Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-12.1

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 281-12.1 - General standards

(1)Schools and school districts governed by general accreditation standards. To become or remain accredited, school districts and accredited nonpublic schools are to comply with Iowa Code section 256.11 and this chapter.

(2)School board. Each school or school district shall be governed by an identifiable authority that exercises the functions necessary for the effective operation of the school and is referred to in these rules as the "board" and as referenced in Iowa Code sections 280.2 and 280.3.

(3)Application for accreditation.

a. The board of any school or school district that is not accredited on the effective date of these standards and that seeks accreditation shall file an application with the director of the department on or before the first day of January of the school year preceding the school year for which accreditation is sought.

b. The board of any school or school district that is not accredited on the effective date of these standards and that seeks accreditation from the department shall file an application with the director of the department on or before the first day of January of the school year preceding the school year for which accreditation is sought.

c. Nonpublic schools seeking accreditation under rule 281-12.10 (256) shall provide evidence of accreditation by an organization approved under subrule 12.10(1) and such assurances of compliance with Iowa school law that the department may prescribe.

(4)Accredited schools and school districts. Each school or school district receiving accreditation under the provisions of these standards will remain accredited except when by action of the state board of education it is removed from the list of accredited schools maintained by the department in accordance with Iowa Code sections 256.11(11) and 256.11(12).

(5)When nonaccredited. A school district is nonaccredited on the day after the date it is removed from the list of accredited schools by action of the state board of education. A nonpublic school is nonaccredited on the date established by the resolution of the state board, which will be no later than the end of the school year in which the nonpublic school is declared to be nonaccredited.

(6)Alternative provisions for accreditation. School districts may meet accreditation requirements through the provisions of Iowa Code sections 256.13, nonresident students; 273.7A, services to school districts; 279.20, superintendent-term; 280.15, joint employment and sharing; 282.7, attending in another corporation-payment; and 282.10, whole grade sharing. Nonpublic schools may meet accreditation requirements through the provisions of Iowa Code section 256.12.

(7)Minimum school calendar. The minimum school calendar is set, either by a minimum number of hours or a minimum number of days, pursuant to Iowa Code sections 256.7(19), 279.10, and 279.11.

(8)Kindergarten. The number of instructional days or hours within the school calendar and the length of the school day for kindergarten will be defined by the board or by authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school that operates a kindergarten program.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-12.1

ARC 1115C, IAB 10/16/2013, effective 11/20/2013

Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024