PURPOSE: This rule implements a program of comprehensive assessments of school districts’ educational resources, instructional processes and educational outcomes designed to stimulate and encourage improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of instruction, and provides information which will enable the State Board of Education to accredit and classify the districts as required by section 161.092, RSMo.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The publication of the full text of the material that the adopting agency has incorporated by reference in this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. Therefore, the full text of that material will be made available to any interested person at both the Office of the Secretary of State and the office of the adopting agency, pursuant to section 536.031.4, RSMo. Such material will be provided at the cost established by state law.

1. (1) This rule incorporates by reference the Missouri School Improvement Program which is comprised of qualitative and quantitative standards for school districts. The standards are organized in three (3) sections— Resource Standards, Process Standards and Performance Standards. The standards are supported by appendices which include: the minimum graduation requirements, media standards for school learning resource centers, teacher certification requirements and assessment program standards.
2. (2) During each year, beginning with the 1990-91 academic year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will select school districts which will be reviewed and classified in accordance with this rule and the standards and procedures of the Missouri School Improvement Program. After July 1, 1996, all school districts will be reviewed and classified under the standards and procedures of the Missouri School Improvement Program on a rotation basis once every five (5) years.

3. (3) The State Board of Education will assign classification designations of unaccredited, provisionally accredited and accredited based on the standards of the Missouri School Improvement Program.

   Rebecca McDowell Cook (2/29/00)*

4. (4) As a condition of receiving a classification designation other than unaccredited, each school district reviewed under the Missouri School Improvement Program must file a school improvement plan in a form and by dates specified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and implement it in accordance with a specified schedule.

5. (5) A school district’s classification designation based on the standards of the Missouri School Improvement Program will remain in effect until the State Board of Education approves another designation. The State Board of Education will consider changing a district’s classification designation after its regularly scheduled review or upon the board’s determination that the district has—

   1. (A) Failed to implement its school improvement plan at an acceptable level;
   2. (B) Implemented its school improvement plan substantially and, therefore, may qualify for a higher classification designation; or
   3. (C) Altered significantly the scope or effectiveness of the programs or services upon which the original classification designation was based.
6. (6) A school district designated unaccredited by the State Board of Education under the provisions of this rule before the 1995-96 school year, and which continues in unaccredited status throughout the 1995-96 school year, will be liable for tuition and transportation for resident students legally transferring to another district under the provisions of section 167.131, RSMo from the beginning of the 1996-97 school year through the end of the school year during which the State Board of Education awards the district a designation of provisionally accredited or higher. A school district designated unaccredited by the State Board of Education under the provisions of this rule during the 1995-96 school year or thereafter will be liable for tuition and transportation for resident students legally transferring to another district under the provisions of section 167.131, RSMo from the date of the action by the State Board of Education through the end of the school year during which the State Board of Education awards the district a designation of provisionally accredited or higher.
7. (7) Any school district which on June 30, 1997, or any succeeding June 30, thereafter, has been unaccredited under the provisions of 5 CSR 30-345.010 for two (2) successive years will be subject to lapsing under the provisions of section 162.081, RSMo. 5 CSR 30-345
8. (8) The board of education of any school district which is dissatisfied with the classification designation assigned by the State Board of Education may request a hearing before the commissioner of education for the purpose of showing cause why its classification designation should be reconsidered. Each request must be submitted in writing and set forth the specific reasons for the request, including any errors of fact upon which the State Board of Education relied in making the classification designation. If the commissioner of education agrees that sufficient cause has been shown, s/he will request the State Board of Education to reconsider the district’s classification designation together with the additional or corrected information.

AUTHORITY: section 161.092, RSMo 1994.* This rule was previously filed as 5 CSR 50- 345.010. Original rule filed July 16, 1990, effective Dec. 31, 1990. Amended: Filed Sept. 27, 1991, effective March 9, 1992. Amended: Filed Feb. 27, 1992, effective Sept. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed Oct. 27, 1992, effective July 1, 1993. Amended: Filed May 31, 1994, effective Dec. 30, 1994. Changed to 5 CSR 30-345.010, effective April 30, 1997. Amended: Filed Sept. 27, 1996, effective April 30, 1997. *Original authority 1963, amended 1973.