Text: HSB00729 Text: HSB00731 Text: HSB00700 - HSB00799 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 273.3, subsection 12, Code 1995, is 1 2 amended to read as follows: 1 3 12. Prepare an annual budget estimating income and 1 4 expenditures for programs and services as provided in sections 1 5 273.1 to 273.9 and chapter 256B within the limits of funds 1 6 provided under section 256B.9 and chapter 257. The board 1 7 shall give notice of a public hearing on the proposed budget 1 8 by publication in an official county newspaper in each county 1 9 in the territory of the area education agency in which the 1 10 principal place of business of a school district that is a 1 11 part of the area education agency is located. The notice 1 12 shall specify the date, which shall be not later than March 1 1 13 of each year, the time, and the location of the public 1 14 hearing. The proposed budget as approved by the board shall 1 15 then be submitted to the state board of education, on forms 1 16 provided by the department, no later than March 15 preceding 1 17 the next fiscal year for approval. The state board shall 1 18 review the proposed budget of each area education agency and 1 19 shall before April 1, either grant approval or return the 1 20 budget without approval with comments of the state board 1 21 included. An unapproved budget shall be resubmitted to the 1 22 state board for final approval not later than April 15. For 1 23 the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and each succeeding 1 24 fiscal year, the state board shall give final approval only to 1 25 budgets submitted by area education agencies accredited by the 1 26 state board or that have been given conditional accreditation 1 27 by the state board. 1 28 Sec. 2. Section 273.3, Code 1995, is amended by adding the 1 29 following new subsections: 1 30 NEW SUBSECTION. 22. Meet not less than twice annually 1 31 with the members of the boards of directors of the school 1 32 districts located within its boundaries. 1 33 NEW SUBSECTION. 23. Administer not more than two 1 34 divisions within the agency, which shall be a division of 1 35 special education, pursuant to section 273.5, and a division 2 1 of instructional services, which shall encompass media 2 2 services, educational services, and management services 2 3 provided through the agency. 2 4 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 273.10 ACCREDITATION OF AREA 2 5 EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 2 6 1. The department of education shall develop, in 2 7 consultation with the area education agencies, and establish 2 8 an accreditation process for area education agencies by July 2 9 1, 1997. At a minimum, the accreditation process shall 2 10 consist of the following: 2 11 a. The timely submission by an area education agency of 2 12 information required by the department on forms provided by 2 13 the department. 2 14 b. The use of an accreditation team appointed by the 2 15 director of the department of education to conduct an 2 16 evaluation, including an on-site visit of each area education 2 17 agency. The team shall include, but is not limited to, 2 18 department staff members, representatives from the school 2 19 districts served by the area education agency being evaluated, 2 20 area education agency staff members from area education 2 21 agencies other than the area education agency that conducts 2 22 the programs being evaluated for accreditation, and other team 2 23 members with expertise as deemed appropriate by the director. 2 24 2. Prior to a visit to an area education agency, the 2 25 accreditation team shall have access to that area education 2 26 agency's program audit report filed with the department. 2 27 After a visit to an area education agency, the accreditation 2 28 team shall determine whether the accreditation standards for a 2 29 program have been met and shall make a report to the director 2 30 and the state board, together with a recommendation as to 2 31 whether the programs of the area education agency should 2 32 receive initial accreditation or remain accredited. The 2 33 accreditation team shall report strengths and weaknesses, if 2 34 any, for each accreditation standard and shall advise the area 2 35 education agency of available resources and technical 3 1 assistance to further enhance the strengths and improve areas 3 2 of weakness. An area education agency may respond to the 3 3 accreditation team's report. 3 4 3. The state board of education shall determine whether a 3 5 program of an area education agency shall receive initial 3 6 accreditation or shall remain accredited. Approval of area 3 7 education agency programs by the state board shall be based 3 8 upon the recommendation of the director of the department of 3 9 education after a study of the factual and evaluative evidence 3 10 on record about each area education agency program in terms of 3 11 the accreditation standards adopted by the state board. 3 12 Approval, if granted, shall be for a term of three years. 3 13 However, the state board may grant conditional approval for a 3 14 term of less than three years if conditions warrant. 3 15 4. If the state board of education determines that an area 3 16 education agency's program does not meet accreditation 3 17 standards, the director of the department of education, in 3 18 cooperation with the board of directors of the area education 3 19 agency, shall establish a remediation plan prescribing the 3 20 procedures that must be taken to correct deficiencies in 3 21 meeting the program standards, and shall establish a deadline 3 22 date for correction of the deficiencies. The remediation plan 3 23 is subject to the approval of the state board. 3 24 5. The area education agency program shall remain 3 25 accredited during the implementation of the remediation plan. 3 26 The accreditation team shall visit the area education agency 3 27 and shall determine whether the deficiencies in the standards 3 28 for the program have been corrected and shall make a report 3 29 and recommendation to the director and the state board of 3 30 education. The state board shall review the report and 3 31 recommendation and shall determine whether the deficiencies in 3 32 the program have been corrected. 3 33 6. If the deficiencies in an area education program have 3 34 not been corrected, the agency board shall take one of the 3 35 following actions within sixty days from removal of 4 1 accreditation: 4 2 a. Merge the deficient program with a program from another 4 3 accredited area education agency. 4 4 b. Contract with another area education agency or other 4 5 public educational institution for purposes of program 4 6 delivery. 4 7 The rules developed by the state board of education for the 4 8 accreditation process shall include provisions for removal of 4 9 accreditation, including provisions for proper notice to the 4 10 administrator of the area education agency, each member of the 4 11 board of directors of the area education agency, and the 4 12 superintendents and administrators of the schools of the 4 13 districts served by the area education agency. 4 14 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 273.11 STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITING 4 15 AREA EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 4 16 1. The state board of education shall develop standards 4 17 and rules for the accreditation of area education agencies by 4 18 July 1, 1997. Standards shall be general in nature, but at a 4 19 minimum shall identify requirements addressing the services 4 20 provided by each division, as well as identifying indicators 4 21 of quality that will permit area education agencies, school 4 22 districts, the department of education, and the general public 4 23 to judge accurately the effectiveness of area education agency 4 24 services. 4 25 2. Standards developed shall include, but are not limited 4 26 to, the following: 4 27 a. Support for school-community planning, including a 4 28 means of assessing needs, establishing shared direction and 4 29 implementing program plans and reporting progress. 4 30 b. Professional development programs that respond to 4 31 current needs. 4 32 c. Support for curriculum development, instruction, and 4 33 assessment for reading, language arts, math and science, using 4 34 research-based methodologies. 4 35 d. Special education compliance and support. 5 1 e. Management services, including financial reporting and 5 2 purchasing as requested and funded by local districts. 5 3 f. Support for instructional media services that 5 4 supplement and support local district media centers and 5 5 services. 5 6 g. Support for school technology planning and staff 5 7 development for implementing instructional technologies. 5 8 h. A program and services evaluation and reporting system. 5 9 EXPLANATION 5 10 This bill directs the department of education to establish 5 11 an accreditation process for area education agencies and 5 12 describes the components of the process to be established. 5 13 The bill also directs the state board of education to develop 5 14 standards and rules for the accreditation of area education 5 15 agencies and the bill lists specific standards to be adopted. 5 16 In addition, the bill directs the board of directors of an 5 17 area education agency to administer not more than two 5 18 divisions within the agency, which shall be a division of 5 19 special education and a division of instructional services. 5 20 Beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, the 5 21 state board is prohibited from giving final approval to 5 22 budgets submitted by nonaccredited area education agencies. 5 23 The accreditation process, to be established by July 1, 5 24 1997, shall utilize an accreditation team appointed by the 5 25 director of the department. The team is to visit and evaluate 5 26 each area education agency. The team shall include, but is 5 27 not limited to, department staff members, representatives from 5 28 the school districts served by the agency being evaluated, 5 29 area education agency staff members from area education 5 30 agencies other than the agency being evaluated, and other team 5 31 members with expertise deemed appropriate by the director of 5 32 the department of education. 5 33 After a visit to an area education agency, the 5 34 accreditation team shall determine whether the accreditation 5 35 standards for a program have been met, and report and make 6 1 recommendations to the director and the state board as to 6 2 whether the programs should receive initial accreditation or 6 3 remain accredited. The accreditation team shall report 6 4 strengths and weaknesses, if any, for each accreditation 6 5 standard and shall advise the area education agency of 6 6 available resources and technical assistance to further 6 7 enhance the strengths and improve areas of weakness. An area 6 8 education agency may respond to the accreditation team's 6 9 report. 6 10 Under the bill, the state board of education determines 6 11 whether an agency program receives initial accreditation or 6 12 remains accredited. Approval shall be based on the 6 13 recommendation of the director of the department after a study 6 14 of the evidence on record about each area education agency 6 15 program in terms of the accreditation standards adopted by the 6 16 state board. 6 17 Approval, if granted, shall be for a term of three years. 6 18 However, the state board may grant conditional approval for a 6 19 term of less than three years if conditions warrant. 6 20 If a program does not meet accreditation standards, the 6 21 director of the department, in cooperation with the agency 6 22 board, shall establish a remediation plan prescribing 6 23 procedures to correct deficiencies in meeting program 6 24 standards, and shall establish a deadline date for correction 6 25 of the deficiencies. 6 26 The area education agency program shall remain accredited 6 27 during the remediation period. The accreditation team shall 6 28 visit the agency and determine whether the deficiencies have 6 29 been corrected and shall make a report and recommendation to 6 30 the director and the state board of education. 6 31 If the deficiencies have not been corrected, the agency 6 32 board shall, within 60 days from removal of accreditation, 6 33 merge the deficient program with a program from another 6 34 accredited area education agency, or contract with another 6 35 area education agency or other public educational institution 7 1 for purposes of program delivery. 7 2 The rules developed by the state board for the 7 3 accreditation process shall include provisions for removal of 7 4 accreditation. 7 5 The state board shall develop general standards and rules 7 6 for the accreditation of area education agencies by July 1, 7 7 1997. At a minimum, standards shall identify requirements 7 8 addressing the services provided by each division, and 7 9 indicators of quality that will permit area education 7 10 agencies, school districts, the department of education, and 7 11 the general public to judge accurately the effectiveness of 7 12 area education agency services. 7 13 Standards developed shall include, but are not limited to, 7 14 the following: (1) support for school-community planning, 7 15 including a means of assessing needs, establishing shared 7 16 direction and implementing program plans, and reporting 7 17 progress; (2) professional development programs that respond 7 18 to current needs; (3) support for curriculum development, 7 19 instruction, and assessment for reading, language arts, math 7 20 and science, using research-based methodologies; (4) special 7 21 education compliance and support; (5) management services, 7 22 including financial reporting and purchasing as requested and 7 23 funded by local districts; (6) support for instructional media 7 24 services that supplement and support local district media 7 25 centers and services; (7) support for school technology 7 26 planning and staff development for implementing instructional 7 27 technologies; and (8) a program and services evaluation and 7 28 reporting system. 7 29 Finally, the bill directs the board of directors of an area 7 30 education agency to meet not less than twice annually with the 7 31 members of the boards of directors of the school districts 7 32 located within its boundaries. 7 33 LSB 3708XL 76 7 34 kh/cf/24.2
Text: HSB00729 Text: HSB00731 Text: HSB00700 - HSB00799 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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