NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 661 addresses changes in the public school accreditation cycle and requirements of accreditation.

Significant Issues

During the fall of 2000, the Legislative Finance Committee performance auditors conducted a performance audit of the SDE accreditation process. One recommendation made by the auditors was to increase the cycle of accreditation from 3 years to 6 years so that accreditation was a realistic task for SDE staff.

The language in the bill leaves the cycle open so that some schools can be visited more often than the current three years, and some less often. These changes support an effort to shift the focus of accreditation and the resources available to School Improvement while maintaining oversight of all schools in the state. It will allow flexibility in designing accreditation procedures that are more useful in focusing on low performing schools and are creative in the ways in which school meeting standards are evaluated.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

According to SDE, the change of language is designed to allow better use of current resources so that the SDE can carry out the accreditation program designated by the State Board of Education within current personnel constraints.

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