H.F. 2187 Section 1. Section 260C.47, subsection 1, unnumbered 1 paragraph 1, Code 2009, is amended to read as follows: 2 The state board of education shall establish by rule an 3 accreditation process for community college programs by July 4 1, 1997 . The process shall be jointly developed and agreed 5 upon by the department of education and the community colleges. 6 The state accreditation process shall be integrated with 7 the accreditation process of the north central association 8 of colleges and schools, including the evaluation cycle , 9 the self-study process, and the criteria for evaluation , 10 which shall incorporate the standards for community colleges 11 developed under section 260C.48 ; and shall identify and make 12 provision for the needs of the state that are not met by the 13 association’s accreditation process. For the academic year 14 commencing July 1, 1998, and in succeeding school years, the 15 department of education shall use a two-component process for 16 the continued accreditation of community college programs . 17 Beginning July 1, 2006, the The state accreditation process 18 shall incorporate the standards developed pursuant to section 19 260C.48, subsection 4 and shall include but not be limited to 20 procedures for correcting deficiencies, appropriate due process 21 procedures including a hearing, consequences for failure to 22 meet accreditation standards, notification procedures, and a 23 timeline for the process. Action taken by the state board 24 pursuant to this section for failure to meet accreditation 25 standards is final agency action for purposes of chapter 17A . 26 Sec. 2. Section 260C.47, subsection 1, paragraphs a, b, and 27 c, Code 2009, are amended by striking the paragraphs. 28 Sec. 3. Section 260C.47, subsections 2 through 7, Code 2009, 29 are amended by striking the subsections. 30 Sec. 4. Section 260C.48, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 31 1, Code 2009, is amended to read as follows: 32 The state board shall develop standards and adopt rules 33 for the accreditation of community college instructors 34 and programs. Except as provided in subsection 4, the 35 -1- LSB 5475YH (7) 83 kh/nh 1/ 3

H.F. 2187 standards and rules developed and adopted shall not duplicate 1 rules adopted for the accreditation process established 2 pursuant to section 260C.47. The department shall monitor 3 and evaluate the standards through a process jointly 4 developed and agreed upon by the department and the community 5 colleges. Except as provided in this subsection and subsection 6 4, standards developed shall be general in nature so as to 7 apply to more than one specific program of instruction. With 8 regard to community college-employed instructors, the standards 9 adopted shall at a minimum require that community college 10 instructors who are under contract for at least half-time or 11 more, and by July 1, 2011, all instructors, meet the following 12 requirements: 13 EXPLANATION 14 This bill relates to the accreditation process for community 15 colleges by eliminating the two-component process the state 16 board of education is required to administer, requiring the 17 state board to adopt rules establishing an accreditation 18 process that is integrated with the accreditation process of 19 the north central association of colleges and schools, and 20 making the standards for community college instructors and 21 programs established by the state board a process separate from 22 that of the accreditation process. 23 Under the current state accreditation process, the standards 24 for instructors and programs must be incorporated, and the 25 process must identify and make provision for the needs of the 26 state that are not met by the association’s accreditation 27 process. An accreditation team reviews data submitted by a 28 community college, visits the community college, determines 29 whether the standards for a program have been met, and 30 reports its recommendations to the director of the department 31 of education and to the state board. If the state board 32 determines that a community college program does not meet 33 accreditation standards, the director, in cooperation with 34 the community college board, establishes a corrective plan 35 -2- LSB 5475YH (7) 83 kh/nh 2/ 3

H.F. 2187 and a deadline date for correction of the deficiencies. 1 Current Code language also provides for another visit by the 2 accreditation team, potential consequences for failure to 3 correct deficiencies, due process, and notification procedures. 4 The bill directs the state board to determine and establish the 5 process and procedures by rule. 6 The bill requires the department to monitor and evaluate 7 the standards for community college instructors and programs 8 through a process developed and agreed upon by the department 9 and the community colleges. 10 -3- LSB 5475YH (7) 83 kh/nh 3/ 3