Section Ed 405.01 - Identification of Recognized Agencies for Program Approval(a) Accrediting agencies that want to be considered for recognition shall be identified in one of the following ways:(1) An agency may directly request recognition;(2) A school seeking program approval may request recognition of an agency; or(3) A member of the NSAC may request recognition of an agency.(b) Applicants seeking approval from the state board as an agency recognized by the state board for program approval shall apply for recognition to the state board by submitting a letter of intent and the following: (1) A brief history of the agency;(2) A statement as to the scope of operations and indicating whether it is a regional, national, or state agency;(3) A definition of the purpose, character, and scope of its activities as described in its charter or by-laws and written standards for accreditation or recognition;(4) The agency's organization including: a. Its governance and administrative structures;b. A description of its ownership and control; andc. The type of legal organization, including but not limited to tax-exempt or proprietary;(5) Financial information including:b. Current operating statement; andc. Most recent independent certified opinion audit;(6) A description of procedures used in the evaluation of schools by the agency, including documentation that a school shall be required to provide, which shall include a visit to verify the written documentation, and who participates in school visitations;(7) Definitions of levels of recognition or accreditation status and written procedures for providing due process in granting, denying, continuing, or revoking accredited or recognized status; and(8) Frequency of evaluation of schools for continued accreditation or recognition.(c) Agencies seeking program approval shall have a process for reviewing nonpublic school programs which, at a minimum, evaluates the adequacy for ensuring the well-being of students enrolled based on the following criteria:(1) School mission statement and educational philosophy;(4) School health and safety programs;(6) Staff qualifications;(8) Graduation requirements for high schools only;(9) Process for assessing student performance;(10) Financial management;(11) Student support services;(12) Co-curricular activities;(13) Parent involvement; and(14) School and community relations.(d) The NSAC shall review applications for program approval. If the NSAC finds that the application meets the requirements of (b) and (c) above, it shall recommend the agency to the state board for recognition.(e) The board shall review the NSAC recommendation and take one of the following actions: (1) Upon finding that the application meets the requirements of (b) and (c) above, the board shall identify the applicant as a recognized agency for program approval; or(2) Disapprove the application if, in the opinion of a majority of board members, one or more of the following conditions exist:a. Additional information has been received which indicates that the applicant is not eligible to be a recognized agency for program approval;b. The information submitted by the applicant as required in (b) and (c) above is determined by the state board to be incomplete, inaccurate, or false; orc. The NSAC misapplied a statute or administrative rule in making its recommendation.(f) The department shall publish the list of recognized agencies for program approval at least annually.(g) An agency may, at any time, submit written notification to the department that it does not wish to be recognized.(h) Upon receipt of such a request the department shall:(1) Remove the agency's name from the list of recognized agencies; and(2) Notify all schools that have previously been granted program approval through accreditation by the withdrawing agency.(i) Program approval status for any school previously accredited by an agency whose name has been withdrawn from the list of recognized accrediting agencies shall remain in effect until the date of expiration of the most recent approval by the state board.(j) The NSAC shall review those agencies previously recognized for program approval every 10 years and make one of the following approval recommendations to the board: (1) Full approval for a period of 10 years, if the NSAC finds that the agency meets the requirements of (b) and (c) above;(2) Conditional approval for a period of 2 to 3 years when deficiencies are found that are not serious enough to warrant non-approval, but are serious enough to warrant attention and review; or(k) The board shall review the NSAC recommendation and take one of the actions enumerated in Ed 405.01(j).(l) Previously recognized agencies shall be reviewed by the NSAC prior to the expiration of the most recent approval when information becomes known to the NSAC which indicates: (1) The agency might no longer be meeting the requirements of (c) above; or(2) The agency has acted in an unfair or unlawful manner in conducting accreditations.(m) Agencies that have been recognized for program approval may request to be removed from the list of recognized agencies.N.H. Admin. Code § Ed 405.01
#4961, eff 10-26-90; EXPIRED 10-26-96
New. #6366, eff 10-30-96, EXPIRED: 10-30-04
New. #8263, eff 1-22-05; ss by #9753, eff 7-10-10; ss by #10360, eff 6-15-13
Amended by Volume XXXIX Number 10, Filed September 13, 2018, Proposed by #12726, Effective 2/16/2019, Expires 2/16/2029.Amended by Number 6, Filed February 8, 2024, Proposed by #13853, Effective 1/12/2024, Expires 1/12/2034 (see Revision Note at chapter heading for Ed 400).