Current through Register No. 12, March 21, 2024
(a)
Accrediting agencies that want to be considered for recognition shall be
identified in one of the following ways:
(1)
An accrediting agency may directly request recognition;
(2) A school seeking program approval may
request recognition of an accrediting agency; or
(3) A member of the NSAC may request
recognition of an accrediting agency.
(b) Applicants seeking approval from the
state board as an agency recognized by the department for program approval
shall:
(1) Apply for recognition to the
department by submitting a letter of intent and the following:
a. A brief history of the agency;
b. A statement as to the scope of operations,
indicating whether it is a regional, national, or state agency;
c. A definition of the purpose, character,
and scope of its activities as described in its charter or by-laws and written
standards for accreditation or recognition;
d. The agency's organization including its
governance and administrative structures, a description of its ownership and
control and the type of legal organization, including but not limited to
tax-exempt or proprietary;
e.
Financial information including its fee structure, current operating statement,
and most recent independent certified opinion audit;
f. A description of procedures used in the
evaluation of schools by the agency including documentation that a school shall
be required to provide, which shall include a visit to verify the written
documentation, and who participates in school visitations;
g. Definitions of levels of recognition or
accreditation status and written procedures for providing due process in
granting, denying, continuing, or revoking accredited or recognized status;
and
h. Frequency of evaluation of
schools for continued accreditation or recognition; and
(2) Submit documentation of the agency's
accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency.
(c) Agencies seeking program approval shall
have a process for reviewing nonpublic school programs which, at a minimum,
evaluates the adequacy for ensuring the well-being of students enrolled based
on the following criteria:
(1) School mission
statement and educational philosophy;
(2) Governance;
(3) School facilities;
(4) School health and safety
programs;
(5) Curriculum;
(6) Staff qualifications;
(7) Admissions process;
(8) Graduation requirements for high schools
only;
(9) Process for assessing
student performance;
(10) Financial
management;
(11) Student support
services;
(12) Co-curricular
activities;
(13) Parent
involvement;
(14) School and
community relations; and
(15)
Residential life if applicable.
(d) The NSAC shall review applications for
program approval. If the NSAC finds that the application meets the requirements
of Ed 405.01(b) and Ed 405.01(c), it shall recommend the agency to the state
board for recognition.
(e) The
board shall review the NSAC recommendation and take one of the following
actions:
(1) Upon finding that the application
meets the requirements of Ed 405.01(b) and Ed 405.01(c) the board shall
identify the applicant as a recognized agency for program approval;
or
(2) Disapprove the application
if, in the opinion of a majority of board members one or more of the following
conditions exist:
a. Additional information
has been received which indicates that the applicant is not eligible to be a
recognized agency for program approval;
b. The information submitted by the applicant
as required in Ed 405.01(b) and Ed 405.01(c) is determined by the state board
to be incomplete, inaccurate, or false;
c. The NSAC misapplied a statute or
administrative rule in making its recommendation; or
d. The NSAC did not follow proper procedures
in reviewing the application.
(f) The department shall publish the list of
recognized agencies for program approval at least annually.
(g) An agency may at any time submit written
notification to the department that it does not wish to be recognized. Upon
receipt of such a request the department shall remove the agency's name from
the list of recognized agencies and shall notify all schools that have
previously been granted program approval through accreditation by the
withdrawing agency.
(h) Program
approval status for any school previously accredited by an agency whose name
has been withdrawn from the list of recognized accrediting agencies shall
remain in effect until the date of expiration of the most recent approval by
the state board.
(i) The NSAC shall
review those agencies previously recognized for program approval every 10 years
and make one of the following approval recommendations to the board:
(1) Full approval for a period of 10 years,
if the NSAC finds that the agency meets the requirements of Ed 405.01(b) and Ed
405.01(c);
(2) Conditional approval
for a period of 2 to 3 years when deficiencies are found that are not serious
enough to warrant non-approval, but are serious enough to warrant attention and
review; or
(3)
Non-approval.
(j) The
board shall review the NSAC recommendation and take one of the actions
enumerated in Ed 405.01(i).
(k)
Previously recognized agencies shall be reviewed by the NSAC prior to the
expiration of the most recent approval when information becomes known to the
NSAC which indicates:
(1) The agency might no
longer be meeting the requirements of Ed 405.01(c); or
(2) The agency has acted in an unfair or
unlawful manner in conducting accreditations.
(l) Agencies that have been recognized for
program approval may request to be removed from the list of recognized
agencies.
#4961, eff 10-26-90; EXPIRED 10-26-96
New. #6366, eff 10-30-96, EXPIRED:
10-30-04
New. #8263, eff 1-22-05; ss by
#9753, eff 7-10-10; ss by #10360, eff
6-15-13
