10.55.606    ACCREDITATION PROCESS

(1) The categories of accreditation of a school shall be determined by using two sets of standards: 

(a) assurance standards; and

(b) student performance standards.

(2) Assurance standards are comprised of the following subchapters in ARM Title 10, chapter 55:

(a) Subchapter 6, General Provisions, ARM 10.55.601 through 10.55.608;

(b) Subchapter 7, School Leadership, ARM 10.55.701 through 10.55.724;

(c) Subchapter 8, Educational Opportunity, ARM 10.55.801 through 10.55.806;

(d) Subchapter 9, Academic Requirements, ARM 10.55.901 through 10.55.911; and

(e) ARM 10.55.1001 through 10.55.2301.

(3) Student performance standards are comprised of measures required under ARM 10.56.101(3) and other measures described in the state accountability system, defined in ARM 10.55.602, recommended by the state superintendent and approved by the Board of Public Education.

(a)  The Board of Public Education shall annually review the minimum requirement, defined in ARM 10.55.602, for reporting valid and reliable student group results and to protect student privacy based on the recommendation of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(b)  The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall recommend to the Board of Public Education modifications to the student performance standards after consultation with representative stakeholders.

(4) For schools with only combinations of grades PK-2, only the assurance standards shall be used to determine accreditation status, pursuant to ARM 10.55.605 Categories of Accreditation.

(5) Categories of assurance standards and student performance standards shall be used to determine accreditation status.

(6) A school shall be designated regular accreditation status by using the combined results of the assurance standards and student performance standards as follows:

(a) Regular status for assurance standards and regular status for student performance standards;

(b) Regular status for assurance standards and regular with minor deviation for student performance standards; or

(c)  Regular with minor deviation for assurance standards and regular status for student performance standards.

(7) A school shall be designated regular with minor deviation status by using the combined results of both assurance standards and student performance standards in regular with minor deviation status, or as stated in ARM 10.55.605.

(8) A school shall be designated in advice status by using the combined results of the assurance standards and student performance standards in either set of standards, or as stated in ARM 10.55.605.

(9) A school shall be designated deficiency status by using the combined results of assurance standards and student performance standards in deficiency in either set of standards, or as stated in ARM 10.55.605.

History: Mont. Const. Art. X, sec. 9, 20-2-114, 20-2-121, 20-7-101, MCA; IMP, Mont. Const. Art. X, sec. 9, 20-2-121, 20-3-106, 20-7-101, MCA; NEW, 2000 MAR p. 3340, Eff. 12/8/00; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 2042, Eff. 7/1/13; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 1742, Eff. 10/5/19; AMD, 2023 MAR p. 255, Eff. 7/1/23.