§ 15.1-02-11 — Superintendent of public instruction - Accreditation of schools - Rules

1. The superintendent of public instruction:
a. May adopt rules governing the accreditation of public and nonpublic schools. Any
rule adopted under this section must incorporate measures of student
achievement and bear a direct relationship to improving student achievement.
b. May provide schools with a choice of accreditation options, including:
(1) Accreditation through a state-defined accreditation process established by
the superintendent of public instruction; or
(2) Accreditation through a nationally recognized accrediting organization, a
formal school improvement organization, or a continuous improvement
organization approved by the superintendent of public instruction.
c. May establish a process to select the accreditation options for schools and a
process for schools to select an accreditation option. Development of the process
may include input and participation from a steering committee, including
representatives of education stakeholder groups, school administrators,
secondary and elementary school principals, and school board members.
d. Periodically shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of each accreditation
option in improving student achievement and school performance.
2. Each accreditation option must:
a. Meet or exceed the state standards to ensure consistency in the quality of
education.
b. Provide measurable outcomes for student achievement, aligning with the state
goals.
3. A school may select the accreditation option best aligning to the instructional goals and
operational needs of the school, subject to approval by the superintendent of public
instruction.
4. The superintendent of public instruction shall contract with an accreditation
organization or vendor to create state-provided accreditation to offer to each public
school district at no charge.
5. If a district chooses to use an accreditation process from the state-approved list, the
district is responsible for any accreditation-related costs.