Section Ed 405.02 - Alternative Method for Program Approval Status(a) In the event that a nonpublic school is unable to receive accreditation or approval from a recognized program approval agency, the school may submit a written request for program approval status to the NSAC for review and recommendation to the state board.(b) In making such a request, the school shall:(1) Describe its attempts to seek accreditation from a recognized program approval agency; and (2) Explain why it has been unable to achieve accreditation by a recognized program approval agency.(c) The nonpublic school's request shall include:(1) A narrative explanation of all items listed in Ed 405.01(b); and(2) Any additional information that the school wishes to have considered by the NSAC.(d) If, after reviewing and evaluating the request, the NSAC finds that the nonpublic school has made a reasonable effort to seek accreditation and warrants further review, the NSAC shall appoint an approval review team which shall conduct an evaluation of the school equivalent to those conducted by recognized program approval agencies.(e) The review team shall consist of not less than 3 and not more than 7 members, and at least one of whom shall be an employee of a nonpublic school that is currently approved for program by the state board.(f) The review team shall: (1) Physically visit the nonpublic school and evaluate all items listed in Ed 405.01(c);(2) Submit a written report to the NSAC within 45 working days of appointment; and(3) Recommend approval of the request if it finds that the school meets the criteria in Ed 405.01(c).(g) The department shall reimburse review team members for travel expenses associated with conducting the review visit if funds are available. Review team members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses at the same rate as state employees.(h) Within 45 working days of receipt of the report from the review team, the NSAC shall take one of the following actions based on the review team's recommendations: (1) Recommend the school for program approval status to the state board if, in the opinion of the majority of NSCA members, the school meets the criteria in Ed 405.01(c);(2) Recommend to the state board that the school be denied approval for program approval status if additional information has been received which, in the opinion of the majority of NSAC members, indicates that the school does not meet the criteria in Ed 405.01(c); or(3) Return the application to the review team if the information in the review team's report is determined to be incomplete or if it is determined that the review team did not follow the procedures required by (e) or (f) above.(i) The NSAC shall notify the nonpublic school of its findings within 10 working days.(j) If the NSAC recommends denied approval of the request for program approval status, the nonpublic school may, within 10 business days of notification of the recommendation for denied approval, request a hearing before the state board to submit evidence in support of its request for status pursuant to Ed 200.(k) The state board shall hold a rehearing in accordance with Ed 213.02 for one or more of the following conditions: (1) Additional information has been received which indicates that the school is not eligible for program approval status;(2) The information submitted by the school as required in Ed 405 is determined by the state board to be inaccurate or false; or(3) The NSAC misapplied a statute or administrative rule in making its recommendation.N.H. Admin. Code § Ed 405.02
#9753, eff 7-10-10; ss by #10360, eff 6-15-13
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).