No. 37920 (Amendment): Section R277-410-3. Accreditation of Public Schools

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 37920
Filed: 08/14/2013 10:21:25 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Elementary charter schools are no longer required to be members of and accredited by AdvancED Northwest. Only secondary schools, as defined in Subsection R277-410-1(H), are required to be accredited, consistent with traditional schools.

Summary of the rule or change:

Charter school language is removed from Subsection R277-410-3(B) because accreditation is is no longer required.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-402(1)(c)(i)
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget. Individual charter schools are and have been responsible for membership and accreditation.

local governments:

There may be some savings to charter schools that are no longer required to be accredited. Costs are too speculative at this time to determine.

small businesses:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to small businesses. The accreditation provider is not a small business.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. The change to the rule affects charter schools and businesses.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. Non-secondary (K-6) charter school accreditation is no longer required.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

It is possible that there may be some costs to the accreditation provider if non-secondary (K-6) charter schools choose not to continue to be accredited. The costs would probably be minimal because the membership fees paid by non-secondary (K-6) charter schools are offset by the services provided by the accreditation provider.

Martell Menlove, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

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:

10/01/2013

This rule may become effective on:

10/08/2013

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-410. Accreditation of Schools.

R277-410-3. Accreditation of Public Schools.

A. The USOE 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. Utah public secondary schools, as defined in R277-410-1H[, and all charter schools,] and consistent with R277-481-3A(2), shall be members of AdvancED Northwest and be accredited by AdvancED Northwest.

C. Utah public elementary and middle schools that desire accreditation shall be members 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. All AdvancED Northwest accredited schools 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.

 

KEY: accreditation, public schools, nonpublic schools

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [September 21, 2012]2013

Notice of Continuation: August 1, 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-402(1)(c); 53A-1-401(3)

 

---