(1) Organization of the office of public instruction.

(a) The office of public instruction was implemented under the provisions of section 1, chapter 86 of the Laws of Montana, 1903 and section 14, chapter 5, Revised Codes of Montana, 1947.

(b) The office consists of the following departments:

(i) Operations; and

(ii) Education services.

(c) The superintendent of public instruction is responsible for administration of the office. � The superintendent is empowered to appoint a deputy superintendent and to employ, organize, and administer a staff of personnel to assist the superintendent in the administration of the duties and services of the office.

(d) The superintendent is secretary of the state board of education; ex officio member of the board of regents of higher education and the board of public education; member of the teacher's retirement system board, the state lands commission, the interdepartmental telecommunications advisory council, the summitnet executive council, the state library commission and the interagency coordinating council for state prevention programs; and executive officer of K-12 career and vocational/technical education.

(e) There are five councils that serve in an advisory capacity to the superintendent. � They are the special education advisory panel, the Montana advisory council for Indian education, the safe and drug-free schools and communities advisory council, Title I committee of practitioners, and the even start committee of practitioners. These councils have no rulemaking or adjudicating authority.

(2) General inquiries regarding the office may be addressed to the superintendent. � Specific information regarding the functions of a department may be addressed to the deputy superintendent. All requests for hearings, declaratory rulings, and for participation in rulemaking may be addressed to the superintendent unless notice in the Montana Administrative Register makes specific provisions for submissions.

(3) The address for the superintendent and administrators for each department is the Office of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 202501, Helena, Montana 59620-2501.

(4) A chart describing office organization is attached and incorporated into this rule.

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