who meet directly with potentialstudents during presentations conducted at high schools, in the potential student's home or during a visit to one of our campuses. Field-Based Recruiting. Our field-based recruiting representatives make presentations at high schools to attract students to both our local and destinationcampuses. Our field-based representatives also visit directly with potential students in their homes. During 2007, we have recruited approximately 22% of ourstudents directly out of high school. Campus-Recruiting. When a potential student is identified through our marketing and recruiting efforts, one of our representatives is paired with thepotential student to follow up on an individual basis. Our media advertisements contain a unique toll-free number and our telephone system automaticallydirects the call to the campus nearest the caller. At this point, a recruiting representative will respond to the inquiry, typically within 24 hours. Therepresentatives are trained to explain in detail the opportunities available within each program and schedule an appointment for the potential student to visit theschool and tour the school's facilities. STUDENT ADMISSIONS, ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION Admissions. In order to attend our schools, students must complete an application and pass an entry examination. While each of our programs has differentadmissions criteria, we screen all applications and counsel the students on the most appropriate program to increase the likelihood that our students completethe requisite coursework and obtain and sustain employment following graduation. Enrollment. We enroll students continuously throughout the year, with our largest classes enrolling in late summer or early fall following high schoolgraduation. We had 18,013 students enrolled as of December 31, 2007 and our average enrollment for the year ended December 31, 2007 was 17,687students, an increase of 1.7% from December 31, 2006. Excluding our acquisition of FLA in May 2006, our average enrollments would have decreased by0.4%. Our average enrollment for the year ended December 31, 2006 was 17,397 students, an increase of 2.0% from December 31, 2005. Excluding ouracquisition of Euphoria in December 2005 and FLA in May 2006, our average enrollments would have decreased by 3.3%. Retention. To maximize student retention, the staff at each school is trained to recognize the early warning signs of a potential drop and to assist and advisestudents on academic, financial, employment and personal matters. We monitor our retention rates by instructor, course, program and school. When we noticethat a particular instructor or program is experiencing a higher than normal dropout rate, we quickly seek to determine the cause of the problem and attempt tocorrect it. When we notice that a student is having trouble academically, we offer tutoring.7IndexJOB PLACEMENT We believe that securing employment for our graduates is critical to our ability to attract high quality students. In addition, high job placement rates result inlow student loan default rates, an important requirement for continued participation in Title IV Programs. See "Regulatory Environment—Regulation of FederalStudent Financial Aid Programs." Accordingly, we dedicate significant resources to maintaining an effective graduate placement program. Our non-destinationschools work closely with local employers to ensure that we are training students with skills that employers want. Each school has an advisory council madeup of local employers who provide us with direct feedback on how well we are preparing our students to succeed in the workplace. This enables us to tailorour programs to the market. For example, part of a student's grade is dependent upon attendance and appearance because employers want their employees to bepunctual and to have a professional appearance. The placement staff in each of our destination schools maintains databases of potential employers throughoutthe country, allowing us to place students in their career field upon graduation. We also have internship programs that provide our students with opportunitiesto work with employers prior to graduation. For example, some of the students in our automotive programs have the opportunity to complete a portion of theirhands-on training while working with a potential employer. In addition, some of our allied health students are required to participate in an internship programduring which they work in the field as part of their career training. Students that participate in these programs often go on to work for the same business upongraduation. We also assist students with resume writing, interviewing and other job search skills. FACULTY AND EMPLOYEES We hire our faculty in accordance with established criteria, including relevant work experience, educational background and accreditation and state regulatorystandards. We require meaningful industry experience of our teaching staff in order to maintain the quality of instruction in all of our programs and to addresscurrent and industry-specific issues in our course content. In addition, we provide intensive instructional training and continuing education, includingquarterly instructional development seminars, annual reviews, technical upgrade training, faculty development plans and weekly staff meetings. The staff of each school typically includes a school director, a director of graduate placement, an education director, a director of student services, a financial-aid director, an accounting manager, a director of admissions and instructors, all of whom are industry professionals with experience in our areas of study. As of December 31, 2007, we had approximately 2,671 employees, including 648 full-time faculty and 348 part-time instructors. At six of our campuses,the teaching professionals are represented by unions. These employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements that expire between 2008 through 2012.We believe that we generally have good relationships with these unions and our employees.COMPETITIONThe for-profit, post-secondary education industry is highly competitive and highly fragmented, with no one provider controlling significant market share.Direct competition between career-oriented schools and traditional four-year colleges or universities is limited. Thus, our main competitors are other for-profit,career-oriented schools, as well as public and private two-year junior and community colleges. Competition is generally based on location, the type of programsoffered, the quality of instruction, placement rates, reputation, recruiting and tuition rates. Public institutions are generally able to charge lower tuition than ourschools, due in part to government subsidies and other financial sources not available to for-profit schools. In addition, some of our private competitors have amore extended or dense network of schools and campuses than we do, which enables them to recruit students more efficiently from a wider geographic area.Nevertheless, we believe that we are able to compete effectively in our local markets because of the diversity of our program offerings, quality of instruction,the strength of our brands, our reputation and our success in placing students with employers. We compete with other institutions that are eligible to receive Title IV funding. This includes four-year, not-for-profit public and private colleges anduniversities, community colleges and all for-profit institutions whether they are four years, two years or less. Our competition differs in each marketdepending on the curriculum that we offer. For example, a school offering automotive, allied health and skilled trades programs will have a different group ofcompetitors than a school offering allied health, business/IT and skilled trades. Also, because schools can add new programs within six to twelve months,new competitors can emerge relatively quickly. Moreover, with the introduction of online learning, the number of competitors in each market has increasedbecause students can now stay local but learn from a non-local institution. Notwithstanding the above, today we mainly compete with community colleges and other career schools, both for-profit and not-for-profit. We focus onprograms that are in high demand. We compete against community colleges by seeking to offer more frequent start dates, more flexible hours, betterinstructional resources, more hands on training, shorter program length and greater assistance with job placement. We compete against the other career schoolsby seeking to offer a higher quality of education, higher quality instructional equipment and a better overall value. On average, each of our schools has at leastthree direct competitors and at least a dozen indirect competitors. As we continue to add courses and degree programs, our competitors within a given marketincreases and thus we face increased competition.8IndexENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS We use hazardous materials at our training facilities and campuses, and generate small quantities of waste such as used oil, antifreeze, paint and car batteries.As a result, our facilities and operations are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the use, storage anddisposal of solid and hazardous substances and waste, and the clean-up of contamination at our facilities or off-site locations to which we send or have sentwaste for disposal. We are also required to obtain permits for our air emissions, and to meet operational and maintenance requirements. In the event we do notmaintain compliance with any of these laws and regulations, or are responsible for a spill or release of hazardous materials, we could incur significant costsfor clean-up, damages, and fines or penalties. REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT Students attending our schools finance their education through a combination of individual resources, family contributions, private loans and federal financialaid programs. Each of our schools participates in the federal programs of student financial aid authorized under the Title IV Programs, which are administeredby the DOE. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 80% (calculated based on cash receipts) of our revenues were derived from the Title IVPrograms. Students obtain access to federal student financial aid through a DOE prescribed application and eligibility certification process. Student financialaid funds are generally made available to students at prescribed intervals throughout their predetermined expected length of study. Students typically use thefunds received from the federal financial aid programs to pay their tuition and fees. The transfer of funds from the financial aid programs are to the student,who then applies those funds to the cost of his or her education. In connection with the students' receipt of federal financial aid, our schools are subject to extensive regulation by governmental agencies and licensing andaccrediting bodies. In particular, the Title IV Programs, and the regulations issued thereafter by the DOE, subject us to significant regulatory scrutiny in theform of numerous standards that each of our schools must satisfy in order to participate in the various federal student financial aid programs. To participatein the Title IV Programs, a school must be authorized to offer its programs of instruction by the applicable state education agencies in the states in which it isphysically located, be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE and be certified as an eligible institution by the DOE. The DOE definesan eligible institution to consist of both a main campus and its additional locations, if any. Each of our schools is either a main campus or an additionallocation of a main campus. Each of our schools is subject to extensive regulatory requirements imposed by state education agencies, accrediting commissions,and the DOE. Our schools also participate in other federal and state financial aid programs that assist students in paying the cost of their education.State Authorization Each of our schools must be authorized by the applicable education agencies in the states in which the school is physically located, and in some cases otherstates, in order to operate and to grant degrees, diplomas or certificates to its students. Some states have sought to assert jurisdiction over online educationalinstitutions that offer educational services to residents in the state, notwithstanding the lack of a physical location in that state. State agency authorization isalso required in each state in which a school is physically located in order for the school to become and remain eligible to participate in Title IV Programs. Ifwe are found not to be in compliance with the applicable state regulation and a state seeks to restrict one or more of our business activities within itsboundaries, we may not be able to recruit or enroll students in that state and may have to stop providing services in that state, which could have a materialadverse effect on our business and results of operations. Currently, each of our schools is authorized by the applicable state education agencies in the states inwhich the school is physically located and in which it recruits students. Our schools are subject to extensive, ongoing regulation by each of these states. State laws typically establish standards for instruction, curriculum,qualifications of faculty, location and nature of facilities and equipment, administrative procedures, marketing, recruiting, financial operations, studentoutcomes and other operational matters. State laws and regulations may limit our ability to offer educational programs and to award degrees, diplomas orcertificates. Some states prescribe standards of financial responsibility that are different from, and in certain cases more stringent than, those prescribed bythe DOE. Some states require schools to post a surety bond. Currently, we have posted surety bonds on behalf of our schools and education representativeswith multiple states in a total amount of approximately $14.0 million. These bonds are backed by $2.4 million of letters of credit. If any of our schools fail to comply with state licensing requirements, they are subject to the loss of state licensure or authorization. If any one of our schoolslost its authorization from the education agency of the state in which the school is located, that school and its related main campus and/or additional locationswould lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, be unable to offer its programs and we could be forced to close that school. If one of our schoolslost its state authorization from a state other than the state in which the school is located, the school would not be able to recruit students in that state. Webelieve that each of our schools is in substantial compliance with the applicable education agency requirements in each state in which it is physically located.9IndexDue to state budget constraints in certain states in which we operate, it is possible that those states may reduce the number of employees in, or curtail theoperations of, the state education agencies that authorize our schools. A delay or refusal by any state education agency in approving any changes in ouroperations that require state approval could prevent us from making such changes or could delay our ability to make such changes. Accreditation Accreditation is a non-governmental process through which a school submits to ongoing qualitative and quantitative review by an organization of peerinstitutions. Accrediting commissions primarily examine the academic quality of the school's instructional programs, and a grant of accreditation is generallyviewed as confirmation that the school's programs meet generally accepted academic standards. Accrediting commissions also review the administrative andfinancial operations of the schools they accredit to ensure that each school has the resources necessary to perform its educational mission. Accreditation by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE is required for an institution to be certified to participate in Title IV Programs. In order tobe recognized by the DOE, accrediting commissions must adopt specific standards for their review of educational institutions. Fifteen of our campuses areaccredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology or ACCSCT, and eighteen of our campuses are accredited by theAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, or ACICS. Both of these accrediting commissions are recognized by the DOE. The following is alist of the dates on which each campus was accredited by its accrediting commission and the date by which its accreditation must be renewed. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology Reaccreditation Dates School Last Accreditation Letter Next AccreditationPhiladelphia, PA December 4, 2003 May 1, 2008Union, NJ June 4, 2004 February 1, 2009Mahwah, NJ* December 9, 2004 August 1, 2009Melrose Park, IL March 11, 2005 November 1, 2009Denver, CO September 8, 2006 February 1, 2011Columbia, MD March 13, 2007 February 1, 2012Grand Prairie, TX May 29, 2007 August 1, 2011Allentown, PA January 1, 2007 January 1, 2012Nashville, TN May 1, 2007 May 1, 2012Indianapolis, IN December 9, 2002 November 1, 2007***New Britain, CT June 6, 2003 December 31, 2008Shelton, CT** September 3, 2005 September 1, 2008Cromwell, CT** November 22, 2006 November 1, 2011Hamden, CT** July 1, 2007 July 1, 2012Mt. Laurel, NJ** May 1, 2007 May 1, 2009Queens, NY* June 30, 2006 June 30, 2008*Branch campus of main campus in Union, NJ**Branch campus of main campus in New Britain, CT***Currently going through re-accreditation10IndexAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools Reaccreditation Dates School Last Accreditation Letter Next AccreditationBrockton, MA**** April 14, 2005 December 31, 2008Lincoln, RI April 14, 2005 December 31, 2008Lowell, MA** December 7, 2004 December 31, 2008Somerville, MA December 7, 2004 December 31, 2008Philadelphia (Center City), PA* April 23, 2007 December 31, 2012Edison, NJ April 23, 2007 December 31, 2012Marietta, GA**** April 14, 2005 December 31, 2008Mt. Laurel, NJ* April 23, 2007 December 31, 2012Paramus, NJ* April 23, 2007 December 31, 2012Philadelphia (Northeast), PA* April 23, 2007 December 31, 2012Dayton, OH April 14, 2006 December 31, 2009Cincinnati (Vine Street), OH*** April 14, 2006 December 31, 2009Cincinnati (Northland Blvd.), OH*** April 14, 2006 December 31, 2009Franklin, OH*** April 14, 2006 December 31, 2009Florence, KY*** April 14, 2006 December 31, 2009West Palm Beach, FL December 11, 2006 December 31, 2008Summerlin, NV April 18, 2007 December 31, 2008Green Valley, NV April 18, 2007 December 31, 2008*Branch campus of main campus in Edison, NJ**Branch campus of main campus in Somerville, MA***Branch campus of main campus in Dayton, OH****Branch campus of main campus in Lincoln, RI If one of our schools fails to comply with accrediting commission requirements, the institution and its main and/or branch campuses are subject to the loss ofaccreditation. If any one of our schools lost its accreditation, students attending that school would no longer be eligible to receive Title IV Program funding, andwe could be forced to close that school. Our Cincinnati (Vine Street), OH, campus is currently required to submit retention data to the ACICS. Any institutionrequired to submit retention data to the ACICS is required to obtain prior permission from the ACICS for the initiation of any new program and new branchcampus or learning site. Nature of Federal and State Support for Post-Secondary Education The federal government provides a substantial part of the support for post-secondary education through Title IV Programs, in the form of grants and loans tostudents who can use those funds at any institution that has been certified as eligible by the DOE. Most aid under Title IV Programs is awarded on the basisof financial need, generally defined as the difference between the cost of attending the institution and the expected amount a student and his or her family canreasonably contribute to that cost. All recipients of Title IV Program funds must maintain a satisfactory grade point average and progress in a timely mannertoward completion of their program of study. In addition, each school must ensure that Title IV Program funds are properly accounted for and disbursed in thecorrect amounts to eligible students. Students at our schools receive grants and loans to fund their education under the following Title IV Programs: (1) the Federal Family Education Loanprogram, (2) the Federal Pell Grant, or Pell, program, (3) the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, and (4) the Federal Perkins Loan,or Perkins, program. Federal Family Education Loan. Under the Federal Family Education Loan program, banks and other lending institutions make loans to students or theirparents. If a student or parent defaults on a loan, payment is guaranteed by a federally recognized guaranty agency, which is then reimbursed by the DOE.Students with financial need qualify for interest subsidies while in school and during grace periods. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we derivedapproximately 60% of our Title IV revenues (calculated based on cash receipts) from the Federal Family Education Loan program. Pell. Under the Pell program, the DOE makes grants to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need. For the year ended December 31, 2007, wederived approximately 17% of our revenues (calculated based on cash receipts) from the Pell program. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Under the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, the DOE issuesgrants which are designed to supplement Pell grants for students with the greatest financial needs. An institution is required to make a 25% matchingcontribution for all funds received from the DOE under this program. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we received less than 1% of our revenues(calculated based on cash receipts) from the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program.11IndexPerkins. Perkins loans are made from a revolving institutional account, 75% of which is capitalized by the DOE and the remainder by the institution. Eachinstitution is responsible for collecting payments on Perkins loans from its former students and lending those funds to currently enrolled students. Defaults bystudents on their Perkins loans reduce the amount of funds available in the applicable school's revolving account to make loans to additional students, but theschool does not have any obligation to guarantee the loans or repay the defaulted amounts. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we derived less than 1% ofour revenues (calculated based on cash receipts) from the Perkins program. Other Financial Assistance Programs Some of our students receive financial aid from federal sources other than Title IV Programs, such as the programs administered by the U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs and programs administered under the Workforce Investment Act. In addition, many states also provide financial aid to our students in theform of grants, loans or scholarships. The eligibility requirements for state financial aid and these other federal aid programs vary among the funding agenciesand by program. Several states that provide financial aid to our students are facing significant budgetary constraints. We believe that the overall level of statefinancial aid for our students is likely to decrease in the near term, but we cannot predict how significant any such reductions will be or how long they willlast. In addition to Title IV and other government-administered programs, all of our schools participate in alternative loan programs for their students. Alternativeloans fill the gap between what the student receives from all financial aid sources and what the student may need to cover the full cost of their education.Students or their parents can apply to a number of different lenders for this funding at current market interest rates.Effective February 2008, SLM terminated its tiered discount loan agreement with us pursuant to which SLM provided private party loans to our students. Asa result, we continue to search for alternative sub-prime loan providers but in the meantime we have decided to make financing available to students throughour internal funding sources.Reorganization We were founded in 1946 as Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. In February 2003, we reorganized our corporate structure to create a holding company, LincolnEducational Services Corporation. The ownership of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation was identical to that of Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.immediately prior to this reorganization. We subsequently began operating our entire organization under the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation name;however, before this reorganization, all of our interaction with the DOE, state and federal regulators and accrediting agencies was conducted by LincolnTechnical Institute, Inc. 12Index Regulation of Federal Student Financial Aid Programs To participate in Title IV Programs, an institution must be authorized to offer its programs by the relevant state education agencies in the state in which it isphysically located, be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE and be certified as eligible by the DOE. The DOE will certify aninstitution to participate in Title IV Programs only after the institution has demonstrated compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended,HEA or Higher Education Act, and the DOE's extensive regulations regarding institutional eligibility. The DOE defines an institution to consist of both a maincampus and its additional locations, if any. Under this definition, for DOE purposes, we have the following 15 institutions, collectively consisting of 15main campuses and 20 additional locations: Brand Main Campus (es) Additional Location (s)Lincoln Technical Institute Union, NJ Mahwah, NJ Queens, NY Philadelphia, PA Columbia, MD Grand Prairie, TX Allentown, PA Edison, NJ Mount Laurel, NJ Paramus, NJ Philadelphia, PA (Center City) Northeast Philadelphia, PA Somerville, MA Lowell, MA Lincoln, RI Marietta, GA* Brockton, MA Henderson, NV (Green Valley)** Las Vegas, NV (Summerlin)** New Britain, CT Shelton, CT Cromwell, CT Hamden, CT Mount Laurel, NJ Lincoln College of Technology Indianapolis, IN Melrose Park, IL Denver, CO West Palm Beach, FL West Palm Beach, FL (Culinary)*** Nashville Auto Diesel College Nashville, TN Southwestern College of Technology Dayton, OH Cincinnati, OH (Vine Street) Franklin, OH Cincinnati, OH (Northland Blvd.) Florence, KY *This campus operates under the Lincoln College of Technology brand.**These campuses operate under the Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences brands.***This campus operates under the Florida Culinary Institute brand. All of our main campuses, including their additional locations, are currently certified by the DOE to participate in the Title IV Programs. In connection withour acquisitions of Southwestern College, New England Technical Institute, and New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, we have received ineach case an executed provisional program participation agreement from the DOE. The DOE, accrediting commissions and state education agencies have responsibilities for overseeing compliance with Title IV Program requirements. As aresult, each of our schools is subject to detailed oversight and review, and must comply with a complex framework of laws and regulations. Because the DOEperiodically revises its regulations and changes its interpretation of existing laws and regulations, we cannot predict with certainty how the Title IV Programrequirements will be applied in all circumstances.13IndexSignificant factors relating to Title IV Programs that could adversely affect us include the following: Congressional Action. Political and budgetary concerns significantly affect Title IV Programs. Congress must reauthorize the Higher Education Actapproximately every five years. Recently, Congress temporarily extended the provisions of the Higher Education Act, or HEA, pending completion of theformal reauthorization process. In February 2006, Congress enacted the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which contained a number of provisions affecting TitleIV Programs, including some provisions that had been in the HEA reauthorization bills. We believe that, in 2008, Congress will either complete thereauthorization of the HEA or further extend additional provisions of the HEA. Numerous changes to the HEA are likely to result from any furtherreauthorization and, possibly, from any extension of the remaining provisions of the HEA, but at this time we cannot predict all of the changes the Congresswill ultimately make. In addition, Congress reviews and determines federal appropriations for Title IV Programs on an annual basis. Congress can also make changes in the lawsaffecting Title IV Programs in the annual appropriations bills and in other laws it enacts between the Higher Education Act reauthorizations. Because asignificant percentage of our revenues are derived from Title IV Programs, any action by Congress that significantly reduces Title IV Program funding or theability of our schools or students to participate in Title IV Programs could reduce our student enrollment and our revenues. Congressional action may alsoincrease our administrative costs and require us to modify our practices in order for our schools to comply fully with Title IV Program requirements. TheCollege Cost Reduction & Access Act, which was signed into law in September 2007, cut approximately $22 billion in subsidies to federal student lendersand guarantors as an offset to increases to federal financial aid. This resulted in significant changes to the terms that alternative lending providers were willingto make and resulted in the tiered discount programs.The College Cost Reduction & Access Act reduces payments to lenders and guaranty agencies participating in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)Program. This, in turn, reduces the profitability of the FFEL Program and will make access to these loans, as well as, private loans more difficult. Thewidening sub-prime mortgage crisis has negatively impacted student loans. Lenders are experiencing difficulty in securing funding from the debt markets tomake new student loans. The "90/10 Rule." A proprietary institution, such as each of our institutions, loses its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if, based on cashreceipts, it derives more than 90% of its revenues for any fiscal year from Title IV Programs. Any institution that violates this rule becomes ineligible toparticipate in Title IV Programs as of the first day of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which it exceeds 90%, and is unable to apply to regain itseligibility until the next fiscal year. If one of our institutions violated the 90/10 Rule and became ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs but continued todisburse Title IV Program funds, the DOE would require the institution to repay all Title IV Program funds received by the institution after the effective date ofthe loss of eligibility. We have calculated that, for each of our 2007, 2006 and 2005 fiscal years, none of our institutions derived more than 86.6% of its revenues from Title IVPrograms. For our 2007 fiscal year, our institutions' 90/10 Rule percentages ranged from 70.1% to 86.6%. We regularly monitor compliance with thisrequirement to minimize the risk that any of our institutions would derive more than the maximum percentage of its revenues from Title IV Programs for anyfiscal year. Student Loan Defaults. An institution may lose its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV Programs if the rates at which the institution's currentand former students default on their federal student loans exceed specified percentages. The DOE calculates these rates based on the number of students whohave defaulted, not the dollar amount of such defaults. The DOE calculates an institution's cohort default rate (as defined by the DOE regulations) on anannual basis as the rate at which borrowers scheduled to begin repayment on their loans in one year default on those loans by the end of the next year. Aninstitution whose Federal Family Education Loan cohort default rate is 25% or greater for three consecutive federal fiscal years (which correspond to our fiscalyears) loses eligibility to participate in the Federal Family Education Loan and Pell programs for the remainder of the federal fiscal year in which the DOEdetermines that such institution has lost its eligibility and for the two subsequent federal fiscal years. An institution whose Federal Family Education Loancohort default rate for any single federal fiscal year exceeds 40% may have its eligibility to participate in all Title IV Programs limited, suspended or terminatedby the DOE.14IndexFederal Family Education Loan ProgramNone of our institutions has had a Federal Family Education Loan cohort default rate (as defined by the DOE) of 25% or greater for any of the federal fiscalyears 2005, 2004 and 2003, the three most recent years for which the DOE has published such rates. Nine of our 15 institutions (which include 23 of 34campuses) had default rates less than 10% for these years. These 23 campuses are eligible to disburse loans to first-time, first-year students without waitingfor an initial 30 day period. The following table sets forth the Federal Family Education Loan cohort default rates for each of our 15 DOE numberedinstitutions for those fiscal years:Institution 2005 2004 2003 Union, NJ 9.90% 7.60% 7.10%Indianapolis, IN 7.50% 7.90% 7.90%Philadelphia, PA 9.20% 12.80% 15.40%Columbia, MD 7.50% 8.90% 8.80%Allentown, PA 11.50% 7.00% 3.90%Melrose Park, IL 11.60% 11.90% 9.60%Grand Prairie, TX 14.60% 19.50% 10.80%Edison, NJ 6.70% 3.30% 5.00%Denver, CO 7.00% 8.40% 9.10%Nashville, TN 5.20% 3.10% 1.80%Lincoln, RI 12.80% 10.00% 7.40%Somerville, MA 8.50% 10.60% 8.90%Southwestern, OH 7.60% 3.20% 6.20%New England, CT 4.60% 4.60% 1.70%West Palm Beach, FL 4.70% 8.20% 9.20%An institution whose cohort default rate under the FFEL program is 25% or greater for any one of the three most recent federal fiscal years does not meet theDOE standards of administrative capability may be placed on provisional certification status by the DOE. None of our institutions have a Federal FamilyEducation Loan cohort default rate above 25% for any of the three most recent fiscal years for which the DOE has published rates. Perkins Loan ProgramAn institution whose Perkins cohort default rate is 50% or greater for three consecutive federal award years loses eligibility to participate in the Perkinsprogram for the remainder of the federal award year in which DOE determines that the institution has lost its eligibility and for the two subsequent federalaward years. None of our institutions has had a Perkins cohort default rate of 50% or greater for any of the last three federal award years. The DOE also willnot provide any additional federal funds to an institution for Perkins loans in any federal award year in which the institution's Perkins cohort default rate is25% or greater. Denver LCT and NETI are our only institutions participating in the Perkins program. Denver LCT’s cohort default rate was 17.54% forstudents scheduled to begin repayment in the 2005-2006 federal award year. The DOE did not provide any additional Federal Capital Contribution Funds forPerkins loans to Denver LCT. Denver LCT continues to make loans out of its existing Perkins loan fund. Lincoln Technical Institute (New Britain, CT) isprovisionally certified by the DOE based on its change in ownership and on a finding by the DOE prior to the change in ownership that NETI had nottransmitted certain data related to the Perkins program to the National Student Loan Data System during periods prior to the acquisition. Our New Britain,CT institution’s cohort default rate was 11.94% for students scheduled to begin repayment in the 2005-2006 federal award year. Financial Responsibility Standards. All institutions participating in Title IV Programs must satisfy specific standards of financial responsibility. TheDOE evaluates institutions for compliance with these standards each year, based on the institution's annual audited financial statements, as well as followinga change in ownership resulting in a change of control of the institution. The most significant financial responsibility measurement is the institution's composite score, which is calculated by the DOE based on three ratios: ·The equity ratio, which measures the institution's capital resources, ability to borrow and financial viability; ·The primary reserve ratio, which measures the institution's ability to support current operations from expendable resources; and ·The net income ratio, which measures the institution's ability to operate at a profit.The DOE assigns a strength factor to the results of each of these ratios on a scale from negative 1.0 to positive 3.0, with negative 1.0 reflecting financialweakness and positive 3.0 reflecting financial strength. The DOE then assigns a weighting percentage to each ratio and adds the weighted scores for the threeratios together to produce a composite score for the institution. The composite score must be at least 1.5 for the institution to be deemed financially responsiblewithout the need for further oversight. If an institution's composite score is below 1.5, but is at least 1.0, it is in a category denominated by the DOE as "thezone." Under the DOE regulations, institutions that are in the zone are deemed to be financially responsible for a period of up to three years but are required toaccept payment of Title IV Program funds under the cash monitoring or reimbursement method of payment and to provide to the DOE timely informationregarding various oversight and financial events.15IndexIf an institution's composite score is below 1.0, the institution is considered by the DOE to lack financial responsibility. If the DOE determines that aninstitution does not satisfy the DOE's financial responsibility standards, depending on its composite score and other factors, that institution may establish itsfinancial responsibility on an alternative basis by, among other things: ·Posting a letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 50% of the total Title IV Program funds received by the institution during the institution's mostrecently completed fiscal year; ·Posting a letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 10% of such prior year's Title IV Program funds, accepting provisional certification,complying with additional DOE monitoring requirements and agreeing to receive Title IV Program funds under an arrangement other than the DOE'sstandard advance funding arrangement; and/or ·Complying with additional DOE monitoring requirements and agreeing to receive Title IV Program funds under an arrangement other than the DOE'sstandard advance funding arrangement.The DOE has evaluated the financial responsibility of our institutions on a consolidated basis. We have submitted to the DOE our audited financialstatements for the 2005 and 2006 fiscal year reflecting a composite score of 2.5 and 1.7, respectively, based upon our calculations, and that our schools meetthe DOE standards of financial responsibility. For the 2007 fiscal year, we have calculated our composite score to be 1.8.Beginning December 30, 2004 and for a period of three years, all of our institutions were placed on "Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 status." As a result,we were subject to a less favorable Title IV fund payment system that required us to credit student accounts before drawing down Title IV funds and alsorequired us to timely notify the DOE with respect to certain enumerated oversight and financial events. The DOE has notified us that, as of December 31,2007, we are no longer subject to Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 status. Return of Title IV Funds. An institution participating in Title IV Programs must calculate the amount of unearned Title IV Program funds that have beendisbursed to students who withdraw from their educational programs before completing them, and must return those unearned funds to the DOE or theapplicable lending institution in a timely manner, which is generally within 45 days from the date the institution determines that the student has withdrawn. If an institution is cited in an audit or program review for returning Title IV Program funds late for 5% or more of the students in the audit or program reviewsample, the institution must post a letter of credit in favor of the DOE in an amount equal to 25% of the total amount of Title IV Program funds that shouldhave been returned for students who withdrew in the institution's previous fiscal year. During the 2005 audit period Southwestern College made late returns ofTitle IV Program funds in excess of the DOE's prescribed threshold, most of which predated our acquisition of Southwestern College. As a result, inaccordance with DOE regulations, we have submitted a letter of credit to the DOE in the amount of $0.3 million, which expires in July 2008. School Acquisitions. When a company acquires a school that is eligible to participate in Title IV Programs, that school undergoes a change of ownershipresulting in a change of control as defined by the DOE. Upon such a change of control, a school's eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs is generallysuspended until it has applied for recertification by the DOE as an eligible school under its new ownership, which requires that the school also re-establish itsstate authorization and accreditation. The DOE may temporarily and provisionally certify an institution seeking approval of a change of control under certaincircumstances while the DOE reviews the institution's application. The time required for the DOE to act on such an application may vary substantially. DOErecertification of an institution following a change of control will be on a provisional basis. Our expansion plans are based, in part, on our ability to acquireadditional schools and have them certified by the DOE to participate in Title IV Programs. Our expansion plans take into account the approval requirements ofthe DOE and the relevant state education agencies and accrediting commissions. Change of Control. In addition to school acquisitions, other types of transactions can also cause a change of control. The DOE, most state educationagencies and our accrediting commissions have standards pertaining to the change of control of schools, but these standards are not uniform. DOE regulationsdescribe some transactions that constitute a change of control, including the transfer of a controlling interest in the voting stock of an institution or theinstitution's parent corporation. For a publicly traded corporation, DOE regulations provide that a change of control occurs in one of two ways: (a) if a personacquires ownership and control of the corporation so that the corporation is required to file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and ExchangeCommission disclosing the change of control or (b) if the corporation has a shareholder that owns at least 25% of the total outstanding voting stock of thecorporation and is the largest shareholder of the corporation, and that shareholder ceases to own at least 25% of such stock or ceases to be the largestshareholder. These standards are subject to interpretation by the DOE.16IndexA significant purchase or disposition of our common stock could be determined by the DOE to be a change of control under this standard. Most of the statesand our accrediting commissions include the sale of a controlling interest of common stock in the definition of a change of control although some agenciescould determine that the sale or disposition of a smaller interest would result in a change of control. A change of control under the definition of one of theseagencies would require the affected school to reaffirm its state authorization or accreditation. Some agencies would require approval prior to a sale ordisposition that would result in a change of control in order to maintain authorization or accreditation. The requirements to obtain such reaffirmation from thestates and our accrediting commissions vary widely. A change of control could occur as a result of future transactions in which our company or schools are involved. Some corporate reorganizations and somechanges in the board of directors are examples of such transactions. Moreover, the potential adverse effects of a change of control could influence futuredecisions by us and our stockholders regarding the sale, purchase, transfer, issuance or redemption of our stock. In addition, the adverse regulatory effect of achange of control also could discourage bids for your shares of common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Company’s shares. Opening Additional Schools and Adding Educational Programs. For-profit educational institutions must be authorized by their state education agenciesand be fully operational for two years before applying to the DOE to participate in Title IV Programs. However, an institution that is certified to participate inTitle IV Programs may establish an additional location and apply to participate in Title IV Programs at that location without reference to the two-yearrequirement, if such additional location satisfies all other applicable DOE eligibility requirements. Our expansion plans are based, in part, on our ability toopen new schools as additional locations of our existing institutions and take into account the DOE's approval requirements. A student may use Title IV Program funds only to pay the costs associated with enrollment in an eligible educational program offered by an institutionparticipating in Title IV Programs. Generally, an institution that is eligible to participate in Title IV Programs may add a new educational program withoutDOE approval if that new program leads to an associate level or higher degree and the institution already offers programs at that level, or if that programprepares students for gainful employment in the same or a related occupation as an educational program that has previously been designated as an eligibleprogram at that institution and meets minimum length requirements. If an institution erroneously determines that an educational program is eligible forpurposes of Title IV Programs, the institution would likely be liable for repayment of Title IV Program funds provided to students in that educationalprogram. Our expansion plans are based, in part, on our ability to add new educational programs at our existing schools. We do not believe that current DOEregulations will create significant obstacles to our plans to add new programs. Some of the state education agencies and our accrediting commission also have requirements that may affect our schools' ability to open a new campus,establish an additional location of an existing institution or begin offering a new educational program. Our Cincinnati (Vine Street), OH campus is currentlyrequired to submit retention data to the ACICS. Any institution required to submit retention data to the ACICS may be required to obtain prior permissionfrom the ACICS for the initiation of any new program or new branch campus or learning site. We do not believe that these standards will create significantobstacles to our expansion plans. Administrative Capability. The DOE assesses the administrative capability of each institution that participates in Title IV Programs under a series ofseparate standards. Failure to satisfy any of the standards may lead the DOE to find the institution ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs or to place theinstitution on provisional certification as a condition of its participation. These criteria require, among other things, that the institution: ·Complies with all applicable federal student financial aid regulations; ·Has capable and sufficient personnel to administer the federal student financial aid programs; ·Has adequate checks and balance in its system of internal controls; ·Divides the function of authorizing and disbursing or delivering Title IV Program Funds so that no office has the responsibility for both functions; ·Establishes and maintains records required under the Title IV regulations; ·Develops and applies an adequate system to identify and resolve discrepancies in information from sources regarding a student’s application forfinancial aid under Title IV; ·Has acceptable methods of defining and measuring the satisfactory academic progress of its students; ·Refers to the Office of the Inspector General any credible information indicating that any applicant, student, employee or agent of the school has beenengaged in any fraud or other illegal conduct involving Title IV Programs; ·Provides financial aid counseling to its students; and ·Submits in a timely manner all reports and financial statements required by the regulations.Failure by an institution to satisfy any of these or other administrative capability criteria could cause the institution to lose its eligibility to participate inTitle IV Programs, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.17IndexOther standards provide that an institution may be found to lack administrative capability and be placed on provisional certification if its student loan defaultrate under the Federal Family Education Loan program is 25% or greater for any of the three most recent federal fiscal years, or if its Perkins cohort defaultrate exceeds 15% for any federal award year. None of our institutions has a Federal Family Education Loan cohort default rate above 25% for any of the threemost recent fiscal years for which the DOE has published rates. Denver LCT and NETI are our only institutions participating in the Perkins program. DenverLCT 's cohort default rate was 17.54% for students scheduled to begin repayment in the 2005-2006 federal award year. The DOE did not provide anyadditional Federal Capital Contribution Funds for Perkins loans to Denver LCT. Denver LCT continues to make loans out of its existing Perkins loan fund.As was the case prior to our acquisition NETI, the institution remains provisionally certified by the DOE based on its change in ownership and on a findingby the DOE prior to the change in ownership that NETI had not transmitted certain data related to the Perkins program to the National Student Loan DataSystem during periods prior to the acquisition. NETI 's cohort default rate was 11.94% for students scheduled to begin repayment in the 2005-2006 federalaward year. Ability to Benefit Regulations. Under certain circumstances, an institution may elect to admit non-high school graduates, or "ability to benefit," students,into certain of its programs of study. In order for ability to benefit students to be eligible for Title IV Program participation, the institution must comply withthe ability to benefit requirements set forth in the Title IV Program requirements. The basic evaluation method to determine that a student has the ability tobenefit from the program is the student's achievement of a minimum score on a test approved by the DOE and independently administered in accordance withDOE regulations. In addition to the testing requirements, the DOE regulations also prohibit ability to benefit student enrollments from constituting 50% or moreof the total enrollment of the institution. In 2007, the following schools were authorized to enroll “ability to benefit” applicants: Southwestern College, NewBritain, Cromwell, Shelton, Hamden, Union, Mahwah, Indianapolis, Melrose Park, Grand Prairie, Somerville, Denver, West Palm Beach, Center CityPhiladelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Paramus, Mt. Laurel, Marietta, Lowell, Edison, Brockton, and Allentown. Restrictions on Payment of Commissions, Bonuses and Other Incentive Payments. An institution participating in Title IV Programs may not provideany commission, bonus or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any person or entityengaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the awarding of Title IV Program funds. In November 2002, theDOE published new regulations which attempt to clarify the "incentive compensation rule." Failure to comply with the incentive compensation rule could resultin loss of ability to participate in Title IV Programs or in fines or liabilities. We believe that our current compensation plans are in compliance with the HigherEducation Act and the DOE's new regulations, although we cannot assure you that the DOE will not find deficiencies in our compensation plans. Eligibility and Certification Procedures. Each institution must periodically apply to the DOE for continued certification to participate in Title IVPrograms. The institution must also apply for recertification when it undergoes a change in ownership resulting in a change of control. The institution alsomay come under DOE review when it undergoes a substantive change that requires the submission of an application, such as opening an additional location orraising the highest academic credential it offers. The DOE may place an institution on provisional certification status if it determines that the institution does not fully satisfy certain administrative andfinancial standards or if the institution undergoes a change in ownership resulting in a change of control. The DOE may withdraw an institution's provisionalcertification with the institution having fewer due process protections than if it were fully certified. In addition, the DOE may more closely review an institutionthat is provisionally certified if it applies for approval to open a new location, add an educational program, acquire another school or make any othersignificant change. Provisional certification does not otherwise limit an institution's access to Title IV Program funds. In connection with our acquisitions ofSouthwestern College, NETI, and New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach we received in each case an executed provisional program participationagreement from the DOE.18IndexAll institutions are recertified on various dates for various amounts of time. The following table sets forth the expiration dates for each of our institutions'current program participation agreement:Institution Expiration Date of CurrentProgram Participation AgreementAllentown, PA September 30, 2007*Columbia, MD June 30, 2013Philadelphia, PA December 31, 2013Denver, CO December 31, 2009Lincoln, RI June 30, 2008Nashville, TN June 30, 2008Somerville, MA June 30, 2008Edison, NJ June 30, 2011Union, NJ June 30, 2011Grand Prairie, TX March 31, 2009Indianapolis, IN March 31, 2009Melrose Park, IL March 31, 2009Dayton, OH June 30, 2008**New Britain, CT March 31, 2009**West Palm Beach, FL June 30, 2010** * Pending completion of reaccreditation process** Provisionally certified Compliance with Regulatory Standards and Effect of Regulatory Violations. Our schools are subject to audits, program reviews, and site visits byvarious regulatory agencies, including the DOE, the DOE's Office of Inspector General, state education agencies, student loan guaranty agencies, the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs and our accrediting commissions. In addition, each of our institutions must retain an independent certified public accountantto conduct an annual audit of the institution's administration of Title IV Program funds. The institution must submit the resulting audit report to the DOE forreview. The DOE conducted a program review at Southwestern College (SWC) and issued an initial program review report, dated February 6, 2008, in whichit identified potential instances of noncompliance with certain DOE requirements. SWC expects to respond to the DOE initial program review report on orbefore April 4, 2008. If one of our schools failed to comply with accrediting or state licensing requirements, such school and its main and/or branch campuses could be subject tothe loss of state licensure or accreditation, which in turn could result in a loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs. If the DOE determined that oneof our institutions improperly disbursed Title IV Program funds or violated a provision of the Higher Education Act or DOE regulations, the institution couldbe required to repay such funds and related costs to the DOE and lenders, and could be assessed an administrative fine. The DOE could also place theinstitution on provisional certification and/or transfer the institution to the reimbursement or cash monitoring system of receiving Title IV Program funds,under which an institution must disburse its own funds to students and document the students' eligibility for Title IV Program funds before receiving suchfunds from the DOE. An institution that is operating under this "Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 status," is required to credit student accounts beforedrawing down funds under Title IV Programs and to draw down funds in an amount no greater than the previous disbursement to students and parents.Additionally, the institution's compliance audit will be required to contain verification that this did occur throughout the year. In addition to the above, theDOE has required us to comply with certain requirements prescribed for institutions operating in "the zone," which is indicative of a composite score between1.0 and 1.4. Those requirements include providing timely information regarding any of the following oversight and financial events: ·Any adverse action, including a probation or similar action, taken against the institution by its accrediting agency; ·Any event that causes the institution, or related entity to realize any liability that was noted as a contingent liability in the institution's or relatedentity's most recent audit financial statement; ·Any violation by the institution of any loan agreement; ·Any failure of the institution to make a payment in accordance with its debt obligations that results in a creditor filing suit to recover funds underthose obligations; ·Any withdrawal of owner's equity from institution by any means, including declaring a dividend; or ·Any extraordinary losses, as defined in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30.Operating under the zone requirements may also require the institution to submit its financial statement and compliance audits earlier than the date previouslyrequired and require the institution to provide information about its current operations and future plans. An institution that continues to fail to meet thefinancial responsibility standards set by the DOE or does not comply with the zone requirements may lose its eligibility to continue to participate in Title IVfunding. If eligibility is lost, the institution may be required to post irrevocable letters of credit, for an amount determined by the DOE at a minimum of 50%of the Title IV Program funds received by the institution during its most recently completed fiscal year. The institution may also be required to post irrevocableletters of credit at a minimum of 10% of such funds and be provisionally certified and subject to other reporting and monitoring requirements.19IndexSignificant violations of Title IV Program requirements by us or any of our institutions could be the basis for a proceeding by the DOE to limit, suspend orterminate the participation of the affected institution in Title IV Programs or to civil or criminal penalties. Generally, such a termination extends for 18 monthsbefore the institution may apply for reinstatement of its participation. There is no DOE proceeding pending to fine any of our institutions or to limit, suspendor terminate any of our institutions' participation in Title IV Programs. We and our schools are also subject to complaints and lawsuits relating to regulatory compliance brought not only by our regulatory agencies, but also by thirdparties, such as present or former students or employees and other members of the public. If we are unable to successfully resolve or defend against any suchcomplaint or lawsuit, we may be required to pay money damages or be subject to fines, limitations, loss of federal funding, injunctions or other penalties.Moreover, even if we successfully resolve or defend against any such complaint or lawsuit, we may have to devote significant financial and managementresources in order to reach such a result. Lenders and Guaranty Agencies. In 2007, six lenders provided funding to more than 90% of the students at the schools we owned during that year:Citibank Student Loan Corporation, AMS Trust, Citizens Bank, Regions Bank, Wachovia Bank, and Nelnet. While we believe that other lenders would bewilling to make federally guaranteed student loans to our students if loans were no longer available from our current lenders, there can be no assurances in thisregard. In addition, the Higher Education Act requires the establishment of lenders of last resort in every state to ensure that loans are available to students atany school that cannot otherwise identify lenders willing to make federally guaranteed loans to its students. Our primary guarantors for Title IV loans are USA Group, a subsidiary of Sallie Mae, and New Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority, anindependent agency of the State of New Jersey. These two agencies currently guarantee a majority of the federally guaranteed student loans made to studentsenrolled at our schools. There are six other guaranty agencies that guarantee student loans made to students enrolled at our schools. We believe that otherguaranty agencies would be willing to guarantee loans to our students if any of the guaranty agencies ceased guaranteeing those loans or reduced the volume ofloans they guarantee, although there can be no assurances in this regard.20IndexItem 1A.RISK FACTORS The following risk factors and other information included in this Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties describedbelow are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are not material may alsoadversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows and prospects. RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRY Failure of our schools to comply with the extensive regulatory requirements for school operations could result in financial penalties, restrictions onour operations and loss of external financial aid funding, which could affect our revenues and impose significant operating restrictions on us. Our schools are subject to extensive regulation by federal and state governmental agencies and by accrediting commissions. In particular, the Higher EducationAct of 1965, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the DOE, set forth numerous standards that our schools must satisfy to participatein various federal student financial assistance programs under Title IV Programs. In 2007, we derived approximately 80% of our revenues, calculated basedon cash receipts, from Title IV Programs. To participate in Title IV Programs, each of our schools must receive and maintain authorization by the applicableeducation agencies in the state in which each school is physically located, be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE and be certifiedas an eligible institution by the DOE. These regulatory requirements cover the vast majority of our operations, including our educational programs, facilities,instructional and administrative staff, administrative procedures, marketing, recruiting, student performances and outcomes, financial operations andfinancial condition. These regulatory requirements also affect our ability to acquire or open additional schools, add new educational programs, expand existingeducational programs, and change our corporate structure and ownership. If any of our schools fails to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the school and its related main campus and/or additional locations could besubject to the loss of state licensure or accreditation, the loss of eligibility to participate in and receive funds under the Title IV Programs, the loss of the abilityto grant degrees, diplomas and certificates, provisional certification, or the imposition of liabilities or monetary penalties, each of which could adversely affectour revenues and impose significant operating restrictions upon us. In addition, the loss by any of our schools of its accreditation, its state authorization orlicense, or its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs constitutes an event of default under our credit agreement, which we and our subsidiaries enteredinto with a syndicate of banks on February 15, 2005. An event of default on our credit agreement could result in the acceleration of all amounts thenoutstanding under our credit agreement. The various regulatory agencies periodically revise their requirements and modify their interpretations of existingrequirements and restrictions. We cannot predict with certainty how any of these regulatory requirements will be applied or whether each of our schools will beable to comply with these requirements or any additional requirements instituted in the future. If we or our eligible institutions do not meet the financial responsibility standards prescribed by the DOE, as has occurred in the past, we may berequired to post letters of credit or our eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs could be terminated or limited, which could significantlyreduce our student population and revenues.To participate in Title IV Programs, an eligible institution must satisfy specific measures of financial responsibility prescribed by the DOE or post a letter ofcredit in favor of the DOE and possibly accept other conditions on its participation in Title IV Programs. Any obligation to post one or more letters of creditwould increase our costs of regulatory compliance. Our inability to obtain a required letter of credit or limitations on, or termination of, our participation inTitle IV Programs could limit our students' access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, which could significantly reduce ourstudent population and revenues.Each year, based on the financial information submitted by an eligible institution that participates in Title IV Programs, the DOE calculates three financialratios for the institution: an equity ratio, a primary reserve ratio and a net income ratio. Each of these ratios is scored separately and then combined into acomposite score to measure the institution's financial responsibility. If the composite score for an institution falls below thresholds established by the DOE, theDOE could place the institution on provisional certification and/or transfer the institution to the reimbursement or cash monitoring system of receiving Title IVProgram funds, under which an institution must disburse its own funds to students and document the student's eligibility for Title IV Program funds beforereceiving such funds from the DOE. If an institution has a composite score between 1.0 and 1.4, the institution will be required to operate under "HeightenedCash Monitoring, Type 1 status." If an institution's composite score is below 1.0, the institution is considered by the DOE to lack financial responsibilityand, as a condition of Title IV Program participation, the institution may be required to, among other things, post a letter of credit in an amount of at least 10to 50 percent of the institution's annual Title IV Program participation for its most recent fiscal year.Based on our calculations, the 2007 and 2006 financial statements reflect a composite score of 1.8 and 1.7, respectively. However, because our compositescores for 2001 and 2002 were below 1.0, all of our institutions were placed on "Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 status" from December 30, 2004 throughDecember 30, 2007. If we revert to this status in the future or fail to comply with applicable DOE requirements, we may lose our eligibility for continuedparticipation in Title IV Programs or may be required to post irrevocable letters of credit. In addition, a composite score under 1.0 in any future year couldhave an adverse effect on our operations and would result in a default under our credit agreement and could result in an acceleration of the debt under our creditagreement.21IndexIf we fail to demonstrate "administrative capability" to the DOE, our business could suffer. DOE regulations specify extensive criteria an institution must satisfy to establish that it has the requisite "administrative capability" to participate in Title IVPrograms. These criteria require, among other things, that the institution: ·Comply with all applicable Title IV regulations; ·Have capable and sufficient personnel to administer Title IV Programs; ·Has adequate checks and balance in its system of internal controls; ·Divides the function of authorizing and disbursing or delivering Title IV Program Funds so that no office has the responsibility for both functions; ·Establishes and maintains records required under the Title IV regulations; ·Develops and applies an adequate system to identify and resolve discrepancies in information from sources regarding a student’s application forfinancial aid under Title IV; ·Have acceptable methods of defining and measuring the satisfactory academic progress of its students; ·Provide financial aid counseling to its students; and ·Submit in a timely manner all reports and financial statements required by the regulations.If an institution fails to satisfy any of these criteria or any other DOE regulation, the DOE may: ·Require the repayment of Title IV funds; ·Impose a less favorable payment system for the institution's receipt of Title IV funds; ·Place the institution on provisional certification status; or ·Commence a proceeding to impose a fine or to limit, suspend or terminate the participation of the institution in Title IV Programs.If we are found not to have satisfied the DOE's "administrative capability" requirements, one or more of our institutions, including its additional locations,could be limited in its access to, or lose, Title IV Program funding. A decrease in Title IV funding could adversely affect our revenues, as we receivedapproximately 80% of our revenues (calculated based on cash receipts) from Title IV Programs in 2007. We are subject to fines and other sanctions if we pay impermissible commissions, bonuses or other incentive payments to individuals involved incertain recruiting, admissions or financial aid activities, which could increase our cost of regulatory compliance and adversely affect our results ofoperations. A school participating in Title IV Programs may not provide any commission, bonus or other incentive payment based on directly or indirectly on success inenrolling students or securing financial aid to any person involved in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding theawarding of Title IV Program funds. The law and regulations governing this requirement do not establish clear criteria for compliance in all circumstances. Ifwe are found to have violated this law, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by the DOE or we could face litigation filed under the qui tam provisions ofthe Federal False Claims Act. If we were involved in conflicts of interest with student loan lenders, we could be subject to penalties and otherwise suffer adverse impacts on ourbusiness. In 2007, the New York Attorney General, several other attorneys-general, the United States Senate and House of Representatives Education Committees, andthe DOE all launched investigations of potential conflicts of interest between university officials and various private lending organizations that provide studentloans. These investigations are ongoing, but several universities and lending organizations have been implicated. Certain lenders, colleges and universitiesthat have been implicated by these investigations have agreed to pay fines to settle claims in this regard. In addition, several financial aid officials at otheruniversities have been suspended or placed on leaves of absence. While no allegations have been raised concerning our institutions, we have received generalrequests for information from the offices of two state attorneys-general. We have no reason to believe that any of our employees have engaged in improperconduct in this regard. If any such impropriety were found, we could be subject to penalties and other adverse consequences.22IndexIf our schools do not maintain their state authorizations and their accreditation, they may not participate in Title IV Programs, which couldadversely affect our student population and revenues. An institution that grants degrees, diplomas or certificates must be authorized by the appropriate education agency of the state in which it is located and, insome cases, other states. Requirements for authorization vary substantially among states. The school must be authorized by each state in which it isphysically located in order for its students to be eligible for funding under Title IV Programs. Loss of state authorization by any of our schools from theeducation agency of the state in which the school is located would end that school's eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs and could cause us to close theschool. A school must be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE in order to participate in Title IV Programs. Accreditation is a non-governmental process through which an institution submits to qualitative review by an organization of peer institutions, based on the standards of theaccrediting agency and the stated aims and purposes of the institution, including achieving and maintaining stringent retention, completion and placementoutcomes. Certain states require institutions to maintain accreditation as a condition of continued authorization to grant degrees. The Higher Education Actrequires accrediting commissions recognized by the DOE to review and monitor many aspects of an institution's operations and to take appropriatedisciplinary action when the institution fails to comply with the accrediting agency's standards. Loss of accreditation by any of our main campuses wouldresult in the termination of eligibility of that school and all of its branch campuses to participate in Title IV Programs and could cause us to close the schooland its branches.Our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if the percentage of their revenues derived from those programs were toohigh, which could reduce our student population and revenues. Each of our institutions and any of its additional locations would immediately lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if it derived more than 90%of its revenues (calculated based on cash receipts) from those programs in any fiscal year as calculated in accordance with DOE regulations. Any institutionthat violates this rule is ineligible to apply to regain its eligibility until the following fiscal year. Based on our calculations, none of our institutions receivedmore than 90% of its revenues in fiscal year 2007, and our institution with the highest percentage received approximately 86.6% of its revenues, from Title IVPrograms. If any of our institutions loses eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, that loss would cause an event of default under our credit agreement,which could result in the acceleration of any indebtedness then outstanding under our credit agreement, and would also adversely affect our students' access tovarious government-sponsored student financial aid programs, which could reduce our student population and revenues. These calculations are required to bemade based on cash receipts. Our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if their former students defaulted on repayment of their federal studentloans in excess of specified levels, which could reduce our student population and revenues. An institution of higher education, such as each of our institutions, loses its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV Programs if its former studentsdefault on the repayment of their federal student loans in excess of specified levels. If any of our institutions exceeds the official student loan default ratespublished by the DOE, it will lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs. That loss would adversely affect our students' access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, which could reduce our student population and revenues. We are subject to sanctions if we fail to correctly calculate and timely return Title IV Program funds for students who withdraw beforecompleting their educational program, which could increase our cost of regulatory compliance and decrease our profit margin. An institution participating in Title IV Programs must correctly calculate the amount of unearned Title IV Program funds that have been credited to studentswho withdraw from their educational programs before completing them and must return those unearned funds in a timely manner, generally within 45 days ofthe date the institution determines that the student has withdrawn. If the unearned funds are not properly calculated and timely returned, we may have to post aletter of credit in favor of the DOE or may be otherwise sanctioned by the DOE, which could increase our cost of regulatory compliance and adversely affectour results of operations. During the 2005 audit period Southwestern College made late returns of Title IV Program funds in excess of the DOE’s prescribedthreshold, most of which predated our acquisition of Southwestern College. As a result, in accordance with DOE regulations, we have submitted a letter ofcredit to the DOE in the amount of $0.3 million, which expires in June 2008. If regulators do not approve our acquisition of a school that participates in Title IV Programs, the acquired school would no longer be permitted toparticipate in Title IV Programs, which could impair our ability to operate the acquired school as planned or to realize the anticipated benefitsfrom the acquisition of that school. If we acquire a school that participates in Title IV Programs, we must obtain approval from the DOE and applicable state education agencies and accreditingcommissions in order for the school to be able to continue operating and participating in Title IV Programs. An acquisition can result in the temporarysuspension of the acquired school's participation in Title IV Programs unless we submit to the DOE a timely and materially complete application forrecertification and the DOE issues a temporary provisional program participation agreement. If we were unable to timely re-establish the state authorization,accreditation or DOE certification of the acquired school, our ability to operate the acquired school as planned or to realize the anticipated benefits from theacquisition of that school could be impaired. In connection with our acquisitions of Southwestern College, New England Technical Institute, and NewEngland Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, we received in each case an executed provisional program participation agreement from the DOE.23IndexIf regulators do not approve or delay their approval of transactions involving a change of control of our company or any of our schools, our abilityto participate in Title IV Programs may be impaired. If we or any of our schools experience a change of control under the standards of applicable state education agencies, our accrediting commissions or the DOE,we or the affected schools must seek the approval of the relevant regulatory agencies in order for us or the acquired school to maintain required state licensureand accreditation and to participate in Title IV Programs. Transactions or events that constitute a change of control of us include significant acquisitions ordispositions of our common stock (including, pursuant to DOE regulations, sales by a shareholder that owns at least 25% of our total outstanding votingstock and is our largest shareholder, as a result of which sales such shareholder ceases to own at least 25% of our outstanding voting stock or ceases to be ourlargest shareholder) or significant changes in the composition of our board of directors. Some of these transactions or events may be beyond our control. Ourfailure to obtain, or a delay in receiving, approval of any change of control from any state in which our schools are located or other states as the case may be,our accrediting commissions or the DOE could impair or result in the termination of our accreditation, state licensure or ability to participate in Title IVPrograms. Our failure to obtain, or a delay in obtaining, approval of any change of control from any state in which we do not have a school but in which werecruit students could require us to suspend our recruitment of students in that state until we receive the required approval. The potential adverse effects of achange of control with respect to participation in Title IV Programs could influence future decisions by us and our stockholders regarding the sale, purchase,transfer, issuance or redemption of our stock. In addition, the adverse regulatory effect of a change of control also could discourage bids for shares of ourcommon stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of shares of our common stock. Congress may change the law or reduce funding for Title IV Programs, which could reduce our student population, revenues or profit margin. Congress periodically revises the Higher Education Act and other laws governing Title IV Programs and annually determines the funding level for each Title IVProgram. Recently, Congress temporarily extended the provisions of the Higher Education Act, or HEA, pending completion of the formal reauthorizationprocess. In February 2006, Congress enacted the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which contained a number of provisions affecting Title IV Programs,including some provisions that had been in the HEA reauthorization bills. We believe that, in 2008, Congress will either complete its reauthorization of theHEA or further extend the provisions of the HEA. Numerous changes to the HEA are likely to result from any further reauthorization and, possibly, from anyextension of the existing provisions of the HEA, but at this time we cannot predict all of the changes that the U.S. Congress will ultimately make. In January2007, the political party to which a majority of the members of both houses of the U.S. Congress are affiliated changed from the Republican party to theDemocratic party. As a result, it is possible that the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress will revise provisions of the HEA in significantly different ways thanwere being considered by the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in 2005 and 2006. Approximately 80% of our revenues in 2007 (calculated based on cashreceipts) were derived from Title IV programs. Any action by Congress that significantly reduces funding for Title IV Programs or the ability of our schools orstudents to receive funding through these programs could reduce our student population and revenues. Congressional action may also require us to modify ourpractices in ways that could result in increased administrative costs and decreased profit margin. In addition, current requirements for student and school participation in Title IV Programs may change or one or more of the present Title IV Programs couldbe replaced by other programs with materially different student or school eligibility requirements. If we cannot comply with the provisions of the HigherEducation Act, as they may be revised, or if the cost of such compliance is excessive, our revenues or profit margin could be adversely affected. Regulatory agencies or third parties may conduct compliance reviews, bring claims or initiate litigation against us. If the results of these reviewsor claims are unfavorable to us, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Because we operate in a highly regulated industry, we are subject to compliance reviews and claims of noncompliance and lawsuits by government agenciesand third parties. If the results of these reviews or proceedings are unfavorable to us, or if we are unable to defend successfully against third-party lawsuits orclaims, we may be required to pay money damages or be subject to fines, limitations on the operations of our business, loss of federal funding, injunctions orother penalties. Even if we adequately address issues raised by an agency review or successfully defend a third-party lawsuit or claim, we may have to divertsignificant financial and management resources from our ongoing business operations to address issues raised by those reviews or defend those lawsuits orclaims. The DOE conducted a program review at SWC and issued an initial program review report, dated February 6, 2008, in which it identified potentialinstances of noncompliance with certain DOE requirements. SWC expects to respond to the DOE initial program review report on or before April 4, 2008.24IndexRISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS If we fail to effectively manage our growth, we may incur higher costs and expenses than we anticipate in connection with our growth. We have experienced a period of significant growth since 1999. Our continued growth has strained and may in the future strain our management, operations,employees or other resources. We will need to continue to assess the adequacy of our staff, controls and procedures to meet the demands of our continuedgrowth. We may not be able to maintain or accelerate our current growth rate, effectively manage our expanding operations or achieve planned growth on atimely or profitable basis. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively while maintaining appropriate internal controls, we may experience operatinginefficiencies that likely will increase our expected costs. We may not be able to successfully integrate acquisitions into our business, which may materially adversely affect our business, financialcondition, results of operations and could cause the market value of our common stock to decline. Since 1999, we have acquired a number of schools and we intend to continue to grow our business through acquisitions and internal expansion of ourprograms. The anticipated benefits of an acquisition may not be achieved unless we successfully integrate the acquired school or schools into our operationsand are able to effectively manage, market and apply our business strategy to any acquired schools. Integration challenges include, among others, regulatoryapprovals, significant capital expenditures, assumption of known and unknown liabilities and our ability to control costs. The successful integration offuture acquisitions may also require substantial attention from our senior management and the senior management of the acquired schools, which coulddecrease the time that they devote to the day-to-day management of our business. The difficulties of integration may initially be increased by the necessity ofintegrating personnel with disparate business backgrounds and corporate cultures. Management's focus on the integration of acquired schools and on theapplication of our business strategy to those schools could interrupt or cause loss of momentum in our other ongoing activities. Our inability to properlymanage or support the growth may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations and could cause the marketvalue of our common stock to decline. Failure on our part to establish and operate additional schools or campuses or effectively identify suitable expansion opportunities could reduceour ability to implement our growth strategy. As part of our business strategy, we anticipate opening and operating new schools or campuses. Establishing new schools or campuses poses uniquechallenges and requires us to make investments in management and capital expenditures, incur marketing expenses and devote financial and other resourcesthat are different, and in some cases greater than those required with respect to the operation of acquired schools. To open a new school or campus, we would be required to obtain appropriate state and accrediting commission approvals, which may be conditioned ordelayed in a manner that could significantly affect our growth plans. In addition, to be eligible for federal Title IV Program funding, a new school or campuswould have to be certified by the DOE and would require federal authorization and approvals. In the case of entirely separate, freestanding U.S. schools, aminimum of two years' operating history is required to be eligible for Title IV Program funding. We cannot be sure that we will be able to identify suitableexpansion opportunities to maintain or accelerate our current growth rate or that we will be able to successfully integrate or profitably operate any new schoolsor campuses. A failure by us to effectively identify suitable expansion opportunities and to establish and manage the operations of newly established schools oronline offerings could slow our growth and make any newly established schools or our online programs unprofitable or more costly to operate than we hadplanned. Our success depends in part on our ability to update and expand the content of existing programs and develop new programs in a cost-effectivemanner and on a timely basis. Prospective employers of our graduates increasingly demand that their entry-level employees possess appropriate technological skills. These skills arebecoming more sophisticated in line with technological advancements in the automotive, diesel, information technology, or IT, skilled trades, healthcareindustries and spa and culinary. Accordingly, educational programs at our schools must keep pace with those technological advancements. The expansion ofour existing programs and the development of new programs may not be accepted by our students, prospective employers or the technical education market.Even if we are able to develop acceptable new programs, we may not be able to introduce these new programs as quickly as our competitors or as quickly asemployers demand. If we are unable to adequately respond to changes in market requirements due to financial constraints, unusually rapid technologicalchanges or other factors, our ability to attract and retain students could be impaired, our placement rates could suffer and our revenues could be adverselyaffected. In addition, if we are unable to adequately anticipate the requirements of the employers we serve, we may offer programs that do not teach skills useful toprospective employers or students seeking a technical or career-oriented education which could affect our placement rates and our ability to attract and retainstudents, causing our revenues to be adversely affected.25IndexRisks specific to our schools’ online campuses could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our schools’ online campuses intend to increase student enrollments, and more resources will be required to support this growth, including additional faculty,admissions, academic, and financial aid personnel. This growth may place a strain on the operational resources of our schools’ online campuses. Ourschools’ online campuses’ success depends, in part, on their ability to expand the content of their programs, develop new programs in a cost-effective manner,maintain good standings with their regulators and accreditors, and meet their students’ needs in a timely manner. The expansion of our schools’ onlinecampuses’ existing programs and the development of new programs may not be accepted by their students or the online education market, and new programscould be delayed due to current and future unforeseen regulatory restrictions. The performance and reliability of the program infrastructure at our schools’online campuses is critical to the reputation of these campuses and the campuses ability to attract and retain students. Any computer system error or failure, ora sudden and significant increase in traffic on our computer networks that host our schools’ online campuses, may result in the unavailability of our schools’online campuses’ computer networks. Individual, sustained, or repeated occurrences could significantly damage the reputation of our schools’ onlinecampuses and result in a loss of potential or existing students. Additionally, our schools’ online campuses’ computer systems and operations are vulnerable tointerruption or malfunction due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters and network and telecommunications failures. Any interruption toour schools’ online campuses’ computer systems or operations could have a material adverse effect on the ability of our schools’ online campuses to attractand retain students. Our computer networks—either administrative network or those supporting educational programs— may also be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computerhackers, computer viruses, and other security threats. A user who circumvents security measures could misappropriate proprietary information or causeinterruptions or malfunctions in our operations. Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained on our networks, such as students’ grades, ournetworks may be targeted by hackers. As a result, we may be required to expend significant resources to protect against the threat of these security breaches orto alleviate problems caused by these breaches. We may not be able to retain our key personnel or hire and retain the personnel we need to sustain and grow our business. Our success has depended, and will continue to depend, largely on the skills, efforts and motivation of our executive officers who generally have significantexperience within the post-secondary education industry. Our success also depends in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified faculty,school directors, administrators and corporate management. Due to the nature of our business, we face significant competition in the attraction and retention ofpersonnel who possess the skill sets that we seek. In addition, key personnel may leave us and subsequently compete against us. Furthermore, we do notcurrently carry "key man" life insurance on any of our employees. The loss of the services of any of our key personnel, or our failure to attract and retainother qualified and experienced personnel on acceptable terms, could have an adverse effect on our ability to operate our business efficiently and to execute ourgrowth strategy. If we are unable to hire, retain and continue to develop and train our employees responsible for student recruitment, the effectiveness of ourstudent recruiting efforts would be adversely affected. In order to support revenue growth, we need to hire new employees dedicated to student recruitment and retain and continue to develop and train our currentstudent recruitment personnel. Our ability to develop a strong student recruiting team may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to integrateand motivate our student recruiters; our ability to effectively train our student recruiters; the length of time it takes new student recruiters to becomeproductive; regulatory restrictions on the method of compensating student recruiters; the competition in hiring and retaining student recruiters; and our abilityto effectively manage a multi-location educational organization. If we are unable to hire, develop or retain our student recruiters, the effectiveness of our studentrecruiting efforts would be adversely affected. Competition could decrease our market share and cause us to lower our tuition rates. The post-secondary education market is highly competitive. Our schools compete for students and faculty with traditional public and private two-year andfour-year colleges and universities and other proprietary schools, many of which have greater financial resources than we do. Some traditional public andprivate colleges and universities, as well as other private career-oriented schools, offer programs that may be perceived by students to be similar to ours. Mostpublic institutions are able to charge lower tuition than our schools, due in part to government subsidies and other financial resources not available to for-profitschools. Some of our competitors also have substantially greater financial and other resources than we have which may, among other things, allow ourcompetitors to secure strategic relationships with some or all of our existing strategic partners or develop other high profile strategic relationships, or devotemore resources to expanding their programs and their school network, or provide greater financing alternatives to their students, all of which could affect thesuccess of our marketing programs. In addition, some of our competitors have a larger network of schools and campuses than we do, enabling them to recruitstudents more effectively from a wider geographic area. If we are unable to compete effectively with these institutions for students, our student enrollments andrevenues will be adversely affected.26IndexWe may be required to reduce tuition or increase spending in response to competition in order to retain or attract students or pursue new market opportunities.As a result, our market share, revenues and operating margin may be decreased. We cannot be sure that we will be able to compete successfully against currentor future competitors or that the competitive pressures we face will not adversely affect our revenues and profitability. We may experience business interruptions resulting from natural disasters, inclement weather, transit disruptions, or other events in one or moreof the geographic areas in which we operate.We may experience business interruptions resulting from natural disasters, inclement weather, transit disruptions, or other events in one or more of thegeographic areas in which we operate. These events could cause us to close schools — temporarily or permanently — and could affect student recruitingopportunities in those locations, causing enrollment and revenues to decline. Our financial performance depends in part on our ability to continue to develop awareness and acceptance of our programs among high schoolgraduates and working adults looking to return to school. The awareness of our programs among high school graduates and working adults looking to return to school is critical to the continued acceptance and growthof our programs. Our inability to continue to develop awareness of our programs could reduce our enrollments and impair our ability to increase our revenuesor maintain profitability. The following are some of the factors that could prevent us from successfully marketing our programs: ·Student dissatisfaction with our programs and services; ·Diminished access to high school student populations; ·Our failure to maintain or expand our brand or other factors related to our marketing or advertising practices; and ·Our inability to maintain relationships with automotive, diesel, healthcare, skilled trades and IT, and spa and culinary manufacturers and suppliers.If students fail to pay their outstanding balances, our profitability will be adversely affected. We offer a variety of payment plans to help students pay the portion of their education expense not covered by financial aid programs. These balances areunsecured and not guaranteed. As a result of SLM’s tiered discount loan program termination, effective February 18, 2008, our internal gap financingbetween Title IV and tuition will increase. Although we have reserved for estimated losses related to unpaid student balances, losses in excess of the amountswe have reserved for bad debts will result in a reduction in our profitability. An increase in interest rates could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain students. Interest rates have reached historical lows in recent years, creating a favorable borrowing environment for our students. Much of the financing our studentsreceive is tied to floating interest rates. Increases in interest rates result in a corresponding increase in the cost to our existing and prospective students offinancing their education which could result in a reduction in the number of students attending our schools and could adversely affect our results of operationsand revenues. Higher interest rates could also contribute to higher default rates with respect to our students' repayment of their education loans. Higher defaultrates may in turn adversely impact our eligibility for Title IV Program participation or the willingness of private lenders to make private loan programsavailable to students who attend our schools, which could result in a reduction in our student population. Seasonal and other fluctuations in our results of operations could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. Our results of operations fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total student population. Student populationvaries as a result of new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, our schools have had lower student populations in our first andsecond quarters and we have experienced large class starts in the third and fourth quarters and student attrition in the first half of the year. Our second halfgrowth is largely dependent on a successful recruiting season. Our expenses, however, do not vary significantly over the course of the year with changes in ourstudent population and net revenues. We expect quarterly fluctuations in results of operations to continue as a result of seasonal enrollment patterns. Suchpatterns may change, however, as a result of acquisitions, new school openings, new program introductions and increased enrollments of adult students.These fluctuations may result in volatility or have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. Our total assets include substantial intangible assets. The write-off of a significant portion of unamortized intangible assets would negativelyaffect our results of operations. Our total assets reflect substantial intangible assets. At December 31, 2007, goodwill and identified intangibles, net, represented approximately 34.5% of totalassets. Intangible assets consist of goodwill and other identified intangible assets associated with our acquisitions. On at least an annual basis, we assesswhether there has been an impairment in the value of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives. If the carrying value of the tested asset exceedsits estimated fair value, impairment is deemed to have occurred. In this event, the amount is written down to fair value. Under current accounting rules, thiswould result in a charge to operating earnings. Any determination requiring the write-off of a significant portion of unamortized goodwill and identifiedintangible assets would negatively affect our results of operations and total capitalization, which could be material. Our annual impairment analysis,performed as of December 31, 2007, did not result in an impairment charge.27IndexWe cannot predict our future capital needs, and if we are unable to secure additional financing when needed, our operations and revenues wouldbe adversely affected. We may need to raise additional capital in the future to fund acquisitions, working capital requirements, expand our markets and program offerings orrespond to competitive pressures or perceived opportunities. We cannot be sure that additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at allparticularly during times of uncertainty in the financial markets similar to that which is currently being experienced. If adequate funds are not available whenrequired or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to forego attractive acquisition opportunities, cease our operations and, even if we are able to continue ouroperations, our ability to increase student enrollments and revenues would be adversely affected. Our schools' failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations governing our activities could result in financial penalties and other costswhich could adversely impact our results of operations. We use hazardous materials at some of our schools and generate small quantities of waste, such as used oil, antifreeze, paint and car batteries. As a result, ourschools are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the use, storage and disposal of solid and hazardoussubstances and waste, and the clean-up of contamination at our facilities or off-site locations to which we send or have sent waste for disposal. In the event wedo not maintain compliance with any of these laws and regulations, or are responsible for a spill or release of hazardous materials, we could incur significantcosts for clean-up, damages, and fines or penalties which could adversely impact our results of operations. Approximately 26% of our schools are concentrated in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and a change in the general economic orregulatory conditions in these states could increase our costs and have an adverse effect on our revenues. As of December 31, 2007, we operated 34 campuses in 17 states. Nine of those schools are located in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As a result ofthis geographic concentration, any material change in general economic conditions in New Jersey or Pennsylvania could reduce our student enrollment in ourschools located in these states and thereby reduce our revenues. In addition, the legislatures in the states of New Jersey and/or Pennsylvania could change thelaws in those states or adopt regulations regarding private, for-profit post-secondary coeducation institutions which could place additional burdens on us. If wewere unable to comply with any such new legislation, we could be prohibited from operating in those jurisdictions, which could reduce our revenues. A substantial decrease in student financing options, or a significant increase in financing costs for our students, could have a material adverseaffect on our student population, revenues and financial results. The consumer credit markets in the United States have recently suffered from increases in default rates and foreclosures on mortgages. Adverse marketconditions for consumer and federally guaranteed student loans could result in providers of alternative loans reducing the attractiveness and/or decreasing theavailability of alternative loans to post-secondary students, including students with low credit scores who would not otherwise be eligible for credit-basedalternative loans. Prospective students may find that these increased financing costs make borrowing prohibitively expensive and abandon or delay enrollmentin post-secondary education programs. Private lenders could also require that we pay them new or increased fees in order to provide alternative loans toprospective students. If any of these scenarios were to occur, our students’ ability to finance their education could be adversely affected and our studentpopulation could decrease, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In 2007, six lenders provided funding to more than 90% of the students at the schools we owned. In addition, the primary guarantors for the Title IV loans ofour students are USA Group, a subsidiary of Sallie Mae, and New Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority, an independent agency of the State of NewJersey. These two agencies currently guarantee a majority of the federally guaranteed student loans made to students enrolled at our schools. There are six otherguaranty agencies that guarantee student loans made to students enrolled at our schools. While we believe that other lenders may be willing to make federallyguaranteed student loans to our students if loans were no longer available from our current lenders, and that other guaranty agencies would be willing toguarantee loans to our students if any of the current guarantee agencies ceased guaranteeing those loans or reduced the volume of loans they guarantee, wecannot assure you that we would be successful in locating alternative lenders or guarantors. If such alternative lenders or guarantors were not forthcoming, ourenrollment and our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.28IndexIn January 2008, we received notification that Sallie Mae (SLM) would be terminating its tiered discount loan program with us effective February 18,2007. We entered into a tiered discount loan agreement with SLM on September 1, 2007 under which SLM agreed to provide up to $16 million of privateloans to qualifying students that are non-recourse to us. Under the agreement, we were required to pay SLM discounts of up to 30% on all loans disbursed,depending on the credit score of each student participating in the program. The agreement also stated that SLM would defer funding for these students for 60days. Although no assurance can be given, we believe that SLM's decision to terminate its tiered discount loan program will have a limited impact on us. Our currentexpectations are that students who obtained funding through SLM programs will continue to have access to funding either through alternative lenders orthrough our own internal financing. However, if we opted to no longer provide financing to our students and/or were unable to obtain other alternative loanproviders, our student population could decrease, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, any actions by the U.S. Congress that significantly reduce funding for Title IV Programs or the ability of our students to participate in theseprograms, or establish different or more stringent requirements for our schools to participate in Title IV Programs, could have a material adverse effect on ourstudent population, results of operations and cash flows.Anti-takeover provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and New Jersey law coulddiscourage a change of control that our stockholders may favor, which could negatively affect our stock price. Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws and applicable provisions of the New JerseyBusiness Corporation Act may make it more difficult and expensive for a third party to acquire control of us even if a change of control would be beneficial tothe interests of our stockholders. These provisions could discourage potential takeover attempts and could adversely affect the market price of our commonstock. For example, applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control by prohibiting usfrom engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of five years after the person becomes an interested stockholder.Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws: ·authorize the issuance of blank check preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt; ·prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow holders of less than a majority of stock to elect some directors; ·require super-majority voting to effect amendments to certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation; ·limit who may call special meetings of both the board of directors and stockholders; ·prohibit stockholder action by non-unanimous written consent and otherwise require all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of thestockholders; ·establish advance notice requirements for nominating candidates for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted uponby stockholders at stockholders' meetings; and ·require that vacancies on the board of directors, including newly created directorships, be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office. We can issue shares of preferred stock without shareholder approval, which could adversely affect the rights of common stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation permits us to establish the rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions, including voting rights, offuture series of our preferred stock and to issue such stock without approval from our stockholders. The rights of holders of our common stock may suffer asa result of the rights granted to holders of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. In addition, we could issue preferred stock to prevent a change incontrol of our company, depriving common stockholders of an opportunity to sell their stock at a price in excess of the prevailing market price. Our principal stockholder owns a large percentage of our voting stock which allows it to control substantially all matters requiring shareholderapproval. Stonington Partners Inc. II, or Stonington, our principal stockholder, directly or indirectly holds approximately 79% of our outstanding shares. Accordingly,it controls us through its ability to determine the outcome of the election of our directors, to amend our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and to take otheractions requiring the vote or consent of stockholders, including mergers, going private transactions and other extraordinary transactions, and the terms of anyof these transactions. The ownership positions of this stockholder may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control or a change inthe composition of our board of directors. In addition, two members of our board of directors are partners of Stonington. As a result, Stonington has an addedability to influence certain matters, such as determining compensation of our executive officers.29IndexA disposition by our principal stockholder of all or a significant portion of its shares of our outstanding stock could impact the market price of ourshares and result in a change of control.In light of the termination provisions of its fund agreement, Stonington, our largest stockholder, is currently considering its options with respect to itsinvestment in us, including selling its shares of our outstanding common stock, in one or more transactions, over the next 12 to 24 months. A sale byStonington of all or a significant portion of its shares of our outstanding common stock, whether to a single buyer, through open market sales or otherwise,could cause the price of our common stock to decline. Such a sale could also result in a change of control under the standards of the DOE and applicable stateeducation agencies and accrediting commissions. See “Business - Change of Control” and “Risk Factors -- Risks Related to Our Industry.” ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS None.30IndexITEM 2. PROPERTIES We lease all of our facilities, except for our West Palm Beach, Florida campus, our Nashville, Tennessee campus, our Grand Prairie, Texas campus and ourCincinnati (Tri-County) campus, which we own. Four of our facilities (Union, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; andGrand Prairie, Texas) are also accounted for by us under a finance lease obligation. We continue to re-evaluate our facilities to maximize our facility utilizationand efficiency and to allow us to introduce new programs and attract more students. All of our existing leases expire between March 2008 and August 2023. OnJanuary 1, 2008, we increased our square footage at our Brockton, Massachusetts campus by approximately 13,000 square feet. The following table provides information relating to our facilities as of December 31, 2007, including our corporate office: Location Brand Approximate Square FootageUnion, New Jersey Lincoln Technical Institute 56,000Mahwah, New Jersey Lincoln Technical Institute 79,000Allentown, Pennsylvania Lincoln Technical Institute 26,000Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Lincoln Technical Institute 30,000Columbia, Maryland Lincoln Technical Institute 110,000Grand Prairie, Texas Lincoln Technical Institute 146,000Queens, New York Lincoln Technical Institute 48,000Edison, New Jersey Lincoln Technical Institute 64,000Mt. Laurel, New Jersey Lincoln Technical Institute 26,000 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Lincoln Technical Institute 29,000Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Lincoln Technical Institute 25,000Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania* Lincoln Technical Institute 30,000Paramus, New Jersey Lincoln Technical Institute 27,000Brockton, Massachusetts Lincoln Technical Institute 10,000Lincoln, Rhode Island Lincoln Technical Institute 59,000Lowell, Massachusetts Lincoln Technical Institute 20,000Somerville, Massachusetts Lincoln Technical Institute 33,000New Britain, Connecticut Lincoln Technical Institute 47,000Cromwell, Connecticut Lincoln Technical Institute 12,000Hamden, Connecticut Lincoln Technical Institute 14,000Shelton, Connecticut Lincoln Technical Institute 41,600Indianapolis, Indiana Lincoln College of Technology 189,000Melrose Park, Illinois Lincoln College of Technology 67,000Denver, Colorado Lincoln College of Technology 78,000Norcross, Georgia* Lincoln College of Technology 27,000Marietta, Georgia Lincoln College of Technology 30,000Henderson, Nevada* Lincoln College of Technology 27,000West Palm Beach, Florida Lincoln College of Technology and Florida Culinary Institute 117,000Nashville, Tennessee Nashville Auto-Diesel College 278,000Dayton, Ohio Southwestern College 11,000Franklin, Ohio Southwestern College 14,000Cincinnati, Ohio Southwestern College 12,000Cincinnati (Tri-County), Ohio Southwestern College 31,000Florence, Kentucky Southwestern College 11,000Las Vegas, Nevada Euphoria Institute 13,000Henderson, Nevada Euphoria Institute 20,000North Las Vegas, Nevada Euphoria Institute 12,000West Orange, New Jersey Corporate Office 41,000 * Operations at these campuses have ceased as of September 30, 2007. We believe that our facilities are suitable for their present intended purposes.31IndexITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involvingstudents or graduates and routine employment matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claimsasserted against us, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business,financial condition, results of operation or cash flows. ITEM 4.SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during the fourth quarter of 2007.32IndexPART II. ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUERPURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES Market for our Common StockOur common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “LINC”. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices per share for our common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Market, for theperiods indicated: Price Range of Common Stock High Low Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007: First Quarter $14.21 $11.58 Second Quarter $15.79 $13.64 Third Quarter $15.60 $12.56 Fourth Quarter $15.43 $13.10 Price Range of Common Stock High Low Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006: First Quarter $17.28 $14.25 Second Quarter $17.09 $15.42 Third Quarter $18.25 $16.33 Fourth Quarter $17.06 $12.14 On March 13, 2008, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $12.64 per share. As of March 13, 2008, based onthe information provided by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, there were approximately 21 stockholders of record of our common stock. Dividend PolicyNo cash dividends were declared or paid in 2007. We anticipate retaining all available funds to finance future internal growth. Payment of future cashdividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, operatingresults, current and anticipated cash needs and plans for expansion.33IndexStock Performance Graph This stock performance graph compares the Company’s total cumulative stockholder return on its common stock during the period from June 23, 2005 (thedate on which our common stock first traded on the Nasdaq Global Market) through December 31, 2007 with the cumulative return on the Russell 2000 Indexand a Peer Issuer Group Index. The peer issuer group consists of the companies identified below, which were selected on the basis of the similar nature of theirbusiness. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on June 23, 2005, and any dividends were reinvested on the date on which they were paid. The information provided under the heading "Stock Performance Graph" shall not be considered "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934 or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to theextent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into a filing. Companies in the Peer Group include Apollo Group, Inc., Corinthian Colleges, Inc., Career Education Corp., DeVry, Inc., Education ManagementCorporation, ITT Educational Services, Inc., Strayer Education, Inc. and Universal Technical Institute, Inc.34IndexSecurities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation PlansThe Company has various equity compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance. Information regarding these securities as ofDecember 31, 2007 is as follows: Plan Category Number ofSecurities tobe issuedupon exerciseof outstandingoptions,warrants andrights Weighted-averageexerciseprice ofoutstandingoptions,warrantsand rights Number ofsecuritiesremainingavailable forfuture issuanceunder equitycompensationplans (excludingsecuritiesreflected incolumn Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 1,512,163 $9.65 793,859 Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders - - - Total 1,512,163 $9.65 793,859 35Index ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION The following table sets forth our selected historical consolidated financial and operating data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. You should readthese data together with Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financialstatements and the notes thereto included in Part II. Item 8 of this filing. The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for each of the years inthe three-year period ended December 31, 2007 and historical consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2007 and 2006 have been derived from ouraudited consolidated financial statements which are included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The selected historical consolidated statements of operations datafor the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 and historical consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 have beenderived from our audited consolidated financial information not included in this Form 10-K. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our futureresults. 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 (In thousands, except per share amounts) Statement of Operations Data, Year Ended December31: Revenues $327,774 $310,630 $287,368 $248,508 $187,488 Cost and expenses: Educational services and facilities (1) 139,500 129,311 114,161 97,439 78,610 Selling, general and administrative (2) 162,396 151,136 138,125 124,034 92,228 (Gain) loss on sale of assets (15) (435) (7) 368 (22)Total costs and expenses 301,881 280,012 252,279 221,841 170,816 Operating income 25,893 30,618 35,089 26,667 16,672 Other: Gain on sale of securities - - - - 211 Interest income 180 981 775 104 133 Interest expense (3) (2,341) (2,291) (2,892) (3,002) (2,745)Other (loss) income 27 (132) 243 42 307 Income from continuing operations before income taxes 23,759 29,176 33,215 23,811 14,578 Provision for income taxes 9,932 12,092 12,931 9,904 5,751 Income from continuing operations 13,827 17,084 20,284 13,907 8,827 Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (5,487) (1,532) (1,575) (929) (608)Net income $8,340 $15,552 $18,709 $12,978 $8,219 Basic Earnings per share from continuing operations $0.54 $0.67 $0.86 $0.64 $0.41 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.21) (0.06) (0.06) (0.04) (0.03)Net income per share $0.33 $0.61 $0.80 $0.60 $0.38 Diluted Earnings per share from continuing operations $0.53 $0.65 $0.83 $0.60 $0.39 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.21) (0.05) (0.07) (0.04) (0.02)Net income per share $0.32 $0.60 $0.76 $0.56 $0.37 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 25,479 25,336 23,475 21,676 21,667 Diluted 26,090 26,086 24,503 23,095 22,364 Other Data: Capital expenditures $24,766 $19,341 $22,621 $23,813 $13,154 Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations 15,111 13,829 12,099 9,870 9,166 Number of campuses 34 34 31 25 20 Average student population 17,687 17,397 17,064 15,401 11,771 Balance Sheet Data, At December 31: Cash and cash equivalents $3,502 $6,461 $50,257 $41,445 $48,965 Working (deficit) capital (4) (17,952) (20,943) 8,531 4,570 13,402 Total assets 246,183 226,216 214,792 162,729 139,355 Total debt (5) 15,378 9,860 10,768 46,829 43,060 Total stockholders' equity 162,467 151,783 135,990 58,086 42,924 36Index(1) Educational services and facilities expenses include a charge of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 related to catch-up depreciationresulting from the reclassification of our property in Indianapolis, Indiana from property held for sale to property, equipment and facilities as of September 30,2005. (2) Selling, general and administrative expenses include (a) a $2.1 million charge for the year ended December 31, 2004 to give effect to the one-time write-off of deferred offering costs, (b) compensation costs of approximately $1.8 million, $1.4 million, $1.3 million, $1.8 million and $0.8 million for the yearsended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, related to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, "Share Based Payment," (c) a $0.7 millionone-time non-cash charge for the year ended December 31, 2004 related to the timing of rent expense for our schools during the period of construction ofleasehold improvements and to align the depreciation lives of our leasehold improvements to the terms of our noncancellable leases, including renewal options,(d) a $0.5 million write-off for the year ended December 31, 2005 resulting from our decision not to purchase the site we had considered for expansion of ourfacility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and (e) $0.9 million of re-branding cost for the year ended December 31, 2006. (3) Interest expense includes a $0.4 million non-cash charge for the year ended December 31, 2005 resulting from the write-off of deferred finance costsunder our previous credit agreement. (4) Working (deficit) capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities. (5) Total debt consists of long-term debt including current portion, capital leases, auto loans and a finance obligation of $9.7 million for each of the yearsin the five-year period ended December 31, 2007 incurred in connection with a sale-leaseback transaction as further described in Note 9 to the consolidatedfinancial statements included in Part II. Item 8 of this Form 10-K.37IndexITEM 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS You should read the following discussion together with the “Selected Financial Data,” “Forward Looking Statements” and the consolidated financialstatements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based onmanagement’s current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from thosecurrently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those we discuss under “RiskFactors,” “Forward Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. GENERAL We are a leading and diversified for-profit provider of career-oriented post-secondary education. We offer recent high school graduates and working adultsdegree and diploma programs in five areas of study: automotive technology, health sciences, skilled trades, business and information technology and spa andculinary. Each area of study is specifically designed to appeal to and meet the educational objectives of our student population, while also satisfying the criteriaestablished by industry and employers. The resulting diversification limits dependence on any one industry for enrollment growth or placement opportunitiesand broadens potential branches for introducing new programs. As of December 31, 2007, we enrolled 18,013 students at our 34 campuses across 17 states.Our campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas, although our five destination schools attract students fromacross the United States, and in some cases, from abroad. In 2007, we completed our re-branding initiative. As a result, 26 of our 34 campuses nationwide operate under the Lincoln name. In addition to Lincoln CollegeOnline, we operate our campuses under brands: Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Nashville Auto-Diesel College (NADC),Southwestern College and Euphoria. Lincoln’s Cittone Institute schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well as the Massachusetts and Rhode IslandCareer Education Institute (CEI) schools were re-branded as Lincoln Technical Institute. The West Palm Beach campuses (Formerly New England Institute ofTechnology), Marietta, Georgia, Norcross, Georgia, and Henderson, Nevada campuses (formerly Career Education Institute - CEI), the Connecticut campuses(formerly New England Technical Institute, or NETI) and Denver, Colorado, were re-branded Lincoln College of Technology. From 1999 through December 31, 2007, we increased our geographic footprint and added 17 additional schools through our acquisitions of: DenverAutomotive & Diesel College in 2000 (one school), Career Education Institute in 2001 (two schools), Nashville Auto-Diesel College in 2003 (one school),Southwestern College in 2004 (five schools), New England Technical Institute (four schools) in January 2005, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences(two schools) in December 2005 and New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. in May 2006 (two schools). Our campuses, a majority ofwhich serve major metropolitan markets, are located throughout the United States. Five of our campuses are destination schools, which attract students fromacross the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. Our other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.All of our schools are nationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs. In connection with each of our acquisitions ofSouthwestern College, New England Technical Institute, and New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, we received an executed provisionalprogram participation agreement in connection with the acquisition, from the DOE. Our revenues consist primarily of student tuition and fees derived from the programs we offer. Our revenues are reduced by any scholarships granted to ourstudents. We recognize revenues from tuition and one-time fees, such as application fees, ratably over the length of a program, including internships orexternships that take place prior to graduation. We also earn revenues from our bookstores, dormitories, cafeterias and contract training services. These non-tuition revenues are recognized upon delivery of goods or as services are performed and represent less than 10% of our revenues. Tuition varies by school and by program and on average we increase tuition once a year by 2% to 5%. Our ability to raise tuition is influenced by the demandfor our programs and by the rate of tuition increase at other post-secondary schools. If historical trends continue, we expect to be able to continue to raise tuitionannually at comparable rates. We have historically enjoyed revenue growth as a result of strategic acquisitions coupled with organic growth. We have enjoyed organic growth every yearexcept for 2006. Our revenues increased 5.5% in 2007 and 8.1% in 2006, over the prior years as we grew from 32 campuses at December 31, 2005 to 34campuses at December 31, 2007. Our average student population increased from 17,064 for the year ended December 31, 2005 to 17,687 for the year endedDecember 31, 2007. While we expect to increase our revenues and enrollments in the foreseeable future as a result of both organic growth and strategicacquisitions, we can give no assurance as to our ability to continue to increase our revenues at historical rates and expect our rate of revenue increases tomoderate over time as we become a larger and more mature company. Our operating expenses, while also a function of our revenue growth, contain a high fixed cost component. Our educational services and facilities expenses andselling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue increased in 2007 from 2006 levels as we experienced lower student enrollments in thefirst half of 2007 and thus lower capacity utilization across our schools. Our educational services and facilities expenses as a percentage of revenues increasedto 42.6% in 2007 from 41.6% in 2006 and 39.7% in 2005, and selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of revenue to 49.5% in2007 from 48.7% in 2006 and 48.1% in 2005. We expect that in the future these expenses will decline slightly as a percentage of revenues as we achieve betteroperating efficiencies and utilization at our schools.38IndexOur revenues are directly dependent on our average number of students enrolled and the courses in which they are enrolled. Our enrollment is influenced by thenumber of new students starting, re-entering, graduating and withdrawing from our schools. In addition, our programs range from 14 to 105 weeks andstudents attend classes for different amounts of time per week depending on the school and program in which they are enrolled. Because we start new studentsevery month, our total student population changes monthly. The number of students enrolling or re-entering our programs each month is driven by the demandfor our programs, the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising, the availability of financial aid and other sources of funding, the number of recent highschool graduates, the job market and seasonality. Our retention and graduation rates are influenced by the quality and commitment of our teachers and studentservices personnel, the effectiveness of our programs, the placement rate and success of our graduates and the availability of financial aid. Although similarcourses have comparable tuition rates, the tuition rates vary among our numerous programs. As more of our schools receive approval to offer associate degreeprograms, which are longer than our diploma degree programs, we would expect our average enrollments and the average length of stay of our students toincrease. The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay asubstantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The largest of these programs are Title IV Programs which represented approximately80% of our cash receipts relating to revenues in 2007. We extend credit for tuition and fees to many of our students that are in attendance in our campuses. Our credit risk is mitigated through the student’sparticipation in federally funded financial aid programs unless students withdraw prior to the receipt by us of Title IV funds for those students. Under TitleIV programs, the government funds a certain portion of a students’ tuition, with the remainder, referred to as “the gap,” financed by students themselvesunder private party loans, including credit extended by us. The gap amount has continued to increase over the last several years as we have raised tuition onaverage for the last several years by 2% to 5% per year, while funds received from Title IV programs have remained constant. Thus, a significant number ofstudents are required to finance amounts that could be as much as $14,000 per year.We entered into an agreement, effective March 28, 2005 to June 30, 2006, with SLM Financial Corporation (SLM) to provide up to $6.0 million of privaterecourse loans to qualifying students. Under the recourse loan agreement, we were required to fund 30% of all loans disbursed into a SLM reserveaccount. During the term of the agreement, $4.9 million of loans were disbursed, resulting in $1.5 million of bad debt expense. Funding under the privaterecourse loan agreement was classified as bad debt expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our financial statements. For the yearended December 31, 2007, no loans were disbursed under this program.We entered into a tiered discount loan program agreement, effective September 1, 2007, with SLM to provide up to $16.0 million of private non-recourse loansto qualifying students. Under this agreement, we were required to pay SLM either 20% or 30% of all loans disbursed, depending on each student borrower’scredit score. We were billed at the beginning of each month based on loans disbursed during the prior month. For the year ended December 31, 2007, $0.4million of loans were disbursed, resulting in a $0.1 million loss on sale of receivables. Loss on sale of receivables is included in selling, general andadministrative expenses in our financial statements.In January 2008, SLM notified us that it was terminating its tiered discount loan program, effective February 18, 2008. It is our understanding that SLM hasalso terminated its tiered discount loan programs for our peer companies. The College Cost Reduction & Access Act, which was signed into law in September2007, cut approximately $22 billion in subsidies to federal student lenders and guarantors as an offset to increases in federal financial aid. This resulted insignificant changes to the terms that alternative lending providers including SLM were willing to make and resulted in the termination of the tiered discountloan programs described above. As a result of the costs associated with these programs and, in anticipation of additional changes, we concluded that the costof using the tiered discount loan program was too high and would lead to significant margin erosion over time and that we would be better served by financingthe gap between Title IV and tuition internally, while also examining other alternative loan sources.We believe that SLM’s decision to terminate its tiered discount loan program will have a limited impact on our business. Our current expectations are thatstudents who previously received funding through the program will continue to have access to funding either through alternative lenders or through our owninternal financing.The additional financing that we are providing to students may expose us to greater credit risk and can impact our liquidity. We believe that these risks arehowever somewhat mitigated due to:39Index ·Annual federal Title IV loan limits, including grants have increased. Title IV funds represented 80% of our 2007 revenue on a cash basis; ·Our internal financing is provided to students only after all other funding resources have been exhausted; thus, by the time this funding is available,students have completed approximately two-thirds of their curriculum and are more likely to graduate; ·Funding for students who interrupt their education is typically covered by Title IV funds as long as they have been properly packaged for financialaid; and ·We have an excellent collection history with our graduates. Historically, 91% of all graduates have repaid their balances in full.For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 80% of our revenue on a cash basis was derived from Title IV funds, approximately13% was derivedfrom state grants and cash payments made by students, and approximately 7% was funded under third-party private loan programs, which include SLMprograms. Of the private loan programs funded during 2007, approximately 4.6% would be considered sub-prime loans. The credit crisis that has impactedthe financial markets is expected to have a limited impact on our ability to continue to finance our credit worthy students. There are a number of lenders thatwill finance the Title IV funds or alternatively we may choose to finance Title IV funds directly with the government under the government’s Direct LoanProgram. Additionally, we have several alternative lenders that will provide private party loans to credit worthy students. Assuming that our historical trendscontinue, we expect thatour credit risk exposure will be limited to approximately 4% to 5% of revenue on a cash basis.As a result of the above, during 2007 our bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues increased to 5.3% from 4.9% and 3.7%, respectively, in 2006 and2005.All institutions participating in Title IV Programs must satisfy specific standards of financial responsibility. The DOE evaluates institutions for compliancewith these standards each year, based on the institution’s annual audited financial statements, as well as following a change in ownership resulting in a changeof control of the institution. Based on audited financial statements for the 2007, 2006 and 2005 fiscal years our calculations result in a composite score of 1.8, 1.7 and 2.5,respectively. Beginning December 30, 2004 and for a period of three years thereafter, all of our institutions were placed on "Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type1 status." As a result, we were subject to a less favorable Title IV fund payment system that required us to credit student accounts before drawing down TitleIV funds and also required us to timely notify the DOE with respect to certain enumerated oversight and financial events. The DOE has notified us that, as ofDecember 31, 2007, we are no longer subject to Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 Status. The operating expenses associated with an existing school do not increase proportionally as the number of students enrolled at the school increases. Wecategorize our operating expenses as (1) educational services and facilities and (2) selling, general and administrative. ·Major components of educational services and facilities expenses include faculty compensation and benefits, expenses of books and tools,facility rent, maintenance, utilities, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment used in the provision of education services andother costs directly associated with teaching our programs and providing educational services to our students. ·Selling, general and administrative expenses include compensation and benefits of employees who are not directly associated with the provisionof educational services (such as executive management and school management, finance and central accounting, legal, human resources andbusiness development), marketing and student enrollment expenses (including compensation and benefits of personnel employed in sales andmarketing and student admissions), costs to develop curriculum, costs of professional services, bad debt expense, rent for our corporateheadquarters, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment that is not used in the provision of educational services and other coststhat are incidental to our operations. All marketing and student enrollment expenses are recognized in the period incurred. We use advertising to attract a substantial portion of our yearly student enrollments. While we utilize a mix of different advertising mediums, includingtelevision, internet and direct mail, we rely heavily on television advertising. The cost of television advertising has been increasing faster than the pace ofstudent tuition increases and the cost of living index. Continued increases in the cost of television advertising may have a material impact on our operatingmargins. During the third quarter of 2007, we completed the roll-out of our new student management and reporting system to all of our campuses. We believe that ourstudent management and reporting system will improve services to students and our ability to integrate new schools into our operations, if and when newschools are opened or acquired. The costs associated with the implementation of this new system are included in selling, general and administrative expensesand were approximately $0.6 million, $0.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for the three years ended December 31, 2007.40IndexCosts related to developing and starting-up new facilities are expensed as incurred. Costs related to our start up facility in Queens, New York, which openedMarch 27, 2006, were approximately $0.9 million and $1.6 million, for 2006 and 2005. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONSOn July 31, 2007, our Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at our Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, Norcross, Georgia and Henderson,Nevada campuses. As a result, we reviewed the related goodwill and long-lived assets for possible impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwilland Other Intangible Assets,” and SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”As of September 30, 2007, all operations had ceased at these campuses and, accordingly, the results of operations of these campuses have been reflected in theaccompanying statements of operations as “Discontinued Operations” for all periods presented.The results of operations at these three campuses for each of the three year period ended December 31, 2007 were comprised of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Revenue $4,230 $10,876 $11,853 Operating expenses (13,760) (13,493) (14,432) (9,530) (2,617) (2,579)Benefit for income taxes (4,043) (1,085) (1,004)Loss from discontinued operations $(5,487) $(1,532) $(1,575)ACQUISITIONS Acquisitions have been, and will continue to be, a component of our growth strategy. We have a team of professionals who conduct financial, operational andregulatory due diligence as well as a team that integrates acquisitions with our policies, procedures and systems. On May 22, 2006, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired all of the outstanding common stock of New England Institute of Technology atPalm Beach, Inc., or FLA, for approximately $40.1 million. The purchase price was $32.9 million, net of cash acquired plus the assumption of a mortgagenote for $7.2 million. The FLA purchase price has been allocated to identifiable net assets with the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value ofthe net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. On December 1, 2005, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the rights, title and interest in the assets of Euphoria Institute LLC, orEUP, for approximately $9.2 million, net of cash acquired. On January 11, 2005, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the rights, title and interest in the assets of New England TechnicalInstitute, or NETI, for approximately $18.8 million, net of cash acquired. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES Our discussions of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared inaccordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformitywith GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingentassets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. On an ongoingbasis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, bad debts, fixed assets, goodwill and other intangible assets,income taxes and certain accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The critical accounting policies discussed herein are not intended to be acomprehensive list of all of our accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP anddoes not result in significant management judgment in the application of such principles. There are also areas in which management's judgment in selectingany available alternative would not produce a materially different result from the result derived from the application of our critical accounting policies. Webelieve that the following accounting policies are most critical to us in that they represent the primary areas where financial information is subject to theapplication of management's estimates, assumptions and judgment in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.41IndexRevenue recognition. Revenues are derived primarily from programs taught at our schools. Tuition revenues and one-time fees, such as nonrefundableapplication fees, and course material fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the applicable program, which is the period of time from astudent's start date through his or her graduation date, including internships or externships that take place prior to graduation. If a student withdraws from aprogram prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition is refunded. Refunds are calculated and paid in accordance with federal, state and accreditingagency standards. Other revenues, such as textbook sales, tool sales and contract training revenues are recognized as services are performed or goods aredelivered. On an individual student basis, tuition earned in excess of cash received is recorded as accounts receivable, and cash received in excess of tuitionearned is recorded as unearned tuition. Allowance for uncollectible accounts. Based upon experience and judgment, we establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts with respect to tuitionreceivables. We use an internal group of collectors, augmented by third-party collectors as deemed appropriate, in our collection efforts. In establishing ourallowance for uncollectible accounts, we consider, among other things, a student's status (in-school or out-of-school), whether or not additional financial aidfunding will be collected from Title IV Programs or other sources, whether or not a student is currently making payments, and overall collection history.Changes in trends in any of these areas may impact the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The receivables balances of withdrawn students with delinquentobligations are reserved for based on our collection history. Although we believe that our reserves are adequate, if the financial condition of our studentsdeteriorates, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be necessary, which will result in increased selling,general and administrative expenses in the period such determination is made. Our bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was 5.3%, 4.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Ourexposure to changes in our bad debt expense could impact our operations. A 1% increase in our bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues for the yearsended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 would have resulted in an increase in bad debt expense of $3.3 million, $3.1 million and $2.9 million, respectively. Because a substantial portion of our revenues is derived from Title IV Programs, any legislative or regulatory action that significantly reduces the fundingavailable under Title IV Programs or the ability of our students or schools to participate in Title IV Programs could have a material effect on the realizability ofour receivables. Goodwill. We test our goodwill for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred, bycomparing its fair value to its carrying value. Impairment may result from, among other things, deterioration in the performance of the acquired business,adverse market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes that restrict the activities of the acquired business, and avariety of other circumstances. If we determine that impairment has occurred, we are required to record a write-down of the carrying value and charge theimpairment as an operating expense in the period the determination is made. In evaluating the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill and otherindefinite-lived intangible assets, we must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of theacquired assets. Changes in strategy or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments in the future and require an adjustment to the recordedbalances. As discussed in “Discontinued Operations” above, as a result of a decision to close three of our campuses we conducted a review of our goodwill as of June30, 2007. In connection with that review, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $2.1 million as of June 30, 2007. Goodwill representsa significant portion of our total assets. As of December 31, 2007, goodwill was approximately $82.7 million, or 33.6%, of our total assets. At December 31,2007, we tested our goodwill for impairment utilizing a market capitalization approach and determined that we did not have an impairment. Stock-based compensation. We currently account for stock-based employee compensation arrangements in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No.123R, “Share Based Payment.” Effective January 1, 2004, we elected to change our accounting policies from the use of the intrinsic value method ofAccounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" to the fair value-based method of accounting foroptions as prescribed by SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. As permitted under SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-BasedCompensation—Transitions and Disclosure—an amendment to SFAS Statement No. 123," we elected to retroactively restate all periods presented. Becauseno market for our common stock existed prior to our initial public offering, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock based uponseveral factors, including our operating performance, forecasted future operating results, and our expected valuation in an initial public offering. Prior to our initial public offering, we valued the exercise price of options issued to employees using a market based approach. This approach took intoconsideration the value ascribed to our competitors by the market. In determining the fair value of an option at the time of grant, we reviewed contemporaneousinformation about our peers, which included a variety of market multiples, including, but not limited to, revenue, EBITDA, net income, historical growthrates and market/industry focus. During 2004, the value we ascribed to stock options granted was based upon our anticipated initial public offering as well asdiscussions with our investment advisors. Due to the number of peer companies in our sector, we believed using public company comparisons provided abetter indication of how the market values companies in the for-profit post secondary education sector.42IndexDuring 2005, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, “Share Based Payment”. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R did not have a material impact on ourfinancial statements.The fair value of the stock options used to compute stock-based compensation is the estimated present value at the date of grant using the Black-Scholesoption pricing model. The weighted average fair values of options granted during 2007, 2006, and 2005 were $6.78, $9.68, and $10.55, respectively, usingthe following weighted average assumptions for grants: December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Expected volatility 55.42% 55.10% 55.10-71.35%Expected dividend yield 0% 0% 0%Expected life (term) 6 Years 6 Years 4-8 Years Risk-free interest rate 4.36% 4.13-4.84% 3.59-4.29%Weighted-average exercise price during the year $11.96 $17.00 $17.14 43IndexResults of Continuing Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2007 The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of continuing operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Revenues 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%Costs and expenses: Educational services and facilities 42.6% 41.6% 39.7%Selling, general and administrative 49.5% 48.7% 48.1%(Gain) loss on sale of assets 0.0% (0.1)% 0.0%Total costs and expenses 92.1% 90.1% 87.8%Operating income 7.9% 9.9% 12.2%Interest expense, net (0.7)% (0.5)% (0.7)%Other income 0.0% 0.0% 0.1%Income from continuing operations before income taxes 7.2% 9.4% 11.6%Provision for income taxes 3.0% 3.9% 4.5%Income from continuing operations 4.2% 5.5% 7.1% Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006 Revenues. Revenues increased by $17.1 million, or 5.5%, to $327.8 million for 2007 from $310.6 million for 2006. Approximately $7.4 million of thisincrease was a result of our acquisition of New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. (FLA), on May 22, 2006. The remainder of the increasewas due to tuition increases, which ranged between 2% and 5% annually depending on the program. For the year ended December 31, 2007, our averageundergraduate full-time student enrollment increased 1.7% to 17,687 compared to 17,397 for the year ended December 31, 2006. Excluding our acquisition ofFLA, our average undergraduate student enrollment decreased by 0.4% to 16,682 from 16,757 in 2006. Historically, our schools have lower student populations in our first and second quarters and we have experienced large class starts in the third and fourthquarters. Our second half growth is largely dependent on a successful high school recruiting season. We recruit our high school students several months aheadof their scheduled start dates, and thus, while we have visibility on the number of students who have expressed interest in attending our schools, we cannotpredict with certainty the actual number of new student starts and its related impact on revenue. During 2006, we experienced erosion between the number of students who expressed an interest in attending our schools and enrolled, and those thatcommenced classes. Many of these prospective students chose immediate employment, rather than pursuing education in the near term. Moreover, we believethe attractive job market further elevated sensitivity levels regarding the affordability of education. As a result of the above, our first half 2007 revenue wasnegatively impacted by lower student populations at our campuses. This was not offset until the third quarter of 2007 when we experienced a 10.3% increasein student starts due to improved retention of sales representatives, packaging our students for financial aid earlier in the process and by extending our studentoutreach program. Educational services and facilities expenses. Our educational services and facilities expenses increased by $10.2 million, or 7.9%, to $139.5 million for2007 from $129.3 million for 2006. Our acquisition of FLA accounted for $3.0 million or 29.4% of this increase. Excluding FLA, instructional expenses andbooks and tools expense increased by $1.1 million or 1.7% and $1.8 million or 11.9%, respectively, over the prior year primarily due to increasedcompensation and benefits expenses and due to higher volumes of sales for books and tools. The remainder of the increase in educational services and facilitiesexpenses was primarily due to facilities expenses which increased $4.3 million over the prior year. Of this amount approximately $3.7 million representsincreases in facility costs and $0.6 million represents additional depreciation expense during the year over prior year. The increase in facilities costs isprimarily due to a $1.0 million increase in rent expense in 2007 due to our expanded campus facilities at our Rhode Island, Southwestern and Indianapoliscampuses. We also experienced increased costs for insurance and real estate taxes, which increased approximately $0.5 million from the prior year, utilitieswhich increased approximately $0.5 million over the prior year and from repairs and maintenance expenses, which increased approximately $1.4 million overthe prior year. Approximately $0.8 million of the increase in repairs and maintenance was due to higher than normal repairs and maintenance expenses at oneof our schools. Educational services and facilities expenses as a percentage of revenues increased to 42.6% of revenues for 2007 from 41.6% for 2006.44IndexSelling, general and administrative expenses. Our selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $162.4million, an increase of $11.3 million, or 7.5%, from $151.1 million for 2006. Approximately $4.1 million of this increase were attributed to our acquisitionof FLA. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to: (a) a $1.0 million or 3.3% increase in sales expense resulting mainly from yearly compensationincreases; (b) a $0.6 million or 2.1%, increase in marketing costs as a result of increased advertising expenses associated with student leads and enrollment;and (c) a $5.2 million or 7.0% increase in administrative expenses, over the prior year.The increase in marketing expenses during 2007 included a shift from television advertising to internet based initiatives and from the re-launching of ourwebsite during 2007. These initiatives increased student leads at a lower cost per lead. Included in administrative expenses during 2007 are an upfront onetime non-cash charge of $0.5 million incurred in connection with the termination of certain lease agreements and a $0.6 million charge incurred in connectionwith severance payments related to the separation of employment of two executives. The remainder of the increase in administrative expenses was attributableto a higher provision for bad debts in 2007 as compared to 2006. Bad debt expense, excluding FLA in 2007 increased by $1.8 million from $14.9 million in2006 to $16.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. This increase was due to higher accounts receivable balances throughout the year as compared toprior year, resulting from increased loans to our students. The remainder of the increase in administrative expenses is due to yearly compensation increases toexisting personnel and higher benefit costs during the year. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 49.5% of revenues for 2007 from 48.7% for 2006. Interest income. Interest income decreased to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, a decrease of $0.8 million from interest income of $1.0million for 2006. The decrease in interest income for the year was due to lower average cash balances during the year as compared to 2006. Interest expense. Interest expense was essentially flat year over year at $2.3 million, respectively in 2007 and 2006 due to our average borrowings during2007 remaining relatively flat with 2006. Income taxes. Our provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $9.9 million, or 41.8% of pretax income, compared to $12.1million, or 41.4% of pretax income for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2007 isattributable to higher state income taxes during the period. Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005 Revenues. Revenues increased by $23.3 million, or 8.1%, to $310.6 million for 2006 from $287.4 million for 2005. Approximately $5.4 million and$10.4 million, respectively, of this increase was a result of our acquisition of Euphoria on December 1, 2005 and our acquisition of New England Institute ofTechnology at Palm Beach, Inc. (“FLA”), on May 22, 2006. The remainder of the increase was due to tuition increases, which ranged between 2% and 5%annually depending on the program. Substantially all of our revenues consist of student tuition. For the year ended December 31, 2006, our averageundergraduate full-time student enrollment increased 2.0% to 17,397 compared to 17,064 for the year ended December 31, 2005. Excluding our acquisition ofEuphoria and FLA, our average undergraduate student enrollment decreased by 3.3% to 16,492. Historically, our schools have lower student populations in our first and second quarters and we have experienced large class starts in the third and fourthquarters. Our second half growth is largely dependent on a successful high school recruiting season. We recruit our high school students several months aheadof their scheduled start dates, and thus, while we have visibility on the number of students who have expressed interest in attending our schools, we cannotpredict with certainty the actual number of new student starts and its related impact on revenue. As the third quarter of 2006 progressed, we experienced erosion between the number of students who expressed an interest in attending our schools andenrolled, and those that commenced classes. Many of these prospective students chose immediate employment, rather than pursuing education in the nearterm. Moreover, we believe the attractive job market further elevated sensitivity levels regarding the affordability of education, given the attractive alternative ofimmediate employment. Educational services and facilities expenses. Our educational services and facilities expenses increased by $15.2 million, or 13.3%, to $129.3 millionfor 2006 from $114.2 million for 2005. Our acquisitions of Euphoria and FLA accounted for $8.0 million or 52.6% of this increase. Excluding Euphoriaand FLA, instructional expenses and books and tools expense increased by $3.5 million or 5.7% and $1.2 million or 9.4%, respectively, over the prior yearprimarily due to increased compensation and benefits expenses and due to higher costs of books and tools. The remainder of the increase in educationalservices and facilities expenses was primarily due to facilities expenses which increased $2.5 million over the prior year. Of this amount approximately $0.8million represented additional rent expense in 2006 due to our expanded campus facilities in Lincoln, Rhode Island and NETI as well as from normal rentescalation clauses. During the year we also experienced increased costs for insurance and real estate taxes, which increased approximately $0.4 million from theprior year, utilities which increased approximately $0.5 million over the prior year and from repairs and maintenance expenses, which increasedapproximately $0.4 million over the prior year. Educational services and facilities expenses as a percentage of revenues increased to 41.6% of revenues for 2006from 39.7% for 2005.45IndexSelling, general and administrative expenses. Our selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2006 were $151.1million, an increase of $13.0 million, or 9.4%, from $138.1 million for 2005. Approximately $1.5 million and $4.0 million of this increase were attributed toour acquisitions of Euphoria and FLA, respectively. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to: (a) a $1.4 million or 4.8% increase in sales expenseresulting mainly from incremental compensation and benefit expenses related to additional sales representatives; (b) an 10.0%, or $2.6 million, increase inmarketing costs as a result of increased advertising expenses associated with student leads and enrollment; (c) a $3.5 million or 5.1% increase inadministrative expenses, excluding Euphoria and FLA, over the prior year. The increase in administrative expenses included approximately $0.9 million of re-branding costs incurred during the year. The remainder of the increase in administrative expenses was attributable to a higher provision for bad debts in 2006as compared to 2005. Bad debt expense in 2006 increased by $4.5 million from $10.6 million in 2005 to $15.1 million for the year ended December 31,2006. This increase was due to several factors, including (1) higher accounts receivable balances throughout the year as compared to prior year, (2) increasedloans to our students under a recourse agreement we entered into in 2005 with SLM Financial Corporation (SLM) to provide private recourse loans toqualifying students, and (3) the effect of increasing the payment terms on the self finance portion of their tuition to some of our students from 5 years to 7years. Accounts receivable throughout the year included five new campuses that did not exist in 2005 (our two Euphoria and two FLA campuses as well as ournew Queens, New York campus). Under the terms of the SLM agreement, we are required to fund up to 30% of all loans disbursed into a deposit account,which may ultimately be utilized to purchase loans in default. As of December 31, 2006, we had reserved $1.5 million under this agreement, which representsan increase of $1.1 million from amounts reserved at December 31, 2005. Funding under this agreement terminated by its terms on June 30, 2006. These increases were partially offset by lower expenses incurred in rolling out our campus management and reporting system as well as lower compensationexpense, primarily resulting from a decrease in bonuses to be paid. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 48.7%of revenues for 2006 from 48.1% for 2005. Interest income. Interest income increased to $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $0.2 million from interest income of $0.8million for 2005. The increase in interest income for the year was due to higher average cash balances during the year, resulting from receipt of $56.3 millionof net proceeds from our initial public offering in June 2005 and cash generated by operations. Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $0.6 million, or 20.8%, to $2.3 million for 2006 from $2.9 million for 2005. This decrease was primarily dueto a decrease in our average debt balance outstanding as we utilized a portion of the proceeds from our initial public offering to pay down all amountsoutstanding under our previous credit agreement in 2005. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 also included approximately $0.4 millionrelated to the write-off of deferred financing costs under our previous credit agreement. Income taxes. Our provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $12.1 million, or 41.4% of pretax income, compared to $12.9million, or 38.9% of pretax income for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006 isattributable to the recognition of a tax benefit of $0.8 million in 2005 related to the favorable resolution of a tax contingency. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Our primary capital requirements are for facilities expansion and maintenance, acquisitions and the development of new programs. Our principal sources ofliquidity have been cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our credit agreement. The following chart summarizes the principal elements ofour cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007: Cash Flow Summary Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 (In thousands) Net cash provided by operating activities $15,735 $15,258 $38,966 Net cash used in investing activities $(23,830) $(52,160) $(50,397)Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $5,136 $(6,894) $20,243 46IndexOperating Activities As of December 31, 2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of $3.5 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $6.5 million as of December 31,2006. Historically, we have financed our operating activities and our organic growth primarily through cash generated from operations. We have financedacquisitions primarily through the proceeds from our initial public offering, borrowings under our credit agreement and cash generated from operations.Management currently anticipates that we will be able to meet both our short-term cash needs, as well as our needs to fund operations and meet our obligationsbeyond the next twelve months with cash generated by operations, existing cash balances and, if necessary, borrowings under our credit agreement. As ofDecember 31, 2007, we had net borrowings available under our $100 million credit agreement of $90.6 million, including a sub-limit on letters of credit of$15.6 million. Our primary source of cash is tuition collected from the students. The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under variousgovernment-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The largest of theseprograms are Title IV Programs which represented approximately 80% of our cash receipts relating to revenues in 2007. Students must apply for a new loanfor each academic period. Federal regulations dictate the timing of disbursements of funds under Title IV Programs and loan funds are generally provided bylenders in two disbursements for each academic year. The first disbursement is usually received approximately 30 days after the start of a student's academicyear and the second disbursement is typically received at the beginning of the sixteenth week from the start of the student's academic year. Certain types ofgrants and other funding are not subject to a 30-day delay. Our programs range from 14 to 105 weeks. In certain instances, if a student withdraws from aprogram prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition or prorated Title IV financial aid is refunded and the amount of the refund varies by state. As a result of the significance of the Title IV funds received by our students, we are highly dependent on these funds to operate our business. Any reduction inthe level of Title IV funds that our students are eligible to receive or any impact on our ability to be able to receive Title IV funds would have a significantimpact on our operations and our financial condition. Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006. Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $15.7 million for2007 from $15.3 million for 2006. This increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to a reduction of approximately $5.7 million in cash paid for income taxesduring 2007 as compared to 2006 offset by a $3.7 million increase in accounts receivable at December 31, 2007 from December 31, 2006. The remainder ofthe decrease was primarily due to decreases in cash used for working capital items during the year offset by a decrease in net income during the year. Theincrease in accounts receivable which represents 27.5 days revenues outstanding for 2007 as compared to 24.3 days revenue outstanding in 2006 isattributable to the increase in loans that we provided to our students. As the gap between the amount of funding provided by Title IV and tuition rates widens,students are finding it increasingly difficult to finance on a short term basis this portion of their tuition. This has resulted in an overall increase in the term ofloan programs established to assist students in financing this gap. In an ongoing effort to help those students who are unable to obtain any additional sourcesof financing, we assist students in financing a portion of their tuition. Students that elect to participate in this financing option currently have up to sevenyears to repay this obligation, an increase of up to two years from the five year term that we previously offered our students in prior years. The increase in loans to our students adversely impacts our accounts receivable, our allowance for doubtful accounts and our cash flow from operations.Although we reserved for estimated losses related to unpaid student balances, losses in excess of the amounts we have reserved for bad debts will result in areduction in our profitability and can have an adverse impact on the results of our operations. Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $15.3 million for2006 from $39.0 million for 2005. This decrease of $23.7 million, or 60.8%, was primarily due to a $10.2 million increase in accounts receivable atDecember 31, 2006 from December 31, 2005. This increase in accounts receivable which represents 24.1 days revenues outstanding for 2006 as compared to17.3 days revenue outstanding in 2005 is attributable to the addition of five campuses during 2006 as well as the increase in the self-pay portion of ourstudents’ tuition. Other significant items impacting cash flow from operations in 2006 versus 2005 were the impact of the $3.2 million reduction in our net income in 2006 anda $4.8 million increase in cash paid during 2006 for income taxes. The increase in cash paid for income taxes during 2006 was due to the Company havingoverpaid amounts due in 2005. Investing Activities Our cash used in investing activities was primarily related to the purchase of property and equipment and in acquiring schools. Our capital expendituresprimarily result from facility expansion, leasehold improvements, and investments in classroom and shop technology and in operating systems. On May 22,2006 we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of FLA for $32.9 million in cash and the assumption of a mortgage. On January 11, 2005, weacquired NETI for $18.8 million in cash and on December 1, 2005, we acquired Euphoria for approximately $9.0 million in cash.47IndexWe currently lease a majority of our campuses. We own our new Grand Prairie, Texas campus, our FLA campuses, our Nashville campus and certainbuildings in our Southwestern campuses. As we execute our growth strategy, strategic acquisitions of campuses may be considered. In addition, although ourcurrent growth strategy is to continue our organic growth, strategic acquisitions of operations will be considered. To the extent that these potential strategicacquisitions are large enough to require financing beyond available cash from operations and borrowings under our credit facilities, we may incur additionaldebt or issue additional debt or equity securities.Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2006. Net cash used in investing activities decreased $28.4 million to$23.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 from $52.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. This decrease was primarily attributable to a$32.9 million decrease in cash used in acquisitions offset by a $5.4 million increase in capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2007 from theyear ended December 31, 2006. Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2005. Net cash used in investing activities increased $1.8 million to$52.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 from $50.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This increase was primarily attributable to a$5.1 million increase in cash used in acquisitions offset by a $3.3 million decrease in capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2006 from the yearended December 31, 2005. Capital expenditures are expected to increase in 2008 as we upgrade and expand current equipment and facilities or open or expand new facilities to meetincreased student enrollments. We anticipate capital expenditures to range between 8% to 10% of revenues in 2008 and expect to fund these capital expenditureswith cash generated from operating activities and, if necessary, with borrowings under our credit agreement. Financing Activities Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2006. Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.1 million for theyear ended December 31, 2007, as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase isdue to increased borrowings under our credit facility during 2007 to fund our working capital needs. Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2005. Net cash used in financing activities was $6.9 million for the yearended December 31, 2006, as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $20.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This decrease isattributable to our repaying the mortgage note assumed in our purchase of FLA in 2006, reduced by our receipt of the net proceeds from our initial publicoffering in 2005 reduced by debt repayments under our previous credit agreement. On February 15, 2005, we and our subsidiaries entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks, which expires February 15, 2010. This creditagreement provides for a $100 million revolving credit facility with a term of five years under which any outstanding borrowings bear interest at the rate ofadjusted LIBOR (as defined in the new credit agreement) plus a margin that may range from 1.00% to 1.75% or a base rate (as defined in the new creditagreement) plus a margin that may range from 0.00% to 0.25%. At December 31, 2007 we had $5.0 million outstanding under the credit agreement. Thisamount was repaid in the January 2008. The credit agreement permits the issuance of letters of credit up to an aggregate amount of $20.0 million, the amountof which reduces the availability of permitted borrowings under the new credit agreement. We incurred approximately $0.8 million of deferred finance costsunder this agreement. Our obligations and our subsidiaries’ obligations under the credit agreement are secured by a lien on substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets andany assets that we and our subsidiaries may acquire in the future, including a pledge of substantially all of the subsidiaries’ common stock. In addition topaying interest on outstanding principal under the credit agreement, we are required to pay a commitment fee to the lender with respect to the unused amountsavailable under the credit agreement at a rate equal to 0.25% to 0.40% per year, as defined.The credit agreement contains various covenants, including a number of financial covenants. Furthermore, the credit agreement contains customary events ofdefault as well as an event of default in the event of the suspension or termination of Title IV Program funding for our and our subsidiaries' schoolsaggregating 10% or more of our EBITDA (as defined in the new credit agreement) or our and our subsidiaries' consolidated total assets and such suspension ortermination is not cured within a specified period. The following table sets forth our long-term debt for the periods indicated:48Index As of December 31, 2007 2006 Credit agreement $5,000 $- Finance obligation 9,672 9,672 Automobile loans 16 37 Capital leases-computers (with rates ranging from 2.9% to 8.7%) 690 151 Subtotal 15,378 9,860 Less current maturities (204) (91)Total long-term debt $15,174 $9,769 We believe that our working capital, cash flow from operations, access to operating leases and borrowings available from our amended credit agreement willprovide us with adequate resources for our ongoing operations through 2008 and our currently identified and planned capital expenditures. Contractual Obligations Long-Term Debt and Lease Commitments. As of December 31, 2007, our long-term debt consisted of amounts borrowed under our credit agreement, thefinance obligation in connection with our sale-leaseback transaction in 2001 and amounts due under capital lease obligations. We lease offices, educationalfacilities and various equipment for varying periods through the year 2023 at basic annual rentals (excluding taxes, insurance, and other expenses undercertain leases). The following table contains supplemental information regarding our total contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007: Payments Due by Period Total Less than 1year 2-3 years 4-5 years After 5 years Credit agreement $5,000 $- $5,000 $- $- Capital leases (including interest) 838 255 328 255 - Operating leases 133,433 16,398 28,380 24,385 64,270 Rent on finance obligation 12,546 1,381 2,762 2,762 5,641 Automobile loans (including interest) 16 16 - - - Total contractual cash obligations $151,833 $18,050 $36,470 $27,402 $69,911 Capital Expenditures. We have entered into commitments to expand or renovate campuses. These commitments are in the range of $3.0 to $5.0 million inthe aggregate and are due within the next 12 months. We expect to fund these commitments from cash generated from operations. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS We had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2007, except for our letters of credit of $4.4 million which are primarily comprised of letters ofcredit for the DOE and security deposits in connection with certain of our real estate leases. These off-balance sheet arrangements do not adversely impact ourliquidity or capital resources. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS On October 15, 2007, we entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with Lawrence E. Brown, our former Vice Chairman. Under this agreement Mr.Brown’s employment terminated as of the close of business on October 31, 2007. For a period of 14 months following the date of separation of employment,Mr. Brown may continue to provide transitional services to us, not to exceed ten hours per month. In consideration for a release of claims, we paid Mr. Browna lump sum cash payment of $0.5 million, subject to withholding, and will reimburse Mr. Brown for the employer-portion of the premiums due forcontinuation of coverage under COBRA for a maximum period ending on December 31, 2008. Mr. Brown is entitled to the use of his automobile andreimbursement of associated costs by us through December 31, 2008. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Brown agreed to be subject tocertain restrictive covenants, which, among other things, prohibit him for the duration of 14 months following the date of separation of employment, withoutour prior written consent, from (i) competing against us and (ii) soliciting our or any of our affiliates’ or subsidiaries’ employees, consultants, clients orcustomers.Pursuant to the Employment Agreement between Shaun E. McAlmont and us, we agreed to pay and reimburse Mr. McAlmont for the reasonable costs of hisrelocation from Denver, Colorado to West Orange, New Jersey in the year ended December 31, 2006. Such relocation assistance included our purchase of Mr.McAlmont’s home in Denver, Colorado. The $0.5 million price paid for Mr. McAlmont’s home equaled the average of the amount of two independentappraisers selected by us. This amount is reflected in property, equipment and facilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.49IndexWe had a consulting agreement with Hart Capital LLC, which terminated by its terms in June 2004, to advise us in identifying acquisition and merger targetsand assisting with the due diligence reviews of and negotiations with these targets. Hart Capital is the managing member of Five Mile River Capital PartnersLLC, which is the second largest stockholder of the Company. Steven Hart, the President of Hart Capital, is a member of our board of directors. We paidHart Capital a monthly retainer, reimbursement of expenses and an advisory fee for its work on successful acquisitions or mergers. In accordance with theagreement, we paid Hart Capital approximately $0, and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In connection with theconsummation of the NETI acquisition, which closed on January 11, 2005, we paid Hart Capital $0.3 million for its services.In 2003, we entered into a management service agreement with our major stockholder. In accordance with this agreement we paid Stonington Partners amanagement fee of $0.75 million per year for management consulting and financial and business advisory services for each of the years in 2005, 2004 and2003. Such services included valuing acquisitions and structuring their financing and assisting with new loan agreements. We paid Stonington Partners $0and $0.75 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Fees paid to Stonington Partners were being amortized over a twelve monthperiod. This agreement terminated by its terms upon our completion of its initial public offering. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the yearended December 31, 2005 includes $0.4 million resulting from the amortization of these fees. SEASONALITY AND TRENDS Our net revenues and operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total studentpopulation. Student population varies as a result of new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, our schools have had lowerstudent populations in our first and second quarters and we have experienced large class starts in the third and fourth quarters and student attrition in the firsthalf of the year. Our second half growth is largely dependent on a successful high school recruiting season. We recruit our high school students several monthsahead of their scheduled start dates, and thus, while we have visibility on the number of students who have expressed interest in attending our schools, wecannot predict with certainty the actual number of new student enrollments and the related impact on revenue. Our expenses, however, do not varysignificantly over the course of the year with changes in our student population and net revenues. During the first half of the year, we make significantinvestments in marketing, staff, programs and facilities to ensure that we meet our second half of the year targets and, as a result, such expenses do notfluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis. To the extent new student enrollments, and related revenues, in the second half of the year fall short of ourestimates, our operating results could suffer. We expect quarterly fluctuations in operating results to continue as a result of seasonal enrollment patterns. Suchpatterns may change as a result of new school openings, new program introductions, increased enrollments of adult students and/or acquisitions. Similar to many other for-profit post secondary education companies, the increase in our average undergraduate enrollments did not meet our anticipatedgrowth rates. As a result of the slow down in 2005, we entered 2006 with fewer students enrolled than we had in January of 2005. This trend continuedthroughout 2006 and resulted in a shortfall in the enrollments we were expecting in the second half of 2006 and especially in the third quarter which hasaccounted for a majority of our yearly starts. As a result we will also enter 2007 with fewer students enrolled than we had in January 2006. This trendcontinuing during the first half of 2007 and reserved itself in the latter half of the year as we benefited from the 2007 high school recruiting season. The slow-down that has occurred in the for-profit post secondary education sector appears to have had a greater impact on companies, like ours, that are more dependenton their on-ground business as opposed to on-line students. We believe that the slow-down can be attributed to many factors, including: (a) the economy; (b)the availability of student financing; (c) dependency on television to attract students to our school; (d) turnover of our sales representatives; and (e) increasingcompetition in the marketplace. Despite soft organic enrollment trends and increased volatility in the near term, we believe that our growth initiatives as well as the steps we have taken toaddress the challenging trends that our industry and we are currently facing will produce positive growth over the long-term. While our operating strategy,business model and infrastructure are well suited for the short-term and we have ample operating flexibility, we continue to be prudent and realistic and havetaken the necessary steps to ensure that operations that have not grown as rapidly as expected are right sized. We also continue to make investments in areasthat are demonstrating solid growth. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised2007), "Business Combinations" (“SFAS No. 141R”). The Statement establishes revised principles and requirements for how we will recognize and measureassets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. The Statement is effective for business combinations completed on or after the beginning of the firstannual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 141R is not expected to have a material effect onour consolidated financial statements. 50Index In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of AccountingResearch Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51". The Statement establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for thedeconsolidation of a subsidiary. The Statement is effective on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15,2008, which begins January 1, 2009 for us. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 160 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidatedfinancial statements. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, providing companies with anoption to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to reduce both complexity in accounting for financialinstruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. Generally accepted accounting principles have requireddifferent measurement attributes for different assets and liabilities that can create artificial volatility in earnings. SFAS No. 159 helps to mitigate this type ofaccounting-induced volatility by enabling companies to report related assets and liabilities at fair value, which would likely reduce the need for companies tocomply with detailed rules for hedge accounting. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisonsbetween companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provideadditional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of our choice to use fair value on itsearnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which we has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balancesheet. SFAS No. 159 will be effective for us as of January 1, 2008. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 159 did not to have a material effect on ourconsolidated financial statements. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, anamendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).” Among other items, SFAS No. 158 requires recognition of the overfunded or underfundedstatus of an entity’s defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in the financial statements, requires the measurement of defined benefitpostretirement plan assets and obligations as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year, and requires recognition of the funded status of defined benefitpostretirement plans in other comprehensive income. We adopted SFAS No. 158 on December 31, 2006. The incremental effects of applying SFAS No. 158on our December 31, 2006 consolidated financial statements, on a line by line basis, are as follows: BalancesBeforeAdoption ofStatement 158 Adjustments Balances AfterAdoption ofStatement 158 Pension plan assets, net $5,169 $(4,062) $1,107 Deferred income taxes 1,037 1,651 2,688 Accumulated other comprehensive income - 2,411 2,411 In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework formeasuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements thatrequire or permit fair value measurements, the Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevantmeasurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any new fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are effective for theCompany as of January 1, 2008. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108 which provides interpretive guidance onhow the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year unrecorded misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. SAB No.108 became effective for the Company as of January 1, 2007. The adoption of the provision of SAB No. 108 had no effect on our consolidated financialstatements. In June 2006, FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting foruncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”,which was adopted by us on January 1, 2007. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statementrecognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The adoption of FIN No. 48 resulted in a negative cumulative effect adjustment to retained earningsas of January 1, 2007 of approximately $0.1 million. In March 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets.” SFAS No. 156 provides guidance addressing the recognitionand measurement of separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities, common with mortgage securitization activities, and provides an approach tosimplify efforts to obtain hedge accounting treatment. SFAS No. 156 will be adopted on January 1, 2007. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 156had no effect on our consolidated financial statements.51IndexIn February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.” SFAS No. 155 is effective beginningJanuary 1, 2007. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 155 had no effect on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASBStatement No. 3.” SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle, and changes the requirements for accounting for and reporting of achange in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of a voluntary change in accountingprinciple unless it is impracticable. Accounting Principles Boards (“APB”) Opinion No. 20 previously required that most voluntary changes in accountingprinciple be recognized by including in net income of the period of the change the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle. SFAS No. 154requires that a change in method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change in accountingestimate that is affected by a change in accounting principle. APB Opinion No. 20 previously required that such a change be reported as a change inaccounting principle. We adopted SFAS No. 154 on January 1, 2006. The adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 154 had no effect on our consolidatedfinancial statements. In March 2005, the FASB issued FIN 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations”. FIN 47 clarifies that a conditional asset retirementobligation, as used in SFAS 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in whichthe timing and/or method of the settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. Accordingly, we are requiredto recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value can be reasonably estimated. We adopted FIN 47 on January1, 2006. The adoption of the provisions of FIN 47 had no effect on our consolidated financial statements. ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK We are exposed to certain market risks as part of our on-going business operations. We have a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks. Our obligationsunder the credit agreement are secured by a lien on substantially all of our assets and our subsidiaries and any assets that we or our subsidiaries may acquirein the future, including a pledge of substantially all of our subsidiaries’ common stock. Outstanding borrowings bear interest at the rate of adjusted LIBORplus 1.0% to 1.75%, as defined, or a base rate (as defined in the credit agreement). As of December 31, 2007, we had $5.0 million outstanding under thecredit agreement. Based on our outstanding debt balance, a change of one percent in the interest rate would not cause a $0.1 million change in our interest expense. Changes ininterest rates could have an impact however on our operations, which are greatly dependent on students’ ability to obtain financing. Any increase in interestrates could greatly impact our ability to attract students and have an adverse impact on the results of our operations. The remainder of our interest rate risk is associated with miscellaneous capital equipment leases, which are not material. Effect of Inflation Inflation has not had and is not expected to have a significant effect on our operations. ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page F-1 on this Form 10-K. ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None.52IndexITEM 9A.DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating, together with management, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls andprocedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of December 31, 2007, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures areeffective to reasonably ensure that material information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of1934, as amended is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by Securities and Exchange Commissions’ Rules andForms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Internal Control Over Financial ReportingDuring the quarter ended December 31, 2007, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or isreasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting The management of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control overfinancial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control system was designed to providereasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financialstatements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the framework set forthby the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on itsassessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2007, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation ofeffectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliancewith the policies or procedures may deteriorate.The Company’s independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, audited the Company’s internal control overfinancial reporting as of December 31, 2007, as stated in their report included in this Form 10-K that follows./s/ David F. Carney David F. Carney Chairman & Chief Executive Officer March 17, 2008 /s/ Cesar Ribeiro Cesar Ribeiro Chief Financial Officer March 17, 2008 ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION None.53IndexPART III. ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Directors and Executive Officers The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2008 AnnualMeeting of Shareholders. Code of Ethics We have adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees and certain other persons, including our Chief ExecutiveOfficer and Chief Financial Officer. A copy of our Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.lincolnedu.com. If any amendments to or waivers fromthe Code of Conduct are made, we will disclose such amendments or waivers on our website. ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Information required by Item 11 of Part III is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2008 Annual Meetingof Shareholders. ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATEDSTOCKHOLDER MATTERS Information required by Item 12 of Part III is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2008 Annual Meetingof Shareholders. ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE Information required by Item 13 of Part III is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2008 Annual Meetingof Shareholders. ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES Information required by Item 14 of Part III is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2008 Annual Meetingof Shareholders.54IndexPART IV. ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE 1.Financial Statements See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page F-1 of this Form 10-K. 2.Financial Statement Schedule See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page F-1 of this Form 10-K. 3.Exhibits Required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K ExhibitNumber Description 3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1). 3.2 Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (2). 4.1 Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1999, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. andFive Mile River Capital Partners LLC (1). 4.2 Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., amending the Stockholders’ Agreement (1). 4.3 Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., amending the Stockholders’ Agreement (1). 4.4 Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, by and among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to SchoolAcquisition, L.L.C. and the Stockholders and other holders of options under the Management Stock Option Plan listed therein (1). 4.5 Assumption Agreement and First Amendment to Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2007, by and amongLincoln Educational Services Corporation, Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the ManagementInvestors parties therein (6). 4.6 Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. (2). 4.7 Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing shares of common stock (1). 10.1 Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders fromtime to time parties thereto and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Administrative Agent (1). 10.2 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and David F. Carney (3). 10.3 Separation and Release Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, between the Company and Lawrence E. Brown (4). 10.4 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw (3). 10.5 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Cesar Ribeiro (3).55Index10.6 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Shaun E. McAlmont (3). 10.7 Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan (1). 10.8 Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Non Employee Directors Restricted Stock Plan (1). 10.9 Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (1). 10.10 Lincoln Technical Institute Management Stock Option Plan, effective January 1, 2002 (1). 10.11 Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, between Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain participants (1). 10.12 * Form of Stock Option Agreement under our 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. 10.13 * Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under our 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. 10.14 Management Stock Subscription Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain managementinvestors (1). 10.15 Stockholder’s Agreement among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, Back to School Acquisition L.L.C., Steven W. Hart and StevenW. Hart 2003 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (2). 10.16 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2006, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., and Richard I. Gouse, Andrew T. Gouse,individually and as Trustee of the Carolyn Beth Gouse Irrevocable Trust, Seth A. Kurn and Steven L. Meltzer (5). 21.1 * Subsidiaries of the Company. 23 * Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. 31.1 * Certification of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 31.2 * Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 32 * Certification of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-123664). (2)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 28, 2005.(3)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.(4)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K dated October 15, 2007. (5)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006. (6)Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-148406).*Filed herewith.56IndexSIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalfby the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Date: March 17, 2008 LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION By:/s/ Cesar Ribeiro Cesar Ribeiro Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of theregistrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.Signature Title Date /s/ David F. Carney Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board March 17, 2008David F. Carney /s/ Cesar Ribeiro Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer March 17, 2008Cesar Ribeiro (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) /s/ Peter S. Burgess Director March 17, 2008Peter S. Burgess /s/ James J. Burke, Jr.. Director March 17, 2008James J. Burke, Jr /s/ Celia H. Currin Director March 17, 2008Celia H. Currin /s/ Paul E. Glaske Director March 17, 2008Paul E. Glaske /s/ Alexis P. Michas Director March 17, 2008Alexis P. Michas /s/ J. Barry Morrow Director March 17, 2008J. Barry Morrow /s/ Jerry G. Rubenstein Director March 17, 2008Jerry G. Rubenstein 57IndexINDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING Page NumberReports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006 F-4Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 F-6Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 F-7Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 F-8Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-10 Item 15 Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts F-29F-1IndexREPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Stockholders ofLincoln Educational Services CorporationWest Orange, New JerseyWe have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as ofDecember 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the periodended December 31, 2007. Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statementsand financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statementsand financial statement schedule based on our audits.We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require thatwe plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includesexamining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accountingprinciples used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our auditsprovide a reasonable basis for our opinion.In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lincoln Educational ServicesCorporation and subsidiaries at as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in theperiod ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion,suchconsolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, inall material respects, the information set forth therein.As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting forUncertainty in Income Taxes.”We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal controlover financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee ofSponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 13, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internalcontrol over financial reporting.DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLPParsippany, New Jersey March 13, 2008F-2IndexREPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMTo the Board of Directors and Stockholders ofLincoln Educational Services CorporationWest Orange, New JerseyWe have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the TreadwayCommission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of theeffectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over FinancialReporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require thatwe plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all materialrespects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testingand evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considerednecessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principalfinancial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to providereasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance withgenerally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to themaintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) providereasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accountingprinciples, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of thecompany; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company'sassets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override ofcontrols, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of theeffectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changesin conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on thecriteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s consolidatedbalance sheet as of December 31, 2007 and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flow and financial statementschedule for the year ended December 31, 2007, and our report dated March 13, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements andschedule and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption of the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting forUncertainty in Income Taxes.”DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLPParsippany, New JerseyMarch 13, 2008F-3IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share amounts) December 31, 2007 2006 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $3,502 $6,461 Restricted cash - 920 Accounts receivable, less allowance of $11,244 and $11,456 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively 23,286 20,473 Inventories 2,540 2,438 Deferred income taxes, net 4,575 4,827 Due from federal programs 6,087 - Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,771 3,049 Total current assets 43,761 38,168 PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $82,931and $72,871 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively 106,564 94,368 OTHER ASSETS: Noncurrent accounts receivable, less allowance of $159 and $80 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively 1,608 723 Deferred finance charges 827 1,019 Pension plan assets, net 1,696 1,107 Deferred income taxes, net 5,500 2,688 Goodwill 82,714 84,995 Other assets, net 3,513 3,148 Total other assets 95,858 93,680 TOTAL $246,183 $226,216 See notes to consolidated financial statements.F-4IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share amounts) (Continued) December 31, 2007 2006 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Current portion of long-term debt and lease obligations $204 $91 Unearned tuition 34,810 33,150 Accounts payable 13,721 12,118 Accrued expenses 10,079 10,335 Advance payments of federal programs - 557 Income taxes payable 1,460 2,860 Other short-term liabilities 1,439 - Total current liabilities 61,713 59,111 NONCURRENT LIABILITIES: Long-term debt and lease obligations, net of current portion 15,174 9,769 Other long-term liabilities 6,829 5,553 Total liabilities 83,716 74,433 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Preferred stock, no par value - 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007and 2006 - - Common stock, no par value - authorized 100,000,000 shares at December 31, 2007 and 2006, issued andoutstanding 25,888,348 shares at December 31, 2007 and 25,450,695 shares at December 31, 2006 120,379 120,182 Additional paid-in capital 12,378 7,695 Deferred compensation (3,228) (467)Retained earnings 35,024 26,784 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,086) (2,411)Total stockholders' equity 162,467 151,783 TOTAL $246,183 $226,216 See notes to consolidated financial statements.F-5IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 REVENUES $327,774 $310,630 $287,368 COSTS AND EXPENSES: Educational services and facilities 139,500 129,311 114,161 Selling, general and administrative 162,396 151,136 138,125 Gain on sale of assets (15) (435) (7)Total costs and expenses 301,881 280,012 252,279 OPERATING INCOME 25,893 30,618 35,089 OTHER: Interest income 180 981 775 Interest expense (2,341) (2,291) (2,892)Other income (loss) 27 (132) 243 INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 23,759 29,176 33,215 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 9,932 12,092 12,931 INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 13,827 17,084 20,284 LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES (5,487) (1,532) (1,575)NET INCOME $8,340 $15,552 $18,709 Basic Earnings per share from continuing operations $0.54 $0.67 $0.86 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.21) (0.06) (0.06)Net income per share $0.33 $0.61 $0.80 Diluted Earnings per share from continuing operations $0.53 $0.65 $0.83 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.21) (0.05) (0.07)Net income per share $0.32 $0.60 $0.76 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 25,479 25,336 23,475 Diluted 26,090 26,086 24,503 See notes to consolidated financial statementsF-6IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (In thousands) Loan Retained Accumulated Additional Receivable Earnings Other Common Stock Paid-in Deferred From (Accumulated Comprehensive Shares Amount Capital Compensation Stockholders Deficit) Loss Total BALANCE - December31, 2004 21,699 $62,482 $3,262 $- $(181) $(7,477) $- $58,086 Net income - - - - - 18,709 - 18,709 Issuance of commonstock, net of issuanceexpenses 3,177 56,255 - - - - - 56,255 Stock-basedcompensation expense: Restricted Stock 21 - 420 (360) - - - 60 Stock Options - - 1,286 - - - - 1,286 Stockholders loanrepayment - - - - 181 - - 181 Tax benefit of optionsexercised - - 697 - - - - 697 Exercise of stock options 271 716 - - - - - 716 BALANCE - December31, 2005 25,168 119,453 5,665 (360) - 11,232 - 135,990 Net income - - - - - 15,552 - 15,552 Reduction in estimatedstock issuanceexpenses - 150 - - - - - 150 Stock-basedcompensation expense Restricted Stock 19 - 300 (107) - - - 193 Stock Options - - 1,231 - - - - 1,231 Tax benefit of optionsexercised - - 499 - - - - 499 Exercise of stock options 264 579 - - - - - 579 Initial adoption of SFASNo. 158, net of taxes - - - - - - (2,411) (2,411)BALANCE - December31, 2006 25,451 120,182 7,695 (467) - 26,784 (2,411) 151,783 Net income - - - - - 8,340 - 8,340 Initial adoption of FIN 48 - - - - - (100) - (100)Employee pension plan - - - - - - 325 325 Stock-basedcompensation expense Restricted Stock 217 - 3,155 (2,761) - - - 394 Stock Options - - 1,455 - - - - 1,455 Tax benefit of optionsexercised - - 73 - - - - 73 Exercise of stock options 220 197 - - - - - 197 BALANCE - December31, 2007 25,888 $120,379 $12,378 $(3,228) $- $35,024 $(2,086) $162,467 See notes to consolidated financial statements.F-7IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $8,340 $15,552 $18,709 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 15,741 14,866 13,064 Amortization of deferred finance charges 192 192 215 Write-off of deferred finance costs - - 365 Deferred income taxes (2,761) (3,655) 340 Gain on disposition of assets (15) (437) (7)Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets 3,099 - - Fixed asset donations (26) (22) (243)Provision for doubtful accounts 17,767 15,590 11,188 Stock-based compensation expense 1,849 1,424 1,346 Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options (73) - 697 Deferred rent 630 1,081 1,670 (Increase) decrease in assets, net of acquisitions: Accounts receivable (21,465) (21,870) (11,676)Inventories (102) (587) (65)Prepaid expenses and current assets (1,957) (374) (300)Due from federal funds (6,644) - - Other assets (740) 1,181 54 Increase (decrease) in liabilities, net of acquisitions: Accounts payable (284) (1,441) 1,801 Other liabilities 1,926 (157) (468)Income taxes payable/prepaid (1,181) (1,225) 4,068 Accrued expenses (221) (870) (1,715)Unearned tuition 1,660 (3,990) (77)Total adjustments 7,395 (294) 20,257 Net cash provided by operating activities 15,735 15,258 38,966 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Restricted cash 920 (920) - Capital expenditures (24,766) (19,341) (22,621)Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 16 973 - Acquisitions, net of cash acquired - (32,872) (27,776)Net cash used in investing activities (23,830) (52,160) (50,397)CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from borrowings 26,500 14,000 31,000 Payments on borrowings (21,500) (21,214) (66,750)Payments of deferred finance fees - - (848)Proceeds from exercise of stock options 197 579 716 Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options 73 499 - Principal payments under capital lease obligations (134) (908) (311)Repayment from shareholder loans - - 181 Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $2,845 - 150 56,255 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 5,136 (6,894) 20,243 NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (2,959) (43,796) 8,812 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year 6,461 50,257 41,445 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year $3,502 $6,461 $50,257 F-8IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Continued) Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Cash paid during the year for: Interest $2,305 $2,243 $2,358 Income taxes $10,148 $15,799 $11,025 SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Cash paid during the period for: Fair value of assets acquired $- $47,511 $32,335 Net cash paid for the acquisitions - (32,872) (27,776)Liabilities assumed $- $14,639 $4,559 Fixed assets acquired in capital lease transactions $652 $- $- Fixed assets acquired in noncash transactions $2,812 $101 $- See notes to consolidated financial statements.F-9IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2007(In thousands, except share and per share amounts and unless otherwise stated) 1.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Business Activities—Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "Company") is a diversified provider of career-oriented post-secondaryeducation. The Company offers recent high school graduates and working adults degree and diploma programs in five principal areas of study: AutomotiveTechnology, Health Sciences (which includes programs for licensed practical nursing (LPN), medical administrative assistants, medical assistants,pharmacy technicians, medical coding and billing and dental assisting), Business and Information Technology, Hospitality Services (spa and culinary) andSkilled Trades. We currently have 34 schools in 17 states across the United States. Principles of Consolidation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation andits wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Revenue Recognition—Revenue is derived primarily from programs taught at the schools. Tuition revenue and one-time fees, such as nonrefundableapplication fees, and course material fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the applicable program. If a student withdraws from aprogram prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition is refunded. Other revenues, such as textbook sales, tool sales and contract training revenuesare recognized as services are performed or goods are delivered. On an individual student basis, tuition earned in excess of cash received is recorded asaccounts receivable, and cash received in excess of tuition earned is recorded as unearned tuition. Refunds are calculated and paid in accordance with federal,state and accrediting agency standards. Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents include all cash balances and highly liquid short-term investments, which mature within threemonths of purchase. Restricted Cash— Restricted cash represents amounts received from the federal and state governments under various student aid grant and loan programs.These funds are either received prior to the completion of the authorization and disbursement process for the benefit of the student or immediately prior to thatauthorization. Restricted funds are held in separate bank accounts. Once the authorization and disbursement process is completed and authorization obtained,the funds are transferred to unrestricted accounts, and these funds then become available for use in the Company’s current operations. As of December 31,2006 the Company was subject to Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 Status by the DOE however as of December 30, 2007 the Company the Company isno longer subject to this restriction. Therefore, the Company had no restrictions on cash at December 31, 2007. Accounts Receivable—The Company reports accounts receivable at net realizable value, which is equal to the gross receivable less an estimated allowance foruncollectible accounts. Allowance for uncollectible accounts—Based upon experience and judgment, we establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts with respect to tuitionreceivables. We use an internal group of collectors, augmented by third-party collectors as deemed appropriate, in our collection efforts. In establishing ourallowance for uncollectible accounts, we consider, among other things, a student's status (in-school or out-of-school), whether or not additional financial aidfunding will be collected from Title IV Programs or other sources, whether or not a student is currently making payments, and overall collection history.Changes in trends in any of these areas may impact the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The receivables balances of withdrawn students with delinquentobligations are reserved for based on our collection history. Inventories—Inventories consist mainly of textbooks, tools and supplies. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market on a first-in, first-out basis. Property, Equipment and Facilities—Depreciation and Amortization—Property, equipment and facilities are stated at cost. Major renewals andimprovements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred. Upon the retirement, sale or other disposition of assets, costs andrelated accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in operating income. For financial statement purposes,depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, and amortization of leaseholdimprovements is computed over the lesser of the term of the lease or its estimated useful life.F-10IndexRent Expense—Rent expense related to operating leases where scheduled rent increases exist, is determined by expensing the total amount of rent due over thelife of the operating lease on a straight-line basis. The difference between the rent paid under the terms of the lease and the rent expensed on a straight-line basisis included in accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Deferred Finance Charges—These charges consist of $0.3 million and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, related to the long-term debt and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, related to the finance obligation. These amounts are being amortized as an increase in interestexpense over the respective life of the debt or finance obligation. Advertising Costs—Costs related to advertising are expensed as incurred and approximated $31.1 million, $28.9 million and $25.6 million for the yearsended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidatedstatement of income. Bonus costs—We accrue the estimated cost of our bonus programs using current financial and statistical information as compared to targeted financialachievements and actual student graduate outcomes. Although we believe our estimated liability recorded for bonuses is reasonable, actual results could differand require adjustment of the recorded balance. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets— The Company tests its goodwill for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstancesindicate an impairment may have occurred, by comparing its fair value to its carrying value. Impairment may result from, among other things, deterioration inthe performance of the acquired business, adverse market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes that restrict theactivities of the acquired business, and a variety of other circumstances. If the Company determines that an impairment has occurred, it is required to record awrite-down of the carrying value and charge the impairment as an operating expense in the period the determination is made. In evaluating the recoverability ofthe carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows andother factors to determine the fair value of the acquired assets. Changes in strategy or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments in thefuture and require an adjustment to the recorded balances. As discussed in Note 19, as a result of a decision to close three of our campuses we conducted a review of our goodwill as of June 30, 2007. In connectionswith that review, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $2.1 million as of June 30, 2007. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, theCompany tested its goodwill for impairment utilizing a market capitalization approach and determined that it did not have an impairment. Concentration of Credit Risk—Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporarycash investments and student receivables. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions. The Company's cash balances with financial institutionstypically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance limit of $100,000. The Company's cash balances on deposit at December 31, 2007, exceeded the balance insuredby the FDIC by approximately $2.0 million. The Company has not experienced any losses to date on its invested cash. The Company extends credit for tuition and fees to many of its students. The credit risk with respect to these accounts receivable is mitigated through thestudents' participation in federally funded financial aid programs unless students withdraw prior to the receipt of federal funds for those students. In addition,the remaining tuition receivables are primarily comprised of smaller individual amounts due from students. With respect to student receivables, the Company had no significant concentrations of credit risk as of December 31, 2007, and 2006. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management tomake estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of theconsolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates theestimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, bad debts, fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals. Actualresults could differ from those estimates. Stock Based Compensation Plans—The Company has stock-based compensation plans as discussed further in Note 11. In December 2004, the FinancialAccounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, (“FAS 123R”). ThisStatement requires companies to expense the estimated fair value of stock options and similar equity instruments issued to employees over the requisite serviceperiod. On December 1, 2005, the Company adopted FAS 123R in advance of the mandatory adoption date of the first quarter of 2006 to better reflect the fullcost of employee compensation. The Company adopted FAS 123R using the modified prospective method, which requires the Company to recordcompensation expense for all awards granted after the date of adoption, and for the unvested portion of previously granted awards that remain outstanding atthe date of adoption. Prior to the adoption of FAS 123R, the Company recognized stock-based compensation under FAS 123 “Stock Based Compensation”and as a result, the implementation of FAS 123R did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial presentation.F-11IndexThe fair value concepts were not changed significantly under FAS 123R from those utilized under FAS No. 123; however, in adopting this Standard,companies must choose among alternative valuation models and amortization assumptions. After assessing these alternatives, the Company decided tocontinue using the Black-Scholes valuation model. However, the Company also decided to utilize straight-line amortization of compensation expense over therequisite service period of the grant, rather than over the individual grant requisite period as chosen under FAS 123. Under FAS 123, the Company hadrecognized stock option forfeitures as they incurred. With the adoption of FAS 123R, the Company made an estimate of expected forfeitures calculation upongrant issuance. Income Taxes—Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financialstatement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax ratesexpected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assetsand liabilities of changes in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets—The Company reviews the carrying value of our long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles for possible impairmentwhenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the potential impairment ofproperty and equipment and identifiable intangibles whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. TheCompany evaluates long-lived assets for impairment by examining estimated future cash flows. These cash flows are evaluated by using weighted probabilitytechniques as well as comparisons of past performance against projections. Assets may also be evaluated by identifying independent market values. If theCompany determines that an asset’s carrying value is impaired, it will record a write-down of the carrying value of the asset and charge the impairment as anoperating expense in the period in which the determination is made.As discussed in Note 19, as a result of a decision to close three of our campuses we conducted a review of our long-lived assets as of June 30, 2007. Inconnections with that review, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $0.9 million as of June 30, 2007. Start-up Costs—Costs related to the start of new campuses are expensed as incurred. 2.RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised2007), "Business Combinations" (“SFAS No. 141R”). The Statement establishes revised principles and requirements for how the Company will recognizeand measure assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. The Statement is effective for business combinations completed on or after thebeginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, which begins January 1, 2009 for the Company. The adoption of theprovision of SFAS No. 141R is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting ResearchBulletin (“ARB”) No. 51". The Statement establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for thedeconsolidation of a subsidiary. The Statement is effective on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15,2008, which begins January 1, 2009 for the Company. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 160R is not expected to have a material effect on theCompany’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, providing companies with anoption to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to reduce both complexity in accounting for financialinstruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. Generally accepted accounting principles have requireddifferent measurement attributes for different assets and liabilities that can create artificial volatility in earnings. SFAS No. 159 helps to mitigate this type ofaccounting-induced volatility by enabling companies to report related assets and liabilities at fair value, which would likely reduce the need for companies tocomply with detailed rules for hedge accounting. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisonsbetween companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provideadditional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of the Company’s choice to use fairvalue on its earnings. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the Company has chosen to use fair value on theface of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 will be effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 159 did nothave a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.F-12IndexIn September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, anamendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).” Among other items, SFAS No. 158 requires recognition of the overfunded or underfundedstatus of an entity’s defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in the financial statements, requires the measurement of defined benefitpostretirement plan assets and obligations as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year, and requires recognition of the funded status of defined benefitpostretirement plans in other comprehensive income. The Company adopted SFAS No. 158 on December 31, 2006. The incremental effects of applyingSFAS No. 158 on the Company’s December 31, 2006 consolidated financial statements, on a line by line basis, are as follows: BalancesBeforeAdoption ofStatement 158 Adjustments Balances AfterAdoption ofStatement 158 Pension plan assets, net $5,169 $(4,062) $1,107 Deferred income taxes 1,037 1,651 2,688 Accumulated other comprehensive income - 2,411 2,411 In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework formeasuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements thatrequire or permit fair value measurements, the Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevantmeasurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any new fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are effective for theCompany as of January 1, 2008. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financialstatements. In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108 which provides interpretiveguidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year unrecorded misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current yearmisstatement. SAB No. 108 is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2007. The adoption of the provision of SAB No. 108 had no effect on theCompany’s consolidated financial statements. In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting foruncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”,which was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2007. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financialstatement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must bemore-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greaterthan 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The adoption of FIN No. 48 resulted in a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings asof January 1, 2007 of $0.1 million. In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets.” SFAS No. 156 provides guidance addressing therecognition and measurement of separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities, common with mortgage securitization activities, and provides anapproach to simplify efforts to obtain hedge accounting treatment. SFAS No. 156 was adopted on January 1, 2007. The adoption of the provision of SFASNo. 156 had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.” SFAS No. 155 is effective beginningJanuary 1, 2007. The adoption of the provision of SFAS No. 155 had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In June 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154,“Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB StatementNo. 3.” SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle, and changes the requirements for accounting for and reporting of a change inaccounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of a voluntary change in accounting principleunless it is impracticable. Accounting Principles Boards (“APB”) Opinion No. 20 previously required that most voluntary changes in accounting principle berecognized by including in net income of the period of the change the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requiresthat a change in method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for long-lived, nonfinancial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate thatis affected by a change in accounting principle. APB Opinion No. 20 previously required that such a change be reported as a change in accounting principle.The Company adopted SFAS No. 154 on January 1, 2006. The adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 154 had no effect on the Company’s consolidatedfinancial statements.F-13IndexIn March 2005, the FASB issued FIN 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations”. FIN 47 clarifies that a conditional asset retirementobligation, as used in SFAS 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in whichthe timing and/or method of the settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. Accordingly, the Companyis required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value can be reasonably estimated. The Companyadopted FIN 47 on January 1, 2006. The adoption of the provisions of FIN 47 had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 3. FINANCIAL AID AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE Financial Aid The Company’s schools and students participate in a variety of government-sponsored financial aid programs that assist students in paying the cost of theireducation. The largest source of such support is the federal programs of student financial assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, asamended, commonly referred to as the Title IV Programs, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Education (or "DOE"). During the years endedDecember 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, approximately 80%, 80% and 80%, respectively, of net revenues were indirectly derived from funds distributed underTitle IV Programs.Regulatory Compliance To participate in Title IV Programs, a school must be authorized to offer its programs of instruction by relevant state education agencies, be accredited by anaccrediting commission recognized by the DOE and be certified as an eligible institution by the DOE. For this reason, the schools are subject to extensiveregulatory requirements imposed by all of these entities. After the schools receive the required certifications by the appropriate entities, the schools mustdemonstrate their compliance with the DOE regulations of the Title IV Programs on an ongoing basis. Included in these regulations is the requirement that theCompany must satisfy specific standards of financial responsibility. The DOE evaluates institutions for compliance with these standards each year, basedupon the institutions' annual audited financial statements, as well as following a change in ownership of the institution. Under regulations which took effectJuly 1, 1998, the DOE calculates the institution's composite score for financial responsibility based on its (i) equity ratio, which measures the institution'scapital resources, ability to borrow and financial viability; (ii) primary reserve ratio, which measures the institution's ability to support current operationsfrom expendable resources; and (iii) net income ratio, which measures the institution's ability to operate at a profit. This composite score can range from -1 to+3. An institution that does not meet the DOE's minimum composite score requirements of 1.5 may establish its financial responsibility by posting a letter ofcredit or complying with additional monitoring procedures as defined by the DOE. Based on audited financial statements for the 2007, 2006 and 2005 fiscalyears our calculations result in a composite score of 1.8, 1.7 and 2.5, respectively. Beginning December 30, 2004 and for a period of three years, all of ourinstitutions were placed on "Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1 status." As a result, we were subject to a less favorable Title IV fund payment system thatrequired us to credit student accounts before drawing down Title IV funds and also required us to timely notify the DOE with respect to certain enumeratedoversight and financial events. The DOE has notified us that, as of December 31, 2007, we are no longer subject to Heightened Cash Monitoring, Type 1Status. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 the Company was in compliance with the standards established by the DOE requiring that noindividual DOE reporting entity can receive more than 90% of its revenue, determined on a cash basis, from Title IV, HEA Program Funds. 4.WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES The weighted average numbers of common shares used to compute basic and diluted income per share for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and2005, respectively, in thousands, were as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Basic shares outstanding 25,479 25,336 23,475 Dilutive effect of stock options 611 750 1,028 Diluted shares outstanding 26,090 26,086 24,503 For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, options to acquire 608,208, 288,500 and 184,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the abovetable as the result on reported earnings per share would have been antidilutive.F-14Index5.BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS On May 22, 2006, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. (“FLA”) forapproximately $40.1 million. The purchase price was $32.9 million, net of cash acquired plus the assumption of a mortgage note for $7.2 million. The FLApurchase price has been allocated to identifiable net assets with the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired recordedas goodwill. On December 1, 2005, the Company acquired all of the rights, title and interest in the assets of Euphoria Institute LLC (“EUP”) for approximately $9.2million, net of cash acquired. On January 11, 2005, the Company acquired all of the rights, title and interest in the assets of New England Technical Institute (“NETI”) for approximately$18.8 million, net of cash acquired. The consolidated financial statements include the results of operations from the respective acquisition dates. The purchase price has been allocated toidentifiable net assets with the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. None of theacquisitions were deemed material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition: FLAMay 22, 2006 EUPDecember 1,2005 NETIJanuary 11,2005 Property, equipment and facilities $20,609 $793 $1,000 Goodwill 24,710 9,019 18,464 Identified intangibles: Student contracts 350 130 770 Trade name 280 180 600 Curriculum - - 700 Non-compete 200 - - Other assets 450 - - Current assets, excluding cash acquired 912 125 782 Total liabilities assumed (14,639) (998) (3,561)Cost of acquisition, net of cash acquired $32,872 $9,249 $18,755 6.GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows (in thousands): Goodwill balance as of December 31, 2005 $59,467 Goodwill acquired pursuant to business acquisition-FLA 24,710 Goodwill adjustments 818 Goodwill balance as of December 31, 2006 84,995 Goodwill adjustments (146)Goodwill impairment (2,135)Goodwill balance as of December 31, 2007 $82,714 As described further in Note 19, during the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge as a result of its decision tocease operations at three of its campuses.F-15IndexIdentified intangible assets, which are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, consisted of the following: At December 31, 2007 At December 31, 2006 WeightedAverageAmortizationPeriod(years) GrossCarryingAmount AccumulatedAmortization GrossCarryingAmount AccumulatedAmortization Student Contracts 1 $2,215 $2,212 $2,200 $2,010 Trade name Indefinite 1,270 - 1,270 - Accreditation Indefinite 307 - - - Curriculum 10 700 208 700 138 Non-compete 5 201 65 201 25 Total $4,693 $2,485 $4,371 $2,173 The increase in accreditation assets was due to the purchase of a new nursing program on March 5, 2007.Amortization of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was approximately $0.3 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million,respectively. The following table summarizes the estimated future amortization expense: Year Ending December 31, 2008 $113 2009 110 2010 110 2011 86 2012 70 Thereafter 142 $631 7.PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES Property, equipment and facilities consist of the following: Useful life (years) At December 31, 2007 2006 Land - $13,563 $13,563 Buildings and improvements 1-25 104,484 97,914 Equipment, furniture and fixtures 1-12 61,102 52,311 Vehicles 1-7 2,120 1,915 Construction in progress - 8,226 1,536 189,495 167,239 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (82,931) (72,871) $106,564 $94,368 Included above in equipment, furniture and fixtures are assets acquired under capital leases as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 of $6.6 million and$6.0 million, respectively, net of accumulated depreciation of $5.9 million and $5.7 million, respectively. Included above in buildings and improvements is capitalized interest as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, net ofaccumulated depreciation of $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense of property, equipment and facilities was $14.5 million, $13.0 million and $11.2 million for the years endedDecember 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.F-16Index8.ACCRUED EXPENSES Accrued expenses consist of the following: At December 31, 2007 2006 Accrued compensation and benefits $5,888 $6,255 Other accrued expenses 4,191 4,080 $10,079 $10,335 9.LONG-TERM DEBT AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS Long-term debt and lease obligations consist of the following: At December 31, 2007 2006 Credit agreement (a) $5,000 $- Finance obligation (b) 9,672 9,672 Automobile loans 16 37 Capital leases-computers (with rates ranging from 2.9% to 8.7%) 690 151 15,378 9,860 Less current maturities (204) (91) $15,174 $9,769 (a) The Company has a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks which expires February 15, 2010. Under the terms of the agreement, the syndicateprovided the Company with a $100 million credit facility. The credit agreement permits the issuance of up to $20 million in letters of credit, the amount ofwhich reduces the availability of permitted borrowings under the agreement. At December 31, 2007, the Company had outstanding letters of credit aggregating$4.4 million which is primarily comprised of letters of credit for the Department of Education and real estate leases. The obligations of the Company under the credit agreement are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and anyassets that it or its subsidiaries may acquire in the future, including a pledge of substantially all of the subsidiaries’ common stock. Outstanding borrowingsbear interest at the rate of adjusted LIBOR plus 1.0% to 1.75%, as defined, or a base rate (as defined in the credit agreement). In addition to paying interest onoutstanding principal under the credit agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries are required to pay a commitment fee to the lender with respect to theunused amounts available under the credit agreement at a rate equal to 0.25% to 0.40% per year, as defined. In connection with the Company’s initial publicoffering in 2005, the Company repaid the then outstanding loan balance of $31.0 million. During 2007, the Company had incurred a total of $26.5 million under the current credit agreement. Interest rates on the loans outstanding during the yearranged from 6.32% to 8.25%. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company had paid down a total of 21.5 million on the total debt incurred during the yearleaving $5.0 million outstanding under the current credit agreement as of December 31, 2007. The interest rate on the $5.0 million is at an interest rate of7.25% at December 31, 2007. The credit agreement contains various covenants, including a number of financial covenants. Furthermore, the credit agreement contains customary events ofdefault as well as an event of default in the event of the suspension or termination of Title IV Program funding for the Company’s and its subsidiaries' schoolsaggregating 10% or more of the Company’s EBITDA (as defined) or its consolidated total assets and such suspension or termination is not cured within aspecified period. As of December 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the credit agreement. (b) The Company completed a sale and a leaseback of several facilities on December 28, 2001, as discussed further in Note 17. The Company retained acontinuing involvement in the lease and as a result it is prohibited from utilizing sale-leaseback accounting. Accordingly, the Company has treated thistransaction as a finance lease. Rent payments under this obligation for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 were $1.3 million, $1.3 millionand $1.3 million, respectively. These payments have been reflected in the accompanying consolidated income statement as interest expense for all periodspresented since the effective interest rate on the obligation is greater than the scheduled payments. The lease expiration date is January 25, 2017. On May 22, 2006, the Company assumed a mortgage note payable as part of the acquisition of FLA in the amount of $7.2 million. The mortgage note waspayable to the bank in monthly installments which varied due to changes in the interest rates. The note had an interest rate which was at the bank’s LIBORrate plus 2.0% with a maturity date of May 1, 2023. The note was repaid in November 2006. Also see Note 16.F-17IndexAs of December 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in its borrowing agreements.Scheduled maturities of long-term debt and lease obligations at December 31, 2007 are as follows: Year ending December 31, 2008 $204 2009 130 2010 5,135 2011 146 2012 91 Thereafter 9,672 $15,378 10.SLM FINANCIAL CORPORATION LOAN AGREEMENT The Company entered into an agreement, effective March 28, 2005 to June 30, 2006, with SLM Financial Corporation (SLM) to provide up to $6.0 million ofprivate recourse loans to qualifying students. Under the recourse loan agreement, the Company was required to fund 30% of all loans disbursed into a SLMreserve account. During the term of the agreement, $4.9 million of loans were disbursed, resulting in a $1.5 million of bad debt expense. Funding under theprivate recourse loan agreement was classified as bad debt expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our financial statements. For theyear ended December 31, 2007, no loans were disbursed under this program.The Company entered into a Tiered Discount Loan Program agreement, effective September 1, 2007, with SLM to provide up to $16.0 million of private non-recourse loans to qualifying students. Under this agreement, the Company was required to pay SLM either 20% or 30% of all loans disbursed, depending oneach student borrower’s credit score. The Company was billed at the beginning of each month based on loans disbursed during the prior month. For the yearended December 31, 2007, $0.4 million of loans were disbursed, resulting in a $0.1 million loss on sale of receivables. Loss on sale of receivables is includedin selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of income.In January 2008, SLM notified the Company that it was terminating its tiered discount loan program, effective February 18, 2008. The termination of thisagreement is expected to have a limited impact on the Company. The loans covered under the SLM tiered discount loan program represented approximately4.6% of revenue on a cash basis as of December 31, 2007. The Company had previously concluded the SLM’s tiered discount program was too expensiveand had decided to finance these students through internal funding sources. 11.STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted the Lincoln Technical Institute Management Stock Option Plan ("2002 Plan") for key employees,consultants and nonemployee directors. The name of the Plan was changed to the LESC Management Stock Option Plan in 2003. There are reserved for issue,upon exercise of options granted under the Plan, no more than 2,087,835 shares of the authorized common shares. The term of each option granted is tenyears. The options awarded to each key employee were evenly divided between service options, which vest annually from the date of grant, and performanceoptions, which vest according to annual targets. The vesting of the options varies depending on date of hire. For all key employees, or non-employee directorswho were with the Company prior to February 1, 2001, 20% of their service options were granted as of the effective date with 20% vesting annually thereafter.For their performance options, 25% will vest each year beginning April 15, 2003, subject to the Company achieving certain financial goals. For all keyemployees, or non-employee directors who were hired after February 1, 2001, 20% of their service options vest on the anniversary of their hire date. Similarly,20% of their performance options will vest on each April 15 after the date of hire subject to achieving certain financial goals and vest in full after five years.Prior to the Company’s initial public offering in June 2005, the exercise price of the options was the estimated fair value of the shares at the date of grant, asdetermined by the board of directors. Concurrent with the Company’s initial public offering, all performance options not yet vested were converted to serviceoptions and vest in the same manner as described above. On June 8, 2005, the Company adopted the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”). The LTIP permits thegranting of stock options, restricted share units, performance share units, stock appreciation rights and other equity awards, as determined by the Company’scompensation committee. The compensation committee has the authority, among other things, to determine eligibility to receive awards, the type of awards tobe granted, the number of shares of stock subject to, or cash amount payable in connection with, the awards and the terms and conditions of each award(including vesting, forfeiture, payment, exercisability and performance periods and targets). The maximum number of shares of our common stock that maybe issued for all purposes under the LTIP is 1,000,000 shares plus any shares of common stock remaining available for issuance under the 2002 Plan. Anyshares of our common stock that (i) correspond to awards under the LTIP or the 2002 Plan that are forfeited or expire for any reason without having beenexercised or settled or (ii) are tendered or withheld to pay the exercise price of an award or to satisfy a participant’s tax withholding obligations will be addedback to the maximum number of shares available for issuance under the LTIP.F-18IndexOn June 23, 2005, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation became effective. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation increasedthe number of authorized common shares from 50.0 million shares to 100.0 million shares and authorized 10.0 million shares of preferred stock. On June 28, 2005, the Company issued 3.0 million shares of common stock in an initial public offering for approximately $53.1 million in net cashproceeds, after deducting underwriting commissions and offering expenses of approximately $6.9 million. A portion of the $53.1 million in net proceedsreceived from the sale of common stock was used to repay all the outstanding indebtedness under the credit facility discussed in Note 9, totaling$31.0 million. On July 18, 2005, the underwriters of the initial public offering exercised a portion of their over-allotment option resulting in the Company’s sale on July 22,2005 of 177,425 shares of common stock and net proceeds to the Company of $3.3 million.Under the Company’s LTIP, certain employees received restricted stock totaling 200,000 shares equal to $2.9 million on October 30, 2007. The number ofshares granted to each employee was based on the fair market value of a share of common stock on that date. The restricted shares vest ratably each year overfive years from the grant date. The recognized restricted stock expense for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $0.1 million. The deferred compensation orunrecognized restricted stock expense under the LTIP as of December 31, 2007 was $2.8 million.Pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Non-Employee Directors Restricted Stock Plan (the “Non-Employee Directors Plan”), each of the Company’s seven non-employee directors received an award of 3,069 restricted shares of common stock equal to $0.06 million on July 29, 2005. On January 1, 2006, one non-employee director resigned, forfeiting 3,069 restricted shares of common stock awarded on July 29, 2005. Two newly appointed non-employee directors eachreceived an award of 3,625 restricted shares of common stock equal to $0.06 million on March 1, 2006. On May 23, 2006, the date of the Company’s 2006annual meeting, each non-employee director received an annual restricted award of 1,781 restricted shares of common stock equal to $0.03 million. Beginningin 2007, each non-employee director received, on April 26, 2007, the date of the Company’s 2007 annual meeting, an annual restricted award of 2,825restricted shares of common stock equal to $0.04 million. The number of shares granted to each non-employee director was based on the fair market value of ashare of common stock on that date. The restricted shares vest ratably on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date; however, there is novesting period on the right to vote or the right to receive dividends on these restricted shares. As of December 31, 2007, there were a total of 57,477 sharesawarded and 19,442 shares vested under the Non-Employee Directors Plan. The recognized restricted stock expense for the year ended December 31, 2007 and2006 was $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The deferred compensation or unrecognized restricted stock expense under the Non-Employee DirectorsPlan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively.The fair value of the stock options used to compute stock-based compensation is the estimated present value at the date of grant using the Black-Scholesoption pricing model. The weighted average fair values of options granted during 2007, 2006, and 2005 were $6.78, $9.68, and $10.55, respectively, usingthe following weighted average assumptions for grants: At December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Expected volatility 55.42% 55.10% 55.10-71.35%Expected dividend yield 0% 0% 0%Expected life (term) 6 Years 6 Years 4-8 Years Risk-free interest rate 4.36% 4.13-4.84% 3.59-4.29%Weighted-average exercise price during the year $11.96 $17.00 $17.14 F-19IndexThe following is a summary of transactions pertaining to the option plans: Shares WeightedAverageExercise PricePer Share WeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm Aggregateintrinsic Value(in thousands) Outstanding December 31, 2004 2,022,495 5.92 Granted 189,500 17.14 Cancelled (102,125) 11.30 Exercised (270,697) 2.65 Outstanding December 31, 2005 1,839,173 7.26 Granted 256,000 17.00 Cancelled (103,072) 13.98 Exercised (263,876) 3.56 $3,444 Outstanding December 31, 2006 1,728,225 8.85 6.31 years 10,255 Granted 185,500 11.96 Cancelled (181,474) 12.02 Exercised (220,088) 3.34 1,811 Outstanding December 31, 2007 1,512,163 9.65 5.83 years 9,156 Exercisable as of December 31, 2007 1,066,215 7.41 4.83 years 8,514 As of December 31, 2007, we estimate that unrecognized pre-tax compensation expense for all unvested stock option awards, in the amount of approximately$1.9 million which will be expensed over the weighted-average period of approximately 1.6 years.The following table presents a summary of options outstanding at December 31, 2007: At December 31, 2007 Stock Options Outstanding Stock Options Exercisable Range of ExercisePrices Shares ContractualWeightedAverage life(years) WeightedAverage Price Shares WeightedExercise Price $1.55 50,898 1.47 $1.55 50,898 $1.55 $3.10 651,557 4.04 3.10 648,357 3.10 $4.00-$13.99 201,500 8.67 11.11 17,400 5.29 $14.00-$19.99 480,708 7.29 15.34 281,660 14.78 $20.00-$25.00 127,500 6.68 22.66 67,900 22.99 1,512,163 5.83 9.65 1,066,215 7.41 12.PENSION PLAN The Company sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of the Company's union employees. Benefits are providedbased on employees' years of service and earnings. This plan was frozen on December 31, 1994 for nonunion employees.F-20IndexThe following table sets forth the plan's funded status and amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 CHANGES IN BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS: Benefit obligation-beginning of year $14,624 $13,961 Service cost 115 110 Interest cost 831 797 Actuarial (gain) loss (965) 218 Benefits paid (543) (462)Benefit obligation at end of year 14,062 14,624 CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS: Fair value of plan assets-beginning of year 15,731 14,330 Actual return on plan assets 570 1,663 Employer contribution - 200 Benefits paid (543) (462)Fair value of plan assets-end of year 15,758 15,731 FAIR VALUE IN EXCESS OF BENEFIT OBLIGATION FUNDED STATUS: $1,696 $1,107 Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of: At December 31, 2007 2006 Noncurrent assets $1,696 $1,107 Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 Loss $(3,537) $(4,062)Deferred income taxes 1,451 1,651 Accumulated other comprehensive loss $(2,086) $(2,411)The accumulated benefit obligation was $13.9 million and $14.5 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the plan: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST (INCOME) Service cost $115 $110 Interest cost 831 797 Expected return on plan assets (1,233) (1,122)Amortization of transition asset - - Amortization of prior service cost - 1 Recognized net actuarial loss 223 316 Net periodic benefit cost (income) $(64) $102 The estimated net loss, transition obligation and prior service cost for the plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into netperiodic benefit cost over the next year are ($0.2) million, $0 million and $0 million.F-21IndexFair value of total plan assets by major asset category as of December 31: 2007 2006 Equity securities 49% 49%Fixed income 37% 36%International equities 14% 14%Cash and equivalents 0% 1%Total 100% 100%Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31: 2007 2006 Discount rate 6.37% 5.82%Rate of compensation increase 4.00% 4.00%Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost for years ended December 31: 2007 2006 2005 Discount rate 5.82% 5.75% 5.75%Rate of compensation increase 4.00% 4.00% 4.00%Long-term rate of return 8.00% 8.00% 8.00%As this plan was frozen to non-union employees on December 31, 1994, the difference between the benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation is notsignificant in any year. The Company invests plan assets based on a total return on investment approach, pursuant to which the plan assets include a diversified blend of equity andfixed income investments toward a goal of maximizing the long-term rate of return without assuming an unreasonable level of investment risk. The Companydetermines the level of risk based on an analysis of plan liabilities, the extent to which the value of the plan assets satisfies the plan liabilities and the plan'sfinancial condition. The investment policy includes target allocations ranging from 30% to 70% for equity investments, 20% to 60% for fixed incomeinvestments and 0% to 10% for cash equivalents. The equity portion of the plan assets represents growth and value stocks of small, medium and largecompanies. The Company measures and monitors the investment risk of the plan assets both on a quarterly basis and annually when the Company assessesplan liabilities. The Company uses a building block approach to estimate the long-term rate of return on plan assets. This approach is based on the capital marketsassumption that the greater the volatility, the greater the return over the long term. An analysis of the historical performance of equity and fixed incomeinvestments, together with current market factors such as the inflation and interest rates, are used to help make the assumptions necessary to estimate a long-term rate of return on plan assets. Once this estimate is made, the Company reviews the portfolio of plan assets and makes adjustments thereto that theCompany believes are necessary to reflect a diversified blend of equity and fixed income investments that is capable of achieving the estimated long-term rate ofreturn without assuming an unreasonable level of investment risk. The Company also compares the portfolio of plan assets to those of other pension plans tohelp assess the suitability and appropriateness of the plan's investments. While the Company does not expect to make any contributions to the plan in 2008, after considering the funded status of the plan, movements in the discountrate, investment performance and related tax consequences, the Company may choose to make contributions to the plan in any given year. The total amount of the Company’s contributions paid under its pension plan was $0 and $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006,respectively. The net periodic benefit income was $64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The net periodic benefit expense was $102,000 for the yearended December 31, 2006.F-22IndexInformation about the expected benefit payments for the plan is as follows: Year Ending December 31, 2008 $657 2009 690 2010 754 2011 786 2012 838 Years 2013-2017 5,388 The Company has a 401(k) defined contribution plan for all eligible employees. Employees may contribute up to 15% of their compensation into the plan. TheCompany will contribute an additional 30% of the employee's contributed amount on the first 6% of compensation. For the years ended December 31, 2007,2006 and 2005 the Company's expense for the 401(k) plan amounted to $1.2 million, $0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively. 13.INCOME TAXES Components of the provision for income taxes from continuing operations were as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Current: Federal $8,538 $12,585 $9,943 State 2,484 3,162 2,648 Total 11,022 15,747 12,591 Deferred: Federal (776) (2,908) 75 State (314) (747) 265 Total (1,090) (3,655) 340 Total provision $9,932 $12,092 $12,931 F-23IndexThe components of the deferred tax assets are as follows: At December 31, 2007 2006 Deferred tax assets Current: Accrued vacation $102 $94 Allowance for bad debts 4,662 4,683 Accrued student fees - 50 Total current deferred tax assets 4,764 4,827 Deferred tax liabilities Current: Accrued student fees (189) - Total current deferred tax liabilities (189) - Total net current deferred tax assets 4,575 4,827 Noncurrent: Accrued rent 2,455 2,177 Stock-based compensation 2,048 1,568 Depreciation 7,554 5,369 Sale leaseback-deferred gain 2,025 1,889 Total noncurrent deferred tax assets 14,082 11,003 Deferred tax liabilities Noncurrent: Other intangibles (2,294) (3,177)Goodwill (5,592) (4,687)Prepaid pension cost (696) (451)Total deferred tax liabilities (8,582) (8,315)Total net noncurrent deferred tax assets 5,500 2,688 Total net deferred tax assets $10,075 $7,515 At December 31, 2005, the Company had $0.8 million of state net operating loss carry-forwards, which were used in 2006. The difference between the actual tax provision (benefit) and the tax provision (benefit) that would result from the use of the Federal statutory rate is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Income from continuing operations beforetaxes $23,759 $29,176 $33,215 Expected tax $8,316 35.0% $10,212 35.0% $11,625 35.0%State tax expense (net of federal benefit) 1,411 6.0 1,570 5.4 1,893 5.7 Resolution of tax contingency (a) - - - - (785) (2.4)Other 205 0.8 310 1.0 198 0.6 Total $9,932 41.8% $12,092 41.4% $12,931 38.9% (a) For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recognized a benefit of approximately $0.8 million resulting from the resolution of a tax contingency.On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provision of Financial Standards Accounting Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty inIncome Taxes (“FIN 48”) an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financialposition. The Company recognizes potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The amount of unrecognized taxbenefit was $0.1 million as of January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007. Included in this balance were positions that, if recognized, would affect the effectivetax rate by $0.1 million as of January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.F-24IndexA reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows: Unrecognized tax benefits balance at January 1, 2007 $100 Gross increases for tax positions of prior years - Gross decreases for tax positions of prior years - Gross increase in current period tax positions - Settlements - Lapse of statue of limitations - Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31, 2007 $100 The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Companyis no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for years before 2004 and generally, is no longer subject to state and local income tax examinationsby tax authorities for years before 2003.Due to the nature and status of the positions taken, management has determined that it is not reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefit willsignificantly increase or decrease during the 12 months ended 31 December 2008.14. SEGMENT REPORTING The Company's principal business is providing post-secondary education. Accordingly, the Company's operations aggregate into one reporting segment. 15.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS On October 15, 2007, the Company entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with Lawrence E. Brown, our former Vice Chairman. Under thisagreement Mr. Brown’s employment terminated as of the close of business on October 31, 2007. For a period of 14 months following the date of separation ofemployment, Mr. Brown may continue to provide transitional services to us, not to exceed ten hours per month. In consideration for a release of claims, theCompany paid Mr. Brown a lump sum cash payment of $0.5 million, subject to withholding, and will reimburse Mr. Brown for the employer-portion of thepremiums due for continuation of coverage under COBRA for a maximum period ending on December 31, 2008. Mr. Brown is entitled to the use of hisautomobile and reimbursement of associated costs by us through December 31, 2008. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Brown agreedto be subject to certain restrictive covenants, which, among other things, prohibit him for the duration of 14 months following the date of separation ofemployment, without our prior written consent, from (i) competing against the Company and (ii) soliciting the Company or any of our affiliates’ orsubsidiaries’ employees, consultants, clients or customers.Pursuant to the Employment Agreement between Shaun E. McAlmont and the Company, the Company agreed to pay and reimburse Mr. McAlmont thereasonable costs of his relocation from Denver, Colorado to West Orange, New Jersey in the year ended December 31, 2006. Such relocation assistanceincluded the purchase by the Company of Mr. McAlmont’s home in Denver, Colorado. The $0.5 million price paid for Mr. McAlmont’s home equaled theaverage of the amount of two independent appraisers selected by the Company. This amount is reflected in property, equipment and facilities in theaccompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company had a consulting agreement with Hart Capital LLC, which terminated by its terms in June 2004, to advise the Company in identifyingacquisition and merger targets and assisting with the due diligence reviews of and negotiations with these targets. Hart Capital is the managing member of FiveMile River Capital Partners LLC, which is the second largest stockholder of the Company. Steven Hart, the President of Hart Capital, is a member of theCompany’s board of directors. In accordance with the agreement, the Company paid Hart Capital approximately $0, and $0.4 million for the years endedDecember 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In connection with the consummation of the NETI acquisition, which closed on January 11, 2005, the Companypaid Hart Capital $0.3 million for its services. In 2003, the Company entered into a management service agreement with its major stockholder. In accordance with this agreement the Company paidStonington Partners a management fee of $0.75 million per year for management consulting and financial and business advisory services for each of the yearsin 2005. Such services included valuing acquisitions and structuring their financing and assisting with new loan agreements. This agreement terminated byits terms upon the Company’s completion of its initial public offering in 2005. F-25Index16.DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES On May 22, 2006, the Company assumed a mortgage note payable (See Note 9) with an accompanying interest rate swap (the “SWAP”) as part of theacquisition of the New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. in the amount of $7.2 million. The Company accounted for the interest rate swapagreement in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended. Under the swap agreement, theCompany paid a fixed rate tied to the one month LIBOR rate until May 1, 2013 and received a variable rate of 6.48%. The SWAP was accounted for as anineffective hedge as it did not meet the requirements set forth under SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, other income (loss) includes a loss of $0.2 million as ofDecember 31, 2006. The Company repaid the mortgage note in November 2006. As a result the SWAP agreement was terminated in 2006 and the Companyreceived $0.2 million for the fair market value. 17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Lease Commitments—The Company leases office premises, educational facilities and various equipment for varying periods through the year 2020 at basicannual rentals (excluding taxes, insurance, and other expenses under certain leases) as follows: Year Ending December 31, Finance Obligations Operating Leases Capital Leases 2008 $1,381 $16,398 $256 2009 1,381 15,245 167 2010 1,381 13,135 161 2011 1,381 12,401 161 2012 1,381 11,984 93 Thereafter 5,641 64,270 - 12,546 133,433 838 Less amount representing interest (12,546) - (133) $- $133,433 $705 On December 28, 2001, the Company completed a sale and a leaseback of four owned facilities to a third party for net proceeds of approximately$8.8 million. The initial term of the lease is 15 years with two ten-year extensions. The lease is an operating lease that starts at $1.2 million in the first yearand increases annually by the consumer price index. The lease includes an option near the end of the initial lease term to purchase the facilities at fair value, asdefined. This transaction is being accounted for as a lease obligation. The net proceeds received have been reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as afinance obligation. The lease payments are included as a component of interest expense. Rent expense, included in operating expenses in the accompanying financial statements for the three years ended December 31, 2007 is $16.7 million,$15.7 million, and $15.1 million, respectively. Interest expense related to the financing obligation in the accompanying financial statements for the yearsended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 is $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Capital Expenditures—The Company has entered into commitments to expand or renovate campuses. These commitments are in the range of $3.0 to $5.0million in the aggregate and are due within the next 12 months. Litigation and Regulatory Matters—In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, butnot limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution oflawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding to which we are a party will have amaterial adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation or cash flows.Student Loans—At December 31, 2007, the Company had committed to fund approximately $15.5 million in student financing.Vendor Relationship—On April 1, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with Snap-on Industrial which expires on March 31, 2011. The Companyhas agreed to grant Snap-on exclusive rights to our certain automotive campuses to display advertising and to train our students with the exception of one pre-existing vendor contract. The Company earns credits that are redeemable for tools and equipment based on the number of automotive graduates quarterly. Inaddition, credits are earned on our purchases as well as purchases made by students enrolled in our automotive programs. Snap-on receivable for credits notredeemed for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $0.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively. In October 1, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Snap-on exclusively for our Queens, NY campus opened March 27, 2006 which expires onNovember 30, 2011. We have agreed to grant Snap-on exclusive rights to in school advertising and supplying all student training tools and equipment, as wellas our automotive equipment purchases. In exchange, Snap-on agrees to advance tools and equipment needed to build out the school, not to exceed $1.0million at list price. The equipment advance is offset by credits earned through purchases by the Queens campus and their students. Snap-on liabilityresulting from advanced equipment received in excess of credits earned for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, was $0.6 million and $0.6 million,respectively.F-26IndexExecutive Employment Agreements—The Company entered into employment contracts with key executives that provide for continued salary payments ifthe executives are terminated for reasons other than cause, as defined in the agreements. The future employment contract commitments for such employees wereapproximately $2.8 million at December 31, 2007. Change in Control Agreements—In the event of a change of control several key executives will receive continue salary payments based on their employmentagreements. Surety Bonds—Each of our campuses must be authorized by the applicable state education agency in which the campus is located to operate and to grantdegrees, diplomas or certificates to its students. The campuses are subject to extensive, ongoing regulation by each of these states. In addition, our campusesare required to be authorized by the applicable state education agencies of certain other states in which our campuses recruit students. The Company isrequired to post surety bonds on behalf of our campuses and education representatives with multiple states to maintain authorization to conduct our business.At December 31, 2007, we have posted surety bonds in the total amount of approximately $14.0 million.18. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION Quarterly financial information for 2007 and 2006 is as follows (in thousands except per share data): Quarter 2007 First Second Third Fourth Revenues $76,170 $74,744 $86,566 $90,294 Operating (loss) income (1,164) 1,966 8,079 17,013 (Loss) income from continuing operations (930) 768 4,370 9,620 Loss from discontinued operations (688) (2,468) (2,331) - Net (loss) income (1,618) (1,700) 2,039 9,620 (Loss) income per share: Basic (Loss) earnings per share from continuing operations $(0.04) $0.03 $0.17 $0.38 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.02) (0.10) (0.09) - Net (loss) income per share $(0.06) $(0.07) $0.08 $0.38 Diluted (Loss) earnings per share from continuing operations $(0.04) $0.03 $0.17 $0.37 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.02) (0.10) (0.09) - Net (loss) income per share $(0.06) $(0.07) $0.08 $0.37 F-27Index Quarter 2006 First Second Third Fourth Revenues $72,612 $72,647 $81,911 $83,460 Operating income 5,299 2,523 5,580 17,219 Income from continuing operations 3,108 1,406 2,788 9,799 Loss from discontinued operations (346) (440) (556) (207)Net income 2,762 966 2,232 9,592 Income per share: Basic Earnings per share from continuing operations $0.12 $0.06 $0.11 $0.39 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.01) (0.02) (0.02) (0.01)Net income (loss) per share $0.11 $0.04 $0.09 $0.38 Diluted Earnings per share from continuing operations $0.12 $0.05 $0.11 $0.38 Loss per share from discontinued operations (0.01) (0.01) (0.02) (0.01)Net income per share $0.11 $0.04 $0.09 $0.37 19.DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS On July 31, 2007 the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at the Company’s Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, Norcross,Georgia and Henderson, Nevada campuses. As a result of the above decision, the Company reviewed the related goodwill and long-lived assets for possibleimpairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment orDisposal of Long-Lived Assets.”As of September 30, 2007, all operations had ceased at these campuses and, accordingly, the results of operations of these campuses have been reflected in theaccompanying statements of operations as “Discontinued Operations” for all periods presented.The results of operations at these three campuses for each of the three year period ended December 31, 2007 were comprised of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 2005 Revenue $4,230 $10,876 $11,853 Operating expenses (13,760) (13,493) (14,432) (9,530) (2,617) (2,579)Benefit for income taxes (4,043) (1,085) (1,004)Loss from discontinued operations $(5,487) $(1,532) $(1,575)F-28IndexLINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in thousands) Description Balance atBeginning ofPeriod Charged toExpense Accounts Written- off Balance at Endof Period Allowance accounts for the year ended: December 31, 2007 Student receivable allowance $11,536 $17,767 $(17,900) $11,403 December 31, 2006 Student receivable allowance $7,647 $15,590 $(11,701) $11,536 December 31, 2005 Student receivable allowance $7,023 $11,188 $(10,564) $7,647 F-29Exhibit 10.12 [Standard Form of Stock Option Agreement]LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTLincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”) hereby grants you, _______________________ (the “Optionee”), an option (the“Option”) under the Company’s 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase Ordinary Shares (“Shares”) of the Company. Subject to theprovisions of the Plan and the Option Rules attached hereto as Exhibit A, the principal features of the Option are as follows: Date of Grant Exercise Price per Share$______________Number of Optioned Shares_______________Type of Option:___Incentive Stock Option (ISO) (to the extent permitted by applicable laws) ___Nonstatutory Stock Option (NSO)Expiration Date:10 years from the Date of GrantVesting Schedule The Option shall become exercisable, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Option Rules (attached hereto as Exhibit A)and the following vesting schedule: The Option shares shall vest on [ ____ ], subject to your continuing to be an employee or consultant (a “Service Provider”) through these dates. Option Termination: Event Triggering Option TerminationMaximum Time to Exercise After Triggering Event* Termination of Service, other than for Cause (except asprovided below)30 daysTermination of Service for CauseImmediatelyTermination of Service due to Disability6 monthsTermination of Service due to death6 monthsResignationImmediately*However, in no event may the Option be exercised after the Expiration Date. It is your responsibility to exercise the Option, if you so desire,before it expires or terminates. Your signature below indicates your agreement, understanding, and acceptance that the Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions containedin Exhibit A and the Plan. Please be sure to read all of Exhibit A, which contains the specific terms and conditions of the Option. This Option Agreement does not represent a securities interest in the Company, which interest may accrue only upon the exercise of the Option inaccordance with its terms. LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATIONOPTIONEE [Title] Signed Date Date  EXHIBIT AOPTION RULES 1. Grant of Option. The Committee hereby grants to the Optionee under the Plan the right to purchase the number of Shares set forth on thefirst page of this Option Agreement (the “Grant Notice”), at the Exercise Price per Share set forth in the Grant Notice, and subject to all of the terms andconditions in this Option Agreement and the Plan, a copy of which the Optionee acknowledges having received. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock Option at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of Shareswith respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under the Plan or any other plan ofthe Company) shall not exceed US$100,000. If the Option is designated in the Grant Notice as an Incentive Stock Option, all or a portion of the Option maynonetheless be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. 2. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms in this Option Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to thoseterms in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shallprevail unless otherwise indicated. “Cause” shall mean (unless otherwise defined in an agreement between the Service Provider and the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in whichcase the term “Cause” as used herein with respect to such Service Provider shall have the meaning ascribed to it therein), (i) the Service Provider’s willfulfailure to perform the duties of his or her employment or consultancy in any material respect, (ii) malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of aService Provider’s duties of employment or consultancy, (iii) the Service Provider’s conviction of a felony under the laws of the United States or any statethereof (whether or not in connection with his or her employment or consultancy), (iv) the Service Provider’s intentional or reckless disclosure of trade secretsor confidential or proprietary information respecting the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ business to any individual or entity which is not in theperformance of the duties of his or her employment or consultancy, (v) the Service Provider’s commission of an act or acts of sexual harassment that wouldnormally constitute grounds for termination, or (vi) any other act or omission by the Service Provider (other than an act or omission resulting from the exerciseby the Service Provider of good faith business judgment), which is materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company orany of its affiliates; provided, however, that in the case of (i) and (ii) above, a Service Provider shall not be deemed to have been terminated for cause unless hehas received written notice of the alleged basis therefor from the Company, and fails to remedy the matter within thirty (30) days after he has received suchnotice, except that no such “cure opportunity” shall be required in the case of two separate episodes giving the Company, the right to terminate for cause forsuch reason occurring within any 12-month period. 3. Exercise of Option. (a) Right to Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable during its term cumulatively according to the Vesting Schedule set out in theGrant Notice and with the applicable provisions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option shall not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. (b) Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable to the extent then vested by delivery of a written exercise notice in the formattached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Exercise Notice”), which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Optionis being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be signed by the Optionee(or by the Optionee’s beneficiary or other person entitled to exercise the Option in the event of the Optionee’s death under the Plan) and shall be delivered inperson or by certified mail to the Secretary of the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to allShares exercised. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised as of the date (the “Exercise Date”) (i) the Company receives (as determined by the Committee inits sole, but reasonable, discretion) the fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price and (ii) all other applicableterms and conditions of the Option Agreement are satisfied.  (c) Issuance of Shares. After receiving the Exercise Notice, the Company shall cause to be issued a certificate or certificates for theShares as to which the Option has been exercised, registered in the name of the person exercising this Option (or in the names of such person and his or herspouse as community property or as joint tenants with right of survivorship). The Company shall cause the certificate or certificates to be deposited with theCompany’s designated stock option provider for the account of the Optionee. 4. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following forms of consideration, or a combinationthereof, at the election of the Optionee: (a) cash or check; (b) at the discretion of the Committee and if the Shares are publicly traded, consideration received by the Company under a formalcashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or (c) at the discretion of the Committee, surrender of other Shares which, if accepted by the Company, would not subject the Companyto adverse accounting as determined by the Committee. 5. Non-Transferability of Option. The Option and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, pledged or otherwisetransferred (whether by operation of law or otherwise) in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution, shall not be subject tosale under execution, attachment, levy or similar process and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of the Planand the Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, Committees, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee. 6. Term of Option. The Option shall in any event expire on the expiration date set forth in the Grant Notice, and may be exercised prior to theexpiration date only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement. 7. Tax Obligations. (a) Withholding Taxes. The Optionee shall make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or Subsidiary employing or retainingthe Optionee) for the satisfaction of all U.S. Federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the Optionexercise. The Optionee hereby acknowledges, understands and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if thewithholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise. (b) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of Shares. If the Option granted to the Optionee herein is designated as an Incentive StockOption, and if the Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option on or before the later of (1) thedate two years after the Date of Grant and (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of suchdisposition. The Optionee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Optionee may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensationincome recognized by the Optionee in connection with the exercise of the Option. 8. Adjustment of Shares. In the event of any transaction described in Section 13(b) of the Plan, the terms of the Option (including, withoutlimitation, the number and kind of the Optioned Shares and the Exercise Price) may be adjusted as set forth in Section 13(b) of the Plan. This OptionAgreement shall in no way affect the right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge,consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer any part of its business or assets. 9. Legality of Initial Issuance. No Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of the Option unless and until the Company has determined that:(i) the Company and the Optionee have taken all actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) orto perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof, if applicable; (ii) all applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange or other securitiesmarket on which the Shares are listed have been satisfied; and (iii) all other applicable provisions of state or U.S. federal law or other applicable laws havebeen satisfied. - 2 - 10. Securities Law Restrictions. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the SecuritiesAct or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company at its discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge orother transfer of the Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on share certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in thejudgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary or desirable in order to achieve compliance with the Securities Act, the securities laws of any state orany other applicable laws. 11. General Provisions. (a) Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this Option Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personaldelivery or upon deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to theCompany at its principal executive office and to the Optionee at the address that he or she most recently provided to the Company. (b) Successors and Assigns. Except as provided herein to the contrary, this Option Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefitof the parties to this Option Agreement, their respective successors and permitted assigns. (c) No Assignment. Except as otherwise provided in this Option Agreement, the Optionee shall not assign any of his or her rights under thisOption Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion. The Company shall be permitted toassign its rights or obligations under this Option Agreement, but no such assignment shall release the Company of any obligations pursuant to this OptionAgreement. (d) Severability. The validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Option Agreement shall not be affected even if one or more ofthe provisions of this Option Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect. (e) Administration. Any determination by the Committee in connection with any question or issue arising under the Plan or this OptionAgreement shall be final, conclusive, and binding on the Optionee, the Company, and all other persons. (f) Headings. The section headings in this Option Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience, and in no way define, limit orinterpret the scope of this Option Agreement or of any particular section. (g) Counterparts. This Option Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed anoriginal, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. (h) Entire Option Agreement; Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this OptionAgreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings andagreements of the Company and the Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except bymeans of a writing signed by the Company and the Optionee. This Option Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contractsexecuted in and to be performed in that State. 12. No Guarantee of Continued Service. THE OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARESPURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THECOMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THE OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER). THEOPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS OPTION AGREEMENT, THE OPTION GRANTED HEREUNDER, THETRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE ANEXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD,OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH THE OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATETHE OPTIONEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE. o O o - 3 - EXHIBIT B LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANEXERCISE NOTICE Lincoln Educational Services Corporation200 Executive Drive, Suite 340West Orange, New Jersey 07052 Attention: Secretary 1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, _____________, _____, the undersigned (the “Optionee”) hereby elects to exercise theOptionee’s option to purchase _________ Ordinary Shares (the “Shares”) of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”), under andpursuant to the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Share Option Agreement dated ____________, ____ (the “Option Agreement”). Unlessotherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms in this notice of exercise (the “Exercise Notice”) shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the Plan. 2. Delivery of Payment. The Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the full Exercise Price of the Shares with respect to which theOptionee is exercising the Option, and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option. 3. Representations of the Optionee. The Optionee hereby acknowledges that the Optionee has received and read, and understands the Plan andthe Option Agreement, including the Option Rules, and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions. 4. Rights as Stockholder. Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a dulyauthorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the OptionedShares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised inaccordance with the Option Agreement. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuanceexcept as provided in Section 13 of the Plan. 5. Tax Consultation. The Optionee hereby acknowledges that he or she understands that the Optionee may suffer adverse tax consequences asa result of the Optionee’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. The Optionee hereby represents that the Optionee has consulted with any tax consultants theOptionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that the Optionee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice. 6. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by the Optionee or by the Companyforthwith to the Committee, which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final andbinding on all parties. 7. Governing Law; Severability. This Exercise Notice is governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed inand to be performed in that State. 8. Entire Agreement. The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice, the Plan, and the OptionAgreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings andagreements of the Company and the Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except bymeans of a writing signed by the Company and the Optionee. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Exercise Notice is deemed made as of the date first set forth above. Submitted by: Accepted by: OPTIONEE LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION Signature By Print Name Title Address: Date ReceivedEXHIBIT 10.13 [Standard Form of Restricted Stock Agreement] LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENTDate of Award: __________________ Participant: __________________ Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”) hereby grants the Participant [_____] shares of restricted common stock of theCompany (the “Restricted Shares”), pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). This grant of the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, including, but not limited to,the transfer restrictions set forth in Section C hereof and the cancellation provisions of Section B hereof. The Plan provides a complete description of the termsand conditions governing all Awards granted thereunder. This Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as amended from time totime, and to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt under the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between the Plan and this Award Agreement,the Plan’s terms (or applicable rules and regulations of the Committee) shall control and supersede and replace any terms of this Award Agreement that conflictwith the terms of the Plan. All capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein. (A)Vesting Schedule. (1)Subject to the Participant’s continued employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company Group”), [ ____ ] of theRestricted Shares shall vest on [ ____ ] (each, a “Vesting Date”). Any fractional Restricted Shares resulting from the application ofthe vesting schedule shall be aggregated and the Restricted Shares resulting from such aggregation shall vest [ ____]. (2)Upon vesting, the Restricted Shares shall no longer be subject to the transfer restrictions pursuant to Section C or cancellationpursuant to Section B. (B)Termination of Employment and Change in Control. Unless otherwise set forth in an employment agreement between the Company and theParticipant in effect as of the Date of Grant, if, prior to a Vesting Date, the Participant’s employment with the Company Group terminatesfor any reason, the unvested Restricted Shares shall be cancelled immediately and the Participant shall immediately forfeit any rights to theRestricted Shares; provided, however, that in accordance with Section 6(c) of the Plan, the Committee may elect, in its sole discretion,prior to or in connection with such termination of employment, or upon a Change in Control, to provide for the vesting and payment ofsome or all of the Participant’s then outstanding Restricted Shares. (C)Transferability. Pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan, the Restricted Shares are not transferable other than by last will and testament or bythe laws of descent and distribution, and the Participant’s rights under this Award Agreement shall be exercisable during the Participant’slifetime by the Participant only.  (D)Rights as a Stockholder. The Participant shall have, with respect to the Restricted Shares, all the rights of a stockholder of the Company,including, if applicable, the right to vote the Restricted Shares and to receive any dividends, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Planand this Award Agreement. (E)Dividends and Distributions. Any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company received by the Participant as a result of adistribution to holders of Restricted Shares or as a dividend on the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions as the relatedRestricted Shares, and all references to Restricted Shares hereunder shall be deemed to include such shares of Common Stock or othersecurities. (F)Share Certificates. The certificate representing the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Shares shall be held in custody bythe Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed. As a condition of the award of Restricted Shares, the Participant shall deliverto the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such shares of Common Stock. The Committee may cause a legend orlegends to be put on the certificate to make appropriate reference to such restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan oras may be required by the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any exchange that liststhe shares of Common Stock, and any applicable federal or state laws. (G)No Entitlements (1)The Restricted Shares are discretionary awards. Neither this Award Agreement nor the Plan confers on the Participant any right orentitlement to receive compensation or bonus in any specific amount for any future fiscal year (including, without limitation, anygrants of future Awards under the Plan) and do not impact in any way the Company Group’s determination of the amount, if any, ofthe Participant’s compensation or bonus. The Restricted Shares do not constitute salary, wages, regular compensation, recurrentcompensation or contractual compensation for the year of grant or any later year and shall not be included in, nor have any effect on,the determination of employment-related rights or benefits under law or any employee benefit plan or similar arrangement provided bythe Company Group (including, without limitation, severance, termination of employment and pension benefits), unless otherwisespecifically provided for under the terms of such plan or arrangement or by the Company Group. The benefits provided pursuant tothe Restricted Shares are in no way secured, guaranteed or warranted by Company Group. (2)The Restricted Shares are awarded to the Participant by virtue of the Participant’s employment with, and services performed for, theCompany Group. Neither this Award Agreement nor the Plan constitutes an employment agreement. Nothing in either this AwardAgreement or the Plan shall modify the terms of the Participant’s employment. (3)Subject to the terms of any applicable employment agreement, the Company reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of theParticipant’s employment, including the division, subsidiary or department in which the Participant is employed. This AwardAgreement, the Plan, the grant of Restricted Shares, and/or any action taken or omitted to be taken under this Award Agreement or thePlan shall not be deemed to create or confer on the Participant any right to be retained in the employ of the Company Group, or tointerfere with or to limit in any way the right of the Company Group to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time. Moreover,the termination of employment provisions set forth in Section (B) only apply to the treatment of the Restricted Shares in the specifiedcircumstances and shall not otherwise affect the Participant’s employment relationship. By accepting this Award Agreement, theParticipant waives any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of the Participant’s office oremployment for any reason whatsoever insofar as those rights arise or may arise from the Participant’s ceasing to have rights under, orbe entitled to receive payment in respect of, the Restricted Shares as a result of such termination, or from the loss or diminution invalue of such rights or entitlements. This waiver applies whether or not such termination amounts to a wrongful discharge or unfairdismissal. 2 (H)Miscellaneous. (1)The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on the Restricted Shares as it deems necessary or advisable underapplicable federal securities laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listedand/or traded, and/or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares. It is expressly understood that theCommittee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and thisAward Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant. (2)The Board may, at any time, or from time to time, terminate, amend, modify or suspend the Plan, and the Board or the Committeemay amend or modify this Award Agreement at any time; provided, however, that no termination, amendment, modification orsuspension shall materially and adversely alter or impair the rights of the Participant under this Award Agreement without theParticipant’s written consent. (3)Shares of restricted stock are not subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section409A”). Notwithstanding the forgoing or any provision of the Plan or this Award Agreement, if any provision of this AwardAgreement or the Plan contravenes Section 409A or could cause the Participant to incur any tax, interest or penalties under Section409A, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the Participant’s consent, modify such provision to (i) comply with, oravoid being subject to, Section 409A, or to avoid the incurrence of any taxes, interest and penalties under Section 409A, and/or (ii)maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Participant of the applicable provisionwithout materially increasing the cost to the Company or contravening the provisions of Section 409A. This Section (H)(3) does notcreate an obligation on the part of the Company to modify the Plan or this Award Agreement and does not guarantee that the RestrictedShares will not be subject to taxes, interest and penalties under Section 409A. (4)Vesting of the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the Participant satisfying all applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes(including the Participant’s FICA obligation). The Company shall have the power and the right to (i) deduct or withhold from allamounts payable to the Participant in connection with the Restricted Shares or otherwise, or (ii) require the Participant to remit to theCompany, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable taxes required by law. Further, the Company may permit or require theParticipant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the tax obligations by withholding Shares that would otherwise be received upon vesting ofthe Restricted Shares. (5)This Award Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmentalagencies or national securities exchanges as may be required, or the Committee determines are advisable. The Participant agrees to takeall steps the Company determines are necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law inexercising his rights under this Award Agreement. (6)All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Award Agreement, with respect to the Restricted Shares, shall be binding onany successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger,consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. (7)To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Award Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws ofthe State of New York. 3 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Award Agreement has been executed by the Company by one of its duly authorized officers as of the Dateof Award. LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION By: Name: Title: 4Exhibit 21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company The following is a list of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation’s subsidiaries: Name Jurisdiction Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. (wholly owned) New Jersey New England Acquisition LLC (wholly owned) Delaware Southwestern Acquisition LLC (wholly owned) Delaware Nashville Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) Delaware Euphoria Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) Delaware New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) Florida Florida Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned) Delaware ComTech Services Group Inc. (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) New Jersey Exhibit 23 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-126066, 333-132749 and 333-138715 on Form S-8 and inRegistration Statement No. 333-148406 on Form S-3 of our reports dated March 13, 2008 relating to the consolidated financial statements and financialstatement schedule of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (which report expressed an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraphrelating to the adoption of the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”), and the effectiveness of internalcontrol over financial reporting appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation for the year ended December 31,2007. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLPParsippany, New JerseyMarch 13, 2008 EXHIBIT 31.1 CERTIFICATION I, David F. Carney, certify that: 1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation; 2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make thestatements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by thisreport; 3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects thefinancial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined inExchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under oursupervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by otherswithin those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under oursupervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for externalpurposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about theeffectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s mostrecent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely tomaterially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to theregistrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which arereasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internalcontrol over financial reporting. Date: March 17, 2008 /s/ David F. Carney David F. Carney Chairman & Chief Executive Officer EXHIBIT 31.2 CERTIFICATION I, Cesar Ribeiro, certify that: 1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation; 2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make thestatements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by thisreport; 3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects thefinancial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined inExchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under oursupervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by otherswithin those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under oursupervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for externalpurposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about theeffectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s mostrecent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely tomaterially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to theregistrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which arereasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internalcontrol over financial reporting. Date: March 17, 2008 /s/ Cesar Ribeiro Cesar Ribeiro Chief Financial Officer EXHIBIT 32 CERTIFICATION Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 as adopted bySection 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Each of the undersigned, David F. Carney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”),and Cesar Ribeiro, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has executed this certification in connection with the filing with the Securities and ExchangeCommission of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31 2007 (the “Report”). Each of the undersigned hereby certifies that, to his respective knowledge: 1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of theCompany. Date: March 17, 2008/s/ David F. Carney David F. Carney Chairman & Chief Executive Officer /s/ Cesar Ribeiro Cesar Ribeiro Chief Financial Officer 

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