(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 1.55.607;

(b) Subchapter 7, School Leadership, ARM 10.55.701 through 10.55.719;

(c) Subchapter 8, Academic Requirements, ARM 10.55.801 through 10.55.805;

(d) Subchapter 9, Educational Opportunity, ARM 10.55.901 through 10.55.910; and

(e) Subchapter 10, Program Area Standards, ARM 10.55.1001 through 10.55.1003.

(3) Student performance standards are comprised of student performance measures for each grade as follows:

(a) Math and reading average scale score range for all students grades 3-8 and 10 and science average scale score range for all students grades 4, 8, and 10:

(i) Level 1 = 300-250;

(ii) Level 2 = 249-220;

(iii) Level 3 = 219-210;

(iv) Level 4 = 209-200; and

(b) For high schools, graduate rate range:

(i) Level 1 = 100.0%-75.0%;

(ii) Level 2 = 74.9%-60.0%;

(iii) Level 3 = 59.9%-55.0%;

(iv) Level 4 = 54.9%-0.0%.

(4) For schools with any combination of grades only K-2, only the assurance standards will be used to determine accreditation status.

(5) There shall be four levels for assurance standards and student performance standards used to determine accreditation status, as described in the Accreditation Status Criteria Reference Guide, a copy of which may be found at: http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/Accred/Ch55/Appendices.pdf. The highest level is 1 and the lowest level is 4.

(6) A school shall be classified as regularly accredited by using the combined results of the assurance standards and student performance standards as follows:

(a) level 1 for all assurance standards and level 1 or 2 for student performance standards; or

(b) level 1 or 2 for all assurance standards and level 1 for student performance standards.

(7) A school shall be classified as regularly accredited with minor deviation by using the combined results of the assurance standards and student performance standards with level 2 in any category in both sets of standards.

(8) A school shall be classified as accredited with advice by using the combined results of the assurance standards and student performance standards with level 3 in any category in either set of standards.

(9) A school shall be classified as accredited with deficiency by using the combined results of the assurance standards and student performance standards with level 4 in any category in either set of standards.