R277.  Education, Administration.
R277-410.  Accreditation of Schools.
R277-410-1.  Authority and Purpose.
	(1)  This rule is authorized by:
	(a)  Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board;
	(b)  Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; and
	(c)  Section 53E-3-501, which directs the Board to establish rules governing school accreditation.
	(2)  The purpose of this rule is to require qualifying secondary schools to be accredited.

R277-410-2.  Definitions.
	For the purposes of this rule:
	"Qualifying secondary school" means a public school that:
	(1)  includes any of grades 9-12; or
	(2)  offers credits toward high school graduation.

R277-410-3.  Accreditation of Public Schools.
	(1)  A qualifying secondary school shall obtain accreditation from a regional accrediting body.
	(2)  If a qualifying secondary school does not obtain accreditation before the beginning of the school's second year of operation, the credit awarded by the qualifying secondary school is considered earned from a non-accredited source as described in Section R277-705-3:
	(a)  for the school's first year of operation; and
	(b)  until the school becomes accredited.
	(3)(a)  In addition to standards set by an accrediting body, the Superintendent shall establish Utah-specific assurances demonstrating compliance with state law and Board rule.
	(b)  The Superintendent shall ensure that qualified secondary schools meet the Utah-specific assurances described in Subsection (3)(a).
	(4)  The Superintendent may require on-site visits as part of the accreditation process.

R277-410-4.  Transfer or Acceptance of Credit.
	(1)  A qualifying secondary school shall accept transfer credits from an accredited qualifying secondary school consistent with Section 53G-7-206 and Section R277-705-3.
	(2)  A qualifying secondary school may accept transfer credits from other credit sources consistent with Section R277-705-3.

KEY:  accreditation, public schools, nonpublic schools
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment:  August 7, 2017
Notice of Continuation:  June 6, 2017
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-501(1)(c); 53E-3-401(4)