281—72.11(273) Comprehensive site visit.

1. 72.11(1)  On-site review. An accreditation team shall conduct one or more on-site reviews of the AEA’s progress toward agencywide goals and shall determine if services meet the standards in this chapter. Prior to an on-site review of an AEA, the accreditation team shall have access to the AEA’s comprehensive improvement plan, annual progress report, and annual budget as well as any other information collected by the department relating to the AEA.

2. 72.11(2)  Accreditation team. The membership of the accreditation team shall be determined by the director. Each team member should have appropriate competencies, background, and experiences to enable the member to contribute to the evaluation visit. The team shall include at least four members, including, but not limited to:

   1. a. Department staff.
   2. b. Representatives from various sizes of schools and school districts served by the AEA being evaluated.
   3. c. AEA staff from other AEAs.
   4. d. Others with expertise as deemed appropriate by the director.
3. 72.11(3)  Accreditation team action. After an on-site review of an AEA, the accreditation team shall determine whether the requirements of this chapter have been met and shall make a report to the director identifying which standards and other accreditation requirements in this chapter an AEA has or has not met. The accreditation team shall report strengths and weaknesses, if any, for each standard or requirement, and shall advise the AEA of available resources and technical assistance to further enhance the strengths and improve areas of weakness. An AEA may respond to the accreditation team’s report by providing to the board factual information concerning its services.

4. 72.11(4)  Accreditation. All AEAs shall be deemed accredited upon the date of implementation of these rules. Accreditation of an AEA by the board shall be based on the recommendation of the director after study of the factual and evaluative evidence on record about the standards and other requirements as described in this chapter and based upon the timely submission of information required by the department. If, at any time, the board determines that an AEA has not met all standards and other requirements, the board shall require the AEA to address the deficiencies.

   1. a. Accreditation status. After completion of the comprehensive site visit under rule 281—72.11(273), the board shall grant continuation of accreditation if all standards and other requirements are met. If the board determines that an AEA has not met all standards and other requirements, the board shall grant conditional accreditation to the agency.
   2. b. Conditional accreditation. If the board grants conditional accreditation, the department shall notify the administrator of the AEA and each member of the board of directors of the AEA within 15 days. The notice shall contain a description of the accreditation deficiencies.
   3. c. Remediation plan. Upon granting of conditional accreditation by the board, the director, in cooperation with the board of directors of the AEA, shall establish a remediation plan. The remediation plan shall describe how the AEA will correct deficiencies to meet accreditation standards and shall establish a timeline and deadline date for correction of the deficiencies. The remediation plan is subject to the approval of the board. The AEA shall remain conditionally accredited during the implementation of the remediation plan.
   4. d. Implementation of remediation plan. At intervals prescribed in the remediation plan or at the request of the director, the accreditation team shall revisit the AEA and shall determine whether the deficiencies in the accreditation standards are being or have been corrected and shall make a report and recommendation to the director and the board. The board shall review this report and recommendations and shall determine whether the deficiencies have been corrected.
   5. e. Failure to correct deficiencies. If the deficiencies have not been corrected within the time stipulated in the remediation plan, the board shall remove accreditation of the agency. At the hearing before the board, the AEA may be represented by counsel and may present evidence. The board may provide for the hearing to be recorded or reported. If requested by the AEA at least 10 days before the hearing, the board shall provide for the hearing to be recorded or reported at the expense of the AEA. Within 30 days after the hearing, the board shall render a written decision approving or removing the accreditation. Action by the board at this time is final agency action for the purposes of Iowa Code chapter 17A. The department shall notify the administrator of the AEA, each member of the board of directors of the AEA, and the schools and school districts served by the AEA of the decision of the board.
   6. f. Required response to removal of accreditation. After removal of accreditation of the agency, the AEA board of directors shall make provisions for the continuation of services to schools and school districts subject to approval by the state board of education.