Title 20-A, Title 20-A

1. General authorization. The state board and the commissioner shall jointly adopt rules establishing accreditation standards for secondary and elementary schools of the State. 2. Intent. Accreditation standards are intended to encourage excellence in school programs. The rules s…

1. Accreditation optional. Any approved school may, through its school board, apply for accreditation. 2. Implementation. The commissioner shall determine which schools and school units meet the requirements of accreditation, in accordance with adopted rules and this Title. 3. Co…

The rules may also establish alternate procedures for accreditation of secondary schools jointly with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges or its successor.

The commissioner may require that schools applying for state accreditation pay the direct costs of the advisory committee, such as housing and meals of visiting committees, but these costs may not include the actual costs, salaries or general overhead expenses of the department.

The commissioner shall confer accreditation to those schools which meet established accreditation standards in accordance with the procedures established by rule. [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. A, §§ 20, 25 (NEW).] A school may not be accredited until it has been evaluated and recommended…

1. Adoption of rules. Accreditation rules shall be adopted in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375. 2. Advisory committee. The commissioner, with the approval of the state board, shall appoint an advisory committee of professional and lay p…

The commissioner shall provide guidance and technical assistance to school personnel, consistent with available resources, to aid them in meeting basic school approval requirements and established accreditation standards and to achieve general improvement in such areas as curricu…