Text: SF02327 Text: SF02329 Text: SF02300 - SF02399 Text: SF 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 subsection: 1 30 NEW SUBSECTION. 22. Meet annually with the members of the 1 31 boards of directors of the school districts located within its 1 32 boundaries if requested by the school district boards. 1 33 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 273.10 ACCREDITATION OF AREA 1 34 EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 1 35 1. The department of education shall develop, in 2 1 consultation with the area education agencies, and establish 2 2 an accreditation process for area education agencies by July 2 3 1, 1997. At a minimum, the accreditation process shall 2 4 consist of the following: 2 5 a. The timely submission by an area education agency of 2 6 information required by the department on forms provided by 2 7 the department. 2 8 b. The use of an accreditation team appointed by the 2 9 director of the department of education to conduct an 2 10 evaluation, including an on-site visit of each area education 2 11 agency. The team shall include, but is not limited to, 2 12 department staff members, representatives from the school 2 13 districts served by the area education agency being evaluated, 2 14 area education agency staff members from area education 2 15 agencies other than the area education agency that conducts 2 16 the programs being evaluated for accreditation, and other team 2 17 members with expertise as deemed appropriate by the director. 2 18 2. Prior to a visit to an area education agency, the 2 19 accreditation team shall have access to that area education 2 20 agency's program audit report filed with the department. 2 21 After a visit to an area education agency, the accreditation 2 22 team shall determine whether the accreditation standards for a 2 23 program have been met and shall make a report to the director 2 24 and the state board, together with a recommendation as to 2 25 whether the programs of the area education agency should 2 26 receive initial accreditation or remain accredited. The 2 27 accreditation team shall report strengths and weaknesses, if 2 28 any, for each accreditation standard and shall advise the area 2 29 education agency of available resources and technical 2 30 assistance to further enhance the strengths and improve areas 2 31 of weakness. An area education agency may respond to the 2 32 accreditation team's report. 2 33 3. The state board of education shall determine whether a 2 34 program of an area education agency shall receive initial 2 35 accreditation or shall remain accredited. Approval of area 3 1 education agency programs by the state board shall be based 3 2 upon the recommendation of the director of the department of 3 3 education after a study of the factual and evaluative evidence 3 4 on record about each area education agency program in terms of 3 5 the accreditation standards adopted by the state board. 3 6 Approval, if granted, shall be for a term of three years. 3 7 However, the state board may grant conditional approval for a 3 8 term of less than three years if conditions warrant. 3 9 4. If the state board of education determines that an area 3 10 education agency's program does not meet accreditation 3 11 standards, the director of the department of education, in 3 12 cooperation with the board of directors of the area education 3 13 agency, shall establish a remediation plan prescribing the 3 14 procedures that must be taken to correct deficiencies in 3 15 meeting the program standards, and shall establish a deadline 3 16 date for correction of the deficiencies. The remediation plan 3 17 is subject to the approval of the state board. 3 18 5. The area education agency program shall remain 3 19 accredited during the implementation of the remediation plan. 3 20 The accreditation team shall visit the area education agency 3 21 and shall determine whether the deficiencies in the standards 3 22 for the program have been corrected and shall make a report 3 23 and recommendation to the director and the state board of 3 24 education. The state board shall review the report and 3 25 recommendation and shall determine whether the deficiencies in 3 26 the program have been corrected. 3 27 6. If the deficiencies in an area education program have 3 28 not been corrected, the agency board shall take one of the 3 29 following actions within sixty days from removal of 3 30 accreditation: 3 31 a. Merge the deficient program with a program from another 3 32 accredited area education agency. 3 33 b. Contract with another area education agency or other 3 34 public educational institution for purposes of program 3 35 delivery. 4 1 The rules developed by the state board of education for the 4 2 accreditation process shall include provisions for removal of 4 3 accreditation, including provisions for proper notice to the 4 4 administrator of the area education agency, each member of the 4 5 board of directors of the area education agency, and the 4 6 superintendents and administrators of the schools of the 4 7 districts served by the area education agency. 4 8 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 273.11 STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITING 4 9 AREA EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 4 10 1. The state board of education shall develop standards 4 11 and rules for the accreditation of area education agencies by 4 12 July 1, 1997. Standards shall be general in nature, but at a 4 13 minimum shall identify requirements addressing the services 4 14 provided by each division, as well as identifying indicators 4 15 of quality that will permit area education agencies, school 4 16 districts, the department of education, and the general public 4 17 to judge accurately the effectiveness of area education agency 4 18 services. 4 19 2. Standards developed shall include, but are not limited 4 20 to, the following: 4 21 a. Support for school-community planning, including a 4 22 means of assessing needs, establishing shared direction and 4 23 implementing program plans and reporting progress. 4 24 b. Professional development programs that respond to 4 25 current needs. 4 26 c. Support for curriculum development, instruction, and 4 27 assessment for reading, language arts, math and science, using 4 28 research-based methodologies. 4 29 d. Special education compliance and support. 4 30 e. Management services, including financial reporting and 4 31 purchasing as requested and funded by local districts. 4 32 f. Support for instructional media services that 4 33 supplement and support local district media centers and 4 34 services. 4 35 g. Support for school technology planning and staff 5 1 development for implementing instructional technologies. 5 2 h. A program and services evaluation and reporting system. 5 3 EXPLANATION 5 4 This bill directs the department of education to establish 5 5 an accreditation process for area education agencies and 5 6 describes the components of the process to be established. 5 7 The bill also directs the state board of education to develop 5 8 standards and rules for the accreditation of area education 5 9 agencies and the bill lists specific standards to be adopted. 5 10 Beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, the 5 11 state board is prohibited from giving final approval to 5 12 budgets submitted by nonaccredited area education agencies. 5 13 The accreditation process, to be established by July 1, 5 14 1997, shall utilize an accreditation team appointed by the 5 15 director of the department. The team is to visit and evaluate 5 16 each area education agency. The team shall include, but is 5 17 not limited to, department staff members, representatives from 5 18 the school districts served by the agency being evaluated, 5 19 area education agency staff members from area education 5 20 agencies other than the agency being evaluated, and other team 5 21 members with expertise deemed appropriate by the director of 5 22 the department of education. 5 23 After a visit to an area education agency, the 5 24 accreditation team shall determine whether the accreditation 5 25 standards for a program have been met, and report and make 5 26 recommendations to the director and the state board as to 5 27 whether the programs should receive initial accreditation or 5 28 remain accredited. The accreditation team shall report 5 29 strengths and weaknesses, if any, for each accreditation 5 30 standard and shall advise the area education agency of 5 31 available resources and technical assistance to further 5 32 enhance the strengths and improve areas of weakness. An area 5 33 education agency may respond to the accreditation team's 5 34 report. 5 35 Under the bill, the state board of education determines 6 1 whether an agency program receives initial accreditation or 6 2 remains accredited. Approval shall be based on the 6 3 recommendation of the director of the department after a study 6 4 of the evidence on record about each area education agency 6 5 program in terms of the accreditation standards adopted by the 6 6 state board. 6 7 Approval, if granted, shall be for a term of three years. 6 8 However, the state board may grant conditional approval for a 6 9 term of less than three years if conditions warrant. 6 10 If a program does not meet accreditation standards, the 6 11 director of the department, in cooperation with the agency 6 12 board, shall establish a remediation plan prescribing 6 13 procedures to correct deficiencies in meeting program 6 14 standards, and shall establish a deadline date for correction 6 15 of the deficiencies. 6 16 The area education agency program shall remain accredited 6 17 during the remediation period. The accreditation team shall 6 18 visit the agency and determine whether the deficiencies have 6 19 been corrected and shall make a report and recommendation to 6 20 the director and the state board of education. 6 21 If the deficiencies have not been corrected, the agency 6 22 board shall, within 60 days from removal of accreditation, 6 23 merge the deficient program with a program from another 6 24 accredited area education agency, or contract with another 6 25 area education agency or other public educational institution 6 26 for purposes of program delivery. 6 27 The rules developed by the state board for the 6 28 accreditation process shall include provisions for removal of 6 29 accreditation. 6 30 The state board shall develop general standards and rules 6 31 for the accreditation of area education agencies by July 1, 6 32 1997. At a minimum, standards shall identify requirements 6 33 addressing the services provided by each division, and 6 34 indicators of quality that will permit area education 6 35 agencies, school districts, the department of education, and 7 1 the general public to judge accurately the effectiveness of 7 2 area education agency services. 7 3 Standards developed shall include, but are not limited to, 7 4 the following: (1) support for school-community planning, 7 5 including a means of assessing needs, establishing shared 7 6 direction and implementing program plans, and reporting 7 7 progress; (2) professional development programs that respond 7 8 to current needs; (3) support for curriculum development, 7 9 instruction, and assessment for reading, language arts, math 7 10 and science, using research-based methodologies; (4) special 7 11 education compliance and support; (5) management services, 7 12 including financial reporting and purchasing as requested and 7 13 funded by local districts; (6) support for instructional media 7 14 services that supplement and support local district media 7 15 centers and services; (7) support for school technology 7 16 planning and staff development for implementing instructional 7 17 technologies; and (8) a program and services evaluation and 7 18 reporting system. 7 19 Finally, the bill directs the board of directors of an area 7 20 education agency to meet annually with the members of the 7 21 boards of directors of the school districts located within its 7 22 boundaries if requested by the district boards. 7 23 LSB 3708SV 76 7 24 kh/cf/24
Text: SF02327 Text: SF02329 Text: SF02300 - SF02399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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