(1) The board of public education is assigned numerous responsibilities by statute including the establishment of policies for: the accreditation of schools, teacher certification, distribution of state equalization aid, special education, school bus standards and regulations, and designation of school days and hours. The board is also assigned by statute the "general supervision" of the Montana school for the deaf and blind and administrative responsibility for the certification standards and practices advisory council.

(a) The Montana school for the deaf and blind is a residential school for children and adolescents who are deaf and blind or whose hearing or sight is so defective that they are unable to receive a sufficient or proper education in the public schools of the state. The purpose of the school is to furnish and provide, by the use of specialized methods and systems, an ordinary public school education and to teach such trades and vocations as will enable children attending the school to become independent and self-sustaining citizens.

(b) The certification standards and practices advisory council was statutorily created to study relevant issues and advise the board of public education on matters related to teacher, school administrator, and specialist certification of individuals admitted to practice in the elementary and secondary schools of Montana. The scope of this study and advice includes preservice and inservice education, professional practices and ethical conduct, teacher education programs, and renewal, denial, suspension, or revocation of certificates. The advisory council may conduct appropriate research related to the forgoing areas of study by such means as trial programs and collection of data from current programs. The advisory council must present its findings and recommendations to the board at least once each year and on other occasions as the advisory council deems necessary. The advisory council may not administer a program or function or set policy.