Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. Application for State Approval for Traditional and Alternative Programs.
(1) A provider shall submit an application for new program approval to the Department that includes the following:
(a) A description of the program and other administrative information, including the plan for implementing Department-mandated program components as defined in Regulation .07 of this chapter;
(b) A plan to recruit racially and ethnically diverse candidates; and
(c) Documentation that the program is aligned to national content standards, or documentation of the process required in Regulation .07C when national content standards are not available, including:
(i) A needs assessment demonstrating the demand for program completers in the employment market and demand by potential candidates, which may be met by documentation provided to the Commission;
(ii) The curriculum for the program and a course sequence chart, including syllabi for any new courses;
(iii) Descriptions of the expected outcomes of the programs and how those outcomes will be assessed;
(iv) Key assessments in the program, using rubrics aligned to national content standards and Maryland-approved PreK-12 competencies;
(v) Vitae for all faculty administering or delivering instruction in the program; and
(vi) Descriptions of materials, media, and resources available for the program, and how technology is integrated into the curriculum or program.
(2) A provider shall notify the Department not later than 6 months before applying for State approval.
B. The Department shall issue a letter of approval to the provider to begin operation of a program or programs when the provider has met the requirements of this chapter.
C. The Department shall include the following in the approval letter:
(1) Name of the provider;
(2) Location of the provider;
(3) List of programs leading to certification;
(4) Description of degree or degrees, and certificates awarded on completion of the program; and
(5) Length of approval.
D. A provider shall operate its program in a manner that is consistent with the specifications in its approval letter and the requirements of this chapter.
E. If a provider plans a change in operation that is inconsistent with the specifications in its approval letter, the provider shall notify the Department in writing not later than 6 months before the intended change and include a letter from the Commission indicating approval of the change, if required by the Commission.
F. A provider may not implement a change in the operation of a program until the Department has been notified and has determined whether a change to the approval letter is required.
G. The Department may not approve a change in an approval letter under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The program status is approval with conditions, unless the provider provides sufficient evidence that the change is necessary to meet all approval requirements;
(2) The program is on probation;
(3) The program has not filed its annual report with the Department;
(4) The Department is investigating a written complaint alleging that the provider's program is in violation of one or more regulations under this chapter, unless the change is necessary to bring the program into compliance with this chapter; or
(5) The Department is implementing procedures and sanctions as specified in Regulation .11 of this chapter.
H. The Department shall notify a provider that a requested change may not be implemented in writing within 30 days of the date of the written request.
I. A provider shall inform the Department in writing not later than 90 calendar days before a program stops operating and provide an exit plan for current students that includes notification to those students.
J. The approval letter is void if:
(1) The provider stops operating a program; or
(2) The State Superintendent issues a final order requiring the program to stop operations.
