(a)  No person, unincorporated society, association, or corporation desiring to operate a school or program as defined in this chapter shall be permitted to establish and maintain a school or program unless and until an application has been filed with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and suitable provision has been made to fulfill any minimum requirements of adequate faculty, health, safety, sanitation, site, physical plant, educational program, and any other standards that may be established through rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. Upon satisfactory compliance with the standards as established by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, along with the certification by the appropriate fire, health, and building inspectors, the school or program shall be approved for a period of one year, which approval shall require renewal unless sooner revoked by the commissioner for cause.

(b)  Upon application to establish a school or program as defined in this chapter or to renew the application, the applicant will submit the names of its owner, officers, and employees. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education may request the bureau of criminal identification of the state police to conduct a nationwide criminal records check of the owners, officers, and employees of the school or program and the bureau of criminal identification of the state police will conduct criminal records checks on request. To accomplish nationwide criminal records checks, the commissioner may require owners, officers, and employees of the schools or programs to be fingerprinted by the bureau of criminal identification of the state police. The commissioner may examine these criminal records checks to aid in determining the suitability of the applicant for approval or renewal of approval.