DAR File No. 27708

Education, Administration

R277-413

Accreditation of Secondary Schools, Alternative or Special Purpose Schools

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 27708
Filed: 02/15/2005, 05:02
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to add and clarify definitions, outline accreditation protocol and standards, and make practice consistent with provisions of the rule.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments add and clarify definitions, add the requirement that public junior high and middle schools that include ninth grade must be accredited through Northwest, include new provisions for the written report, require the schools to demonstrate financial responsibility, and update other terminology.

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. Any additional requirements do not add additional costs to the process.

local governments:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to local government. Junior high and middle schools that include ninth grade do not need to be members of Northwest to be accredited.

other persons:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to other persons. Only schools are accredited.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. Only schools are accredited.

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.

R277-413. Accreditation of Secondary Schools[, Alternative or Special Purpose Schools].

R277-413-1. Definitions.

[B]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.

[E]B. "[Accreditation Standards ]Annual Report[ (Annual Report)]" means a document that explains a school's compliance with educational standards and progress provided by the school in its school improvement plan. The school improvement plan is a dynamic document that reflects changes and progress made by the school community. The Annual Report also provides definitions and criteria required by Northwest for accreditation.

[A]C. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

[F]D. "Northwest" means Northwest Association of Accredited Schools[ and Colleges (Northwest)" means] the regional accrediting association of which Utah is a member.

[G]E. "Secondary school" for the purpose of this rule means a school [encompassing]that includes grades 9-12 including public, private, parochial, alternative, and special purpose schools offering credits toward high school graduation or diplomas or both.

[C]F. "State Committee" means the State Accreditation Committee, which is composed of public school [principals]administrators, school district personnel, private and special purpose school representatives, and USOE personnel.

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

H. "Visiting team" means a team composed of three to eight active educators as determined by the size of the school, trained by the USOE in accreditation procedures and standards.

R277-413-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board, 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:

(1) specify the standards and procedures by which secondary schools shall become accredited by the Board; and

(2) [allow]provide for additional requirements, which are unique to the state of Utah to be added to the Northwest Annual Report.

R277-413-3. Accreditation Classifications; Reports.

A. The Board accepts the Northwest standards as the basis for its accreditation standards for [high ]school accreditation.

B. The Board [also ]requires the satisfaction of additional specific Utah standards in addition to required Northwest standards, to satisfy [its]Utah accreditation [requirements]for Utah public schools.

C. A school shall complete the Annual Report [prepared]provided by Northwest and submit the report to the USOE.

D. A school shall have a complete school evaluation and site visit at least once every six years to maintain its accreditation.

E. The USOE may require on-site visits as often as necessary when it receives notice of accreditation problems, as determined by Northwest, the USOE, or the State Committee.

F. The school's accreditation rating is recommended by the State Committee following a review of a school's Annual Report. Final approval of the rating is determined by the Board.

G. The classification ratings for accredited schools as designated by Northwest shall be:

(1) Approved: a school is classified as ["]approved["] when it equals or exceeds the standards approved by Northwest and the Board.

(2) Approved with comment: a school is classified as ["]Northwest/Board approved with comment["] when it has only minor deviations from specific standards.

(3) Advised: a school is classified as ["]advised["] when there are deviations from one or more standard(s). Schools shall also be classified as ["]advised["] when no observable effort has been made, by the second year, to correct deviations from a standard upon which comment was made in the previous year.

(4) Warned: a school is classified as ["]warned["] when there are substantial deviations from one or more standard(s). A ["]warned["] classification is usually given after a school has been ["]advised["] and the deviation persists in the next Annual Report. A school may be ["]dropped["] after two consecutive ["]warned["] classifications, as recommended by the State Committee to the Board.

H. An accredited school may not be dropped to a non-accredited status without first receiving a ["]warned["] classification. Exceptions to this procedure may be made due to discrepancies between information provided on the Annual Report and data received or by observations of the State Committee.

I. If a school disagrees with the recommendation of the State Committee, it may appeal as [is ]outlined in [Northwest]the USOE accreditation policies and procedures, maintained at the USOE.

J. All [high]Northwest schools shall submit their Annual Report to the USOE by October 15 of each year.

K. Public junior high and middle schools that include 9th grade shall be visited and assigned status at least every six years by the USOE using Northwest accreditation standards. The schools are not required, however, to be members of Northwest or file annual reports.

R277-413-4. Accreditation Procedures[ for Evaluation and Classification].

A. The evaluation of secondary schools for the purpose of accreditation [and classification ]is a cooperative activity in which the school, the [local ]school district, the USOE, and Northwest share [major ]responsibilities. [Basic to the operation of the program is a]A school's self-evaluation, development, and implementation of a school improvement plan are the crucial primary steps toward accreditation.[

B. Middle level schools' membership in Northwest is optional, but all middle level schools will complete the accreditation process.]

[C]B. A school seeking Northwest accreditation for the first time shall submit a membership application to Northwest. The accepted application shall be forwarded to the USOE.

(1) Upon a visit by USOE staff verifying a school's compliance with accreditation standards, the school shall then receive initial accreditation and become a ["]Candidate["] member.

(2) Within three years of initial accreditation, a ["C]candidate["] school shall complete a self-evaluation utilizing [the National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE) document, SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT: FOCUSING ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE available from Northwest or]materials and protocols recommended and provided by the USOE.[ Following the self-evaluation, a site visit shall take place.]

[(3) A visiting team assigned by USOE shall be sent to the school to review the self-evaluation materials, visit classes, and talk with staff and students.

(4) The visiting team shall present its finding in the form of a written report. The report shall be sent to the school, district superintendent, and USOE.

(5) The USOE staff shall review the visiting team report with the State Committee and Northwest and recommend appropriate accreditation status to the Board.

(6) The Board is the final accrediting authority.](3) Candidate schools shall be visited annually until they have completed their first self-evaluation.

[D]C. [Continuing accreditation is]Northwest accredited schools shall be subject to:

(1) compliance with Northwest membership requirements;

([1]2) receipt and review of annual reports by the State Committee;

(3) satisfactory review by the State Committee, Northwest, and final Board approval[ by the Board.];

([2]4) a new self-evaluation and site visit at least every six years[; and] by a visiting team assigned by the USOE to review the self-evaluation materials, visit classes, and talk with staff and students as follows:

(a) The visiting team shall present its finding in the form of a written report in a timely manner. The report shall be provided to the school, school district superintendent, USOE staff, and the Board.

(b) USOE staff shall review the visiting team report, consult with the State Committee and Northwest and recommend appropriate accreditation status to the Board.

D. Following review and acceptance, accreditation visiting team reports are public information and are available online.

E. The Board is the final accrediting authority.

R277-413-5. Board Accreditation Standards.

A. [The following]Board accreditation standards include Northwest standards and Utah-specific requirements. Each standard requires the school to answer a series of questions and provide information as directed.

B. Standard I - The Education Program

(1) Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

(a) Philosophy and [O]objectives;

(b) Administrative [P]policies and [P]practices;

(c) Program of [S]studies[ - Core Curriculum];

(d) Technology in the [C]curriculum;

(2) Utah-specific requirements which shall be satisfied and may be addressed under the Northwest standards:

(a) State [G]graduation and [C]credit [R]requirements (consistent with requirements of R277-700, The Elementary and Secondary School Core Curriculum[ and High School Graduation Requirements]);

(i) Core [C]curriculum;

(ii) Assessments;

(iii) [Statewide]Standardized [T]testing, under Sections 53A-1-601 through 53A-1-611.

(b) Length of [S]school [D]day and [S]school [Y]year (consistent with requirements of R277-419, Pupil Accounting);

(c) Title IX, (which is incorporated by reference) [C]compliance;

(d) [Instructional Materials (consistent with requirements of R277-408, Expenditures for Instructional Supplies Required in Utah Public Schools;

(e) ]Special [E]education (consistent with requirements of R277-750, Education Programs for Students with Disabilities);[

(f) Accelerated Learning (consistent with requirements of R277-710, Accelerated Learning Programs.]

C. Standard II - Student Personnel Services

(1) Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

(a) Special [S]services including school services and community [S]services;

(b) Program of [C]comprehensive [S]services (available for students including counselors, social workers, school nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists);

(c) Personnel and [O]organization (ratios and services);

(d) Postsecondary [S]services;

(e) Student [C]conduct and [A]attendance;

(2) Utah-specific requirements which shall be satisfied and may be addressed under the Northwest standards:

(a) Comprehensive [G]guidance (consistent with requirements of R277-462, Comprehensive Guidance Program);

(b) Student Educational Occupational Plan (SEOP) (consistent with requirements of R277-462, Comprehensive Guidance Program and R277-911, Secondary Applied Technology Education);

(c) School [F]fees (consistent with requirements of R277-407, School Fees);

(d) Student [C]conduct and [A]attendance (consistent with Section 53A-11-901).

D. Standard III - School Plant and Equipment

(1) Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

(a) Adequacy;

(b) Function;

(c) Assurances;

(2) Utah-specific requirements which shall be satisfied and may be addressed under the Northwest standards:

(a) School [E]emergency [Preparedness]response [P]plans (consistent with requirements of R277-400, School Emergency [Preparedness]Response Plans);

(b) Design, [C]construction, [O]operations, [S]sanitation, and [S]safety of [S]schools (consistent with requirements of R392-200, Design, Construction, Operation, Sanitation, and Safety of Schools).

E. Standard IV - Library Media Program - [

(1) ]Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

([a]1) Student [P]performance [O]objectives;

([b]2) Use of [C]center;

([c]3) Staffing;

([d]4) Facilities;

([e]5) Equipment;

([f]6) Collection and [A]alternative [R]resources such as bookmobiles, or electronic resources.[

(2) Utah-specific requirements which shall be satisfied and may be addressed under the Northwest standards:]

F. Standard V - Records

(1) Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

(a) Safekeeping;

(b) Minimum [I]information;

(c) Handling of student records; and

(2) Utah-specific requirements which shall be satisfied and may be addressed under the Northwest standards:

(a) Student [R]records (consistent with requirements of [Section 53A-13-301 (Utah Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)]the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 USC, Sec. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99).

G. Standard VI - School Improvement (Northwest and Utah requirements):[

] A school shall submit pertinent information about its community support, school profile, school mission statement, school goals, and implementation of those goals.

H. Standard VII - Preparation of Personnel

(1) Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

(a) Preparation of [P]professional [P]personnel;

(b) Paraprofessional or [N]non-professional [P]personnel;

(c) [Exceptions]Alternatives to the [S]standard [T]teacher [P]preparation;

(d) Professional [P]preparation [D]deficiency [R]report;

(e) [Staff]Professional [D]development

(f) Excessive [T]turnover and [E]efficiency of [I]instruction;

(g) Incentive [P]programs for [T]teachers and [S]students; and

(2) Utah-specific requirements which shall be satisfied and may be addressed under the Northwest standards:

(a) [Staff]Professional [D]development as required by the Board; and

(b) Professional and ethical [C]conduct of [S]staff[;

(c) Career Ladder Participation (consistent with requirements of R277-526, Career Ladders in Education)].

I. Standard VIII - Administration - [

(1) ]Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

([a]1) Responsibility and [L]leadership; and

([b]2) Administrative [S]staff [S]size.

J. Standard IX - Teacher Load - [

(1) ] Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

([a]1) Maximum [T]teacher [L]load; and

([b]2) Personnel [S]schedule.

K. Standard X - Student Activities - [

(1) ]Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

([a]1) Student [A]activities; and

([b]2) Audit for [S]student [A]activity [F]funds and [B]bond [R]requirements for [P]persons [M]managing [S]student [F]funds.

L. Standard XI - Business Practices - Northwest requirements as provided in the Annual Report:

(1) Financial responsibility, including solvency and student fees proportionate to expenditures;

(2) Student tuition and fees policies; and

(3) Advertising about the school and school program that is only truthful and positive.

KEY: accreditation

[March 22, 1999]2005

Notice of Continuation February 26, 2004

Art X Sec 3

53A-1-402(1)

53A-1-401(3)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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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.