DAR File No. 41775
This rule was published in the July 1, 2017, issue (Vol. 2017, No. 13) of the Utah State Bulletin.
Education, Administration
Rule R277-410
Accreditation of Schools
Notice of Proposed Rule
(Amendment)
DAR File No.: 41775
Filed: 06/09/2017 12:23:02 PM
RULE ANALYSIS
Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:
Rule R277-410 is amended to update the rule and remove outdated language.
Summary of the rule or change:
The amendments to Rule R277-410 provide removal of any references to accrediting bodies, outdated language, and provide technical and conforming changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah.
Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:
- Section 53A-1-401
- Art X, Sec 3
- Section 53A-1-402
Anticipated cost or savings to:
the state budget:
Updating the rule and removing outdated language will likely not result in a cost or savings to the state budget.
local governments:
Updating the rule and removing outdated language will likely not result in a cost or savings to local government.
small businesses:
Updating the rule and removing outdated language will likely not result in a cost or savings to small businesses.
persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:
Updating the rule and removing outdated language will likely not result in a cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.
Compliance costs for affected persons:
Updating the rule and removing outdated language will likely not result in any compliance costs for affected persons.
Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:
After conducting a thorough analysis, it was determined that the amendments to this rule will not result in a fiscal impact to businesses.
Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent
The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:
EducationAdministration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272
Direct questions regarding this rule to:
- Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]
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:
07/31/2017
This rule may become effective on:
08/07/2017
Authorized by:
Angela Stallings, Deputy Superintendent, Policy and Communication
RULE TEXT
R277. Education, Administration.
R277-410. Accreditation of Schools.
R277-410-[2]1. Authority and Purpose.
[A.](1) This rule is authorized [under]by:
(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests
general control and supervision [of]over public education in the Board[, by ];
(b) Section 53A-1-401, which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; and
(c) S[ubs]ection 53A-1-402[(1)(c)(i)], which directs the Board to [adopt]establish rules [for]governing school accreditation[, and Subsection 53A-1-401(3), which allows the Board to
adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities].
[B.](2) The purpose of this rule is to [specify accreditation procedures and responsibility for
public schools for which accreditation is required or sought
voluntarily and for nonpublic schools which voluntarily request
AdvancED Northwest accreditation]require qualifying secondary schools to be accredited.
R277-410-[1]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.
[A. "Accreditation" means the formal process for
internal and external review and approval under the Standards for
the Northwest Accreditation Commission, a division of Advance
Education Inc., (AdvancED).
B. "AdvancED" means the provider of
accreditation services based on standards, student performance
and stakeholder involvement and nonprofit resource offering
school improvement and accreditation services to education
providers.
C. "Board" means the Utah State Board of
Education.
D. "Elementary school" for the purpose of this
rule means grades no higher than grade 6.
E. "Junior high school" for purposes of this
rule means grades 7 through 9.
F. "Middle school" for the purpose of this rule
means grades no lower than grade 5 and no higher than grade 8 in
any combination.
G. "Northwest" means the Northwest
Accreditation Commission, the regional accrediting association of
which Utah is a member. Northwest is an accreditation division of
AdvancED.
H. "Secondary school" for the purpose of this
rule means a school that includes grades 9-12 that offers credits
toward high school graduation or diplomas or both in whatever
kind of school the grade levels exist.
I. "State Council" means the State
Accreditation Council, which is composed of 15- 20 public school
administrators, school district personnel, private and special
purpose school representatives, and USOE personnel. The members
are selected to provide statewide representation and volunteer
their time and service.
J. "Superintendent" means the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Superintendent's
designee.]
R277-410-3. Accreditation of Public Schools.
[A. The Superintendent has responsibility to facilitate
accreditation by the Board for Utah public schools. The Board is
not responsible for the accreditation of nonpublic schools,
including private, parochial, or other independent
schools.
B. A Utah public secondary school, as defined in
R277-410-1H and consistent with R277-481-3A(2), shall be a member
of AdvancED Northwest and be accredited by AdvancED
Northwest.
C. A Utah public elementary or middle school that desires
accreditation shall be a member of AdvancED Northwest and meet
the requirements of R277-410-5 and R277-410-6. AdvancED Northwest
accreditation is optional for Utah elementary and middle
schools.
D. An AdvancED Northwest accredited school shall complete
and file reports in accordance with AdvancED Northwest
protocols.
E. If a school includes grade levels for which
accreditation is both mandatory and optional, the school shall be
accredited in its entirety.]
(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. Accreditation Status; Reports.
A. The Board accepts the AdvancED Northwest Standards for
Quality Schools as the basis for its accreditation standards for
school accreditation.
B. A Utah public school seeking accreditation shall meet
additional specific Utah assurances in addition to required
AdvancED Northwest standards.
C. A school shall complete reports as required by
AdvancED Northwest and submit the report to the appropriate
recipients.
D. A school shall have a complete school evaluation and
site visit at least once every five years to maintain its
accreditation.
E. The Board or Superintendent may require on-site visits
as often as necessary when the Superintendent receives notice of
accreditation problems, as determined by the Superintendent,
AdvancED Northwest, or its State Council.
F. The school's accreditation status is recommended
by the State Council following a review of the report of the
school's External Review. Final approval of the status is
determined by the AdvancED Commission and approved by the
Board.
R277-410-5. Accreditation Procedures.
A. The evaluation of secondary schools for the purpose of
accreditation is a cooperative activity in which the school, the
school district, the Superintendent, and AdvancED Northwest share
responsibilities. A school's internal review, development,
and implementation of a school improvement plan are crucial steps
toward accreditation.
B. A school seeking AdvancED Northwest accreditation for
the first time shall submit a membership application to AdvancED.
The accepted application shall be forwarded to the AdvancED
Managing Office Director.
(1) If a school's application for membership is
accepted by AdvancED, the Utah AdvancED Managing Office shall
schedule an on-site Readiness Review. Upon successful completion
of the Readiness Review, the school may become a candidate for
accreditation. Candidate schools are not accredited until such
status is officially granted.
(2) A school may remain in candidacy for no more than two
years prior to hosting an External Review Team accreditation
visit. The External Review Team shall be staffed with at least
two qualified educators verifying a school's compliance with
accreditation standards. Following approval by both the Utah
AdvancED Council and the AdvancED Commission, the school shall
receive accreditation. A school may request an External Review
accreditation visit prior to year two if the school has
sufficient student and financial data.
C. AdvancED Northwest accredited schools shall be subject
to:
(1) compliance with AdvancED Northwest membership
requirements;
(2) satisfactory review by the AdvancED State Council,
AdvancED Northwest Commission and Board approval;
(3) a site visit at least every five years by an external
review team to review the internal review materials, visit
classes, and talk with staff and students as follows:
(a) The external review 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 or
local charter board chair, and other appropriate
parties.
(b) AdvancED staff shall review the external review team
report, and consult with the Utah AdvancED Council. The AdvancED
Commission shall grant accreditation status if
appropriate.
D. Following review and acceptance, accreditation
external review team reports are public information and are
available upon request.
R277-410-6. Elementary School Accreditation.
A. Elementary schools desiring accreditation shall be
members of AdvancED Northwest and meet the standards required for
such accreditation as outlined in this rule.
B. The accreditation of Utah elementary schools is
optional; interested elementary schools may apply to AdvancED
Northwest for accreditation.
C. Accreditation shall take place under the direction of
AdvancED Northwest.
R277-410-7. Junior High and Middle School Accreditation.
A. Junior high and middle schools desiring accreditation
shall be members of AdvancED Northwest and meet the standards
required for such accreditation as outlined in this
rule.
B. The accreditation of Utah middle schools is optional;
interested middle schools may apply to AdvancED Northwest for
accreditation.
C. Public junior high and middle schools that include
grade 9 shall be members of AdvancED Northwest and be visited and
assigned status by AdvancED Northwest.
D. The AdvancED Northwest accreditation standards
provided in this rule are applicable to a junior high or middle
school in the school's entirety if the school includes grade
9 consistent with R277-410-6C.
R277-410-8. Board Accreditation Standards.
A. Board accreditation standards include AdvancED
Standards for Quality Schools and Utah-specific requirements.
Each standard requires the school to respond to a series of
indicator statements and provide evidence of compliance as
directed.
B. Utah-specific assurances include essential information
sought from schools to demonstrate alignment with Utah law and
Board rules. Utah-specific assurances are available from the USOE
Teaching and Learning Section.]
R277-410-[9]4. Transfer or Acceptance of Credit.
[A.](1)
A[Utah public]qualifying secondary school[s] shall accept transfer credits from
an accredited
qualifying secondary school[s] consistent with
Section 53A-13-108.5 and Section R277-705-3.
[B.](2)
A[Utah public]qualifying secondary school[s] 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 26, 2015]2017
Notice of Continuation: July 1, 2015
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3;
53A-1-402(1)(c); 53A-1-401[(3)]
Additional Information
More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.
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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [email protected]. For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Office of Administrative Rules.