Code of Maine Rules
05 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
071 - EDUCATION - GENERAL
Chapter 232 - STANDARD CRITERIA FOR MAINE SECONDARY VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Appendix 071-232-A - ACCREDITATION, SCHOOL APPROVAL AND PROGRAM REVIEW

SCHOOL ACCREDITATION

In accordance with Title 20-A, Section 4511, the State Board and the Commissioner shall jointly adopt rules establishing accreditation standards for secondary schools. Further, specific requirements are set forth which constitute the guidelines for excellence in school programs.

All school administrative units operating a secondary school shall undergo the state accreditation process on a five-year cycle as established by the Commissioner. The law also provides for the establishment of alternate procedures for accreditation of secondary schools jointly with the Now England Association of Schools and Cottages or its successor.

BASIC SCHOOL APPROVAL

Visitations wilt be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Chapters 125 and 127 of the Education Reform Act of 1984. The review wilt be conducted by a team from the Bureau of Adult and Secondary Vocational Education in accordance with a master calendar developed for all basic school approval visitations conducted by DE.

The school approval visitation wilt include an audit of instructional time, school calendar, common school facilities, staffing patterns, student assessment and evaluation, guidance and counseling, health services and safety procedures, school records, third party inspection reports, library facilities and the development of the school improvement plan.

individual vocational program review reports wilt be included, but individual programs wilt not be reviewed a second time.

VOCATIONAL PROGRAM REVIEWS

Program reviews are conducted by the program consultants utilizing the Standard Criteria for Vocational Programs as the governing document. These reviews result in an audit and recommendations at the program level. Conducted prior to the school approval visitation, the date from these individual program reviews feeds into the school approval process thereby minimizing duplicate or overlapping program reviews.

The individual vocational program review will address the program of study, curriculum development and content, equipment, facilities, methods of instruction, enrollment, advisory committee activity, student organizations, safety, and special services. Time allocated for the reviews wilt very but should not take longer then one day per program.