PERMANENT RULES
Purpose: The proposed changes to the rule will allow the State Board of Education to approve third party accrediting bodies to recommend schools for accreditation by the state board. The third party accrediting bodies would have to meet certain criteria to be approved by the state board.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending chapter 180-55 WAC.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.150.220(4), 28A.305.130(6), and 28A.305.140.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-04-075 on February 1, 2005.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 1, Amended 2, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: March 18, 2005.
March 24, 2005
Larry Davis
Executive Director
OTS-7772.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-04-093, filed 2/3/04,
effective 3/5/04)
WAC 180-55-005
Purposes and authority.
(1) Purposes.
The provision of school accreditation procedures by the state
board of education is designed to serve the following
purposes:
(a) Support the state board's long-term vision of a performance-based education system under WAC 180-51-001 by aligning school accreditation requirements to continuous improvement of student learning, achievement, and growth;
(b) Promote educational excellence and equity for every student through enhancement of the quality and effectiveness of the school's educational program in safe and supportive learning environments;
(c) Promote staff growth and commitment to the learning of every student;
(d) Build stronger links with families, parents, and the community by reaching consensus about educational expectations through family, parent, and community involvement;
(e) Provide a statement of accountability to the public;
(f) Assure that school districts, under the district
policy on recognizing earned credits under WAC 180-51-050,
shall accept credits earned from schools or programs,
accredited by the state board of education((, the Northwest
Association of Schools,)) or other accrediting body as may be
recognized by the state board of education pursuant to WAC
((180-55-150)) 180-55-017; and
(g) Facilitate the sharing of effective schools practices and positive impacts on student learning through an external appraisal process.
(2) Authority. The authority for this chapter is RCW 28A.305.130(6).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.150.220(4), 28A.305.140, and 28A.305.130(6). 04-04-093, § 180-55-005, filed 2/3/04, effective 3/5/04; 02-18-056, § 180-55-005, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130(6). 91-04-015, § 180-55-005, filed 1/28/91, effective 2/28/91. Statutory Authority: 1990 c 33. 90-17-009, § 180-55-005, filed 8/6/90, effective 9/6/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.04.120(4). 81-08-027 (Order 2-85), § 180-55-005, filed 3/26/81.]
(2) "Approved private school" shall mean a school approved by the state board of education pursuant to chapter 28A.195 RCW and chapter 180-90 WAC.
(3) "Accredited" status shall be assigned to public or state board of education approved private schools that:
(a) Complete and meet fully state board of education requirements for accreditation as described in WAC 180-55-020, or;
(b) Participate and qualify in accordance with standards
and procedures established by ((the Northwest Association of
Schools (NAS))) accrediting bodies or processes recognized by
the state board of education.
(4) "School improvement plan" shall mean the same as described under WAC 180-16-220 (2)(b) and (d).
(5) "Continuous improvement process" shall mean the ongoing process used by a school to monitor, adjust, and update its school improvement plan.
(6) "Self-review" shall mean the same as described under WAC 180-16-220 (2)(c).
(7) "Appraisal" shall mean an objective, external appraisal of a school's self-review activities and school improvement plan pursuant to WAC 180-55-020(5).
(8) "Recognized accrediting body" shall mean an organization recognized by the state board of education and listed on the state board website.
(9) "Recognized accrediting process" shall mean the state board of education process managed through the educational service districts.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.150.220(4), 28A.305.140, and 28A.305.130(6). 04-04-093, § 180-55-015, filed 2/3/04, effective 3/5/04; 02-18-056, § 180-55-015, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/28/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130(6). 91-04-015, § 180-55-015, filed 1/28/91, effective 2/28/91. Statutory Authority: 1990 c 33. 90-17-009, § 180-55-015, filed 8/6/90, effective 9/6/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.04.120(4). 84-11-050 (Order 8-84), § 180-55-015, filed 5/17/84; 81-08-027 (Order 2-85), § 180-55-015, filed 3/26/81.]
(b) Accrediting bodies recognized by the state board of education shall verify that standards for schools seeking accreditation through them meet or exceed the school accreditation standards pursuant to WAC 180-16-220.
(c) Accrediting bodies recognized by the state board of education for the specific purpose of accrediting state board approved private schools, prior to being considered by the state board for recognition, shall have their accreditation standards verified for compliance under (b) of this subsection by a private school advisory committee established by the superintendent of public instruction. If verified, the committee may recommend the accrediting body to the state board for recognition.
(d) A list of recognized accrediting bodies will be maintained on the website of the state board of education.
(2)(a) Public school districts must be approved by the state board of education prior to a school in the district being recommended by a state board of education recognized accrediting body for state accreditation consideration.
(b) Public schools may not seek accreditation through a sectarian affiliated accrediting body. Public schools may seek accreditation through a state board of education recognized accrediting body or process and be recommended for state accreditation consideration.
(c) Private schools must be approved by the state board of education prior to being recommended by a state board of education recognized accrediting body or process for state accreditation consideration.
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