DAR File No. 27705

Education, Administration

R277-410

Accreditation of Schools

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 27705
Filed: 02/15/2005, 04:20
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to add and clarify definitions and update accreditation practices.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments add definitions, clarify the Northwest Accreditation process, and provide that public schools shall accept credit from all Northwest accredited schools.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsection 53A-1-402(1)(c)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget. The Utah State Office of Education responsibilities have been similar under all accreditation practices for more than 10 years.

local governments:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to local government. The same practice has been in place for more than 10 years.

other persons:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to other persons. The same practice has been in place for more than 10 years.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. The same practice has been in place for more than 10 years.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule, and I see no fiscal impact on businesses. Patti Harrington, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at clear@usoe.k12.ut.us

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

03/31/2005

This rule may become effective on:

04/01/2005

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Coordinator School Law and Legislation

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-410. Accreditation of Schools.

R277-410-1. Definitions.

A. "Accreditation" means formal Northwest and Board approval of a school that has met standards considered by the Board to be essential for the operation of a quality school program.

B. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

C. "Elementary school" for the purpose of this rule means grades K-6 in whatever kind of school the grade levels exists.

D. "Middle school" for the purpose of this rule means grades 7-8 in whatever kind of school the grade levels exist.

E. "Northwest" means the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, the regional accrediting association of which Utah is a member.

F. "Secondary school" for the purpose of this rule means a school that includes grades 9-12 that offers credits toward high school graduation or diplomas or both in whatever kind of school the grade levels exist.

[C]G. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

R277-410-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized under Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board, by Section 53A-1-402(1)(c) which directs the Board to adopt rules for school accreditation, and Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. The purpose of this rule is to specify accreditation procedures and responsibility for public schools for which accreditation is required and for [private]nonpublic schools which voluntarily request [Board]Northwest accreditation.

R277-410-3. Accreditation of Public Schools.

[A. The accreditation program of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges is the accreditation program for high schools, special purpose schools, schools containing grades kindergarten through twelve, elementary schools, junior high schools, and middle schools.

B. Elementary schools, junior high schools, and middle schools may instead elect to be accredited in accordance with the standards and procedures adopted in R277-411 or R277-412.

C. All schools, except non-accredited elementary schools, shall complete the annual accreditation report and file it in accordance with USOE procedures.

D. Application for actual accreditation is voluntary.]A. The USOE has responsibility to facilitate accreditation by the Board for Utah public schools. The Board is not responsible for the accreditation of nonpublic schools, including private, parochial, or other independent schools.

B. Utah public secondary schools, as defined in R277-410-1F, including charter schools, shall be members of Northwest and be accredited by Northwest, except as exempted by R277-412-3C and R277-413-3K.

C. Utah public elementary and middle schools, as defined in R277-410-1C and D, including charter schools, that desire accreditation shall be members of Northwest and meet the requirements of R277-413. Northwest accreditation is optional for Utah elementary and middle schools.

D. All Northwest accredited schools shall complete the annual accreditation report and file the report in accordance with USOE procedures.

E. If a school includes grade levels for which accreditation is both mandatory and optional, the school shall be accredited in its entirety.

R277-410-4. Transfer of Credit.

[A. If a school is accredited by any member of the International Council of School Accreditation Commissions, credit earned at that school is accepted at face value in the public schools in Utah.

B. Credit shall be accepted at face value in the public schools of Utah if a private school is evaluated under the credit approval criteria as established by the Board. Criteria shall include:

(1) Application for credit approval to the Board;

(2) Accreditation by a regional or national organization representing the category of the applicant school. The school's accreditation team shall include a representative from the USOE and shall have included at least the following:

(a) a written self evaluation;

(b) a listing of the school's course offerings;

(c) a description of the process for appointment and evaluation of faculty;

(d) a review of finance, governance, faculty and long range planning;

(3) A description of how the subject matter credits requested for transfer relate to the State Core Curriculum standards.

C. If a school is not accredited, the school district to which the credit is to be transferred may decide whether or not to accept the credit earned at the non-accredited school consistent with Section R277-700-6.]A. Utah public schools shall accept student credit at face value from public schools accredited by Northwest and by regional or third party accrediting associations recognized by Northwest.

B. Utah public schools shall accept student credit at face value from a nonpublic school if the school was evaluated by Northwest consistent with the following credit approval criteria:

(1) the accreditation was by a regional or national organization representing the appropriate category of the applicant school;

(2) the school's accreditation team included a USOE representative;

(3) the accreditation included the school's written self-evaluation;

(4) the accreditation required a listing of the school's course offerings; and

(5) the accreditation required a description of the process for appointment, qualifications and evaluation of school faculty and administrators; and

C. The credits designated for acceptance by the public school shall include a description or explanation of the nonpublic school's credits' comparability to Utah Core Curriculum requirements. Credits that do not compare to Utah Core Curriculum standards/requirements may be accepted as elective credit only.

D. If a school is not accredited, or if the accredited school did not satisfy all criteria of R277-410-4B, the school requested to accept the credit has discretion in accepting the credit.

KEY: accreditation, public schools, [private]nonpublic schools

[November 3, 1998]2005

Notice of Continuation September 12, 2002

Art X Sec 3

53A-1-402(1)(c)

53A-1-401(3)

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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at clear@usoe.k12.ut.us

For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules (801-538-3764). Please Note: The Division of Administrative Rules is NOT able to answer questions about the content or application of these administrative rules.