Section 92-18-004 - Requirements for All Interim-Program Schools004.01 Mandatory Requirements for Legal Operation To be eligible for approval or to continue as an approved Interim-program school, the following requirements shall be met. Failure to comply with Sections 004.01A through 004.01I shall be just cause for the Commissioner to initiate proceedings before the Board to terminate approval and end legal operation during the school year.
004.01ATeachers. Interim-program schools shall use only persons certificated pursuant to 92 NAC 21 to teach and to administer the educational program.004.01BGrade Levels. The Interim-program school shall operate, offer instruction in, and give credit in only the grades for which the school is approved.004. 01CRequired Instruction. The Interim-program school shall make available instruction in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies/history each school day for all students from the inception of their admission in all grades for which the school is approved. Students may be provided instruction in other courses in addition to or in lieu of the four subject-areas mentioned above based upon their academic advancement plan.004.01DAcademic Advancement. Interim-program schools shall initiate contact and work with accredited or approved schools to secure academic credit leading to grade promotion or graduation for student work completed while in their program, including diplomas for students who have satisfactorily completed sufficient credits to meet the requirements for graduation of the student approved or accredited high school. Interim-program schools shall not issue diplomas.004.01EInstructional Time. The minimum curriculum of each Interim-program school shall be available for students each school day, Monday through Friday, throughout the twelve- month calendar year. The interim-program school schedules each student with a minimum of 3.5 clock hours of instructional time each school day. The Interim-program school shall provide a minimum of 700 clock hours of instructional time each calendar year. Time scheduled for the school lunch period shall not be counted in meeting the instructional time requirements of the school day or the calendar year. Time scheduled for recreation shall not be counted in meeting the instructional time requirements of the school day or the calendar year unless it is a physical fitness course taught by a certified teacher.004.01FHigh School Credit. Each Interim-program School shall base one hour of high school credit on 15 clock hours of instruction or shall have in writing, for each high school course, the goals, expected student performance for accomplishment of the goals, and the credit to be awarded to the student upon successful completion of the course.004.01GAssurance Statement. Each Interim-program school shall, by November 1 of each year, submit to the Department an Assurance Statement, as prescribed by the Department, signed by a representative of the governing body affirming compliance or specifically noting any noncompliance with the regulations in this Chapter.004.01HReports. The head administrator of each school shall submit a Fall Personnel Report and a Curriculum Report to the Department by the date indicated on the prescribed forms. 004.01H1 Additions of certificated staff after September 1 shall be reported to the Department at the time of contracting.004.01IAdmissions. An Interim-program school shall enroll only students who have been placed in the county detention home, institution or juvenile emergency shelter in which the interim-program school is located or which operates the interim-program school and who are unable to attend public school for reasons of health or safety.004.02 The Interim-program School System Regulations contained in this section apply to all approved Interim-program schools.
004.02ASchool Policies004.02A1Annual Update. The governing body annually updates a written set of policies based upon the purposes and goals of the Interim-program school. This document is on file in each school building.004.02A2Instructional Time and School Calendar. The school has a written policy which identifies and describes the scheduled school days and the instructional time scheduled for students each school day throughout the calendar year. The school has a daily, weekly, and annual calendar that shows the school days and scheduled vacations for students. The policy(ies) or regulations stipulate the conditions for which individual students may be excused from the school day.004.02BThe Instructional Program004.02B1Purpose and Goals. The instructional program of the Interim-program school is based on a written statement of purposes and/or goals developed by the governing body. This document is on file in each school building and each certificated staff member is provided a copy.004.02B2Written Guides. Each Interim-program school has written guides or frameworks for each curriculum area provided by the school. The guide in each of the curriculum areas addresses, as appropriate, instruction in written composition. An Interim-program school may develop its own curriculum or use a curriculum approved by an accredited public school or an approved or accredited private school. In addition to the instructional program required by this Chapter, an Interim-program school may offer a GED preparatory program for those students not seeking to graduate from an accredited or approved school.004.02B3Student Records The school provides a comprehensive cumulative record of attendance, academic progress, and dates of enrollment in and withdrawal from the school for each student enrolled. Interim-program schools comply with 79-2,105 R.R.S. and provide a copy of student files or records concerning a student at no charge, upon request, to any public or private school to which the student transfers.004.02CNumber, Preparation, and Assignment of Staff Members004.02C1System Administrator Each Interim-program school has a head administrator who holds a Nebraska Administrative and Supervisory Certificate with an endorsement for superintendent, or principal, or special education. Interim-program schools may share a head administrator with other schools or with a public school district or ESU. In Interim-program schools, the head administrator responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of teacher performance, review of policies, programs, and reports.004.02C2Head-Teacher/Principal. An Interim-program school having less than twenty teachers shall have a principal or designate one teacher as head teacher. The head teacher shall hold at least an Initial, Prestandard, Standard, or Professional Nebraska Teaching Certificate issued pursuant to 92 NAC 21. When the number of teachers reaches twenty or more, an administrator holding a Nebraska Administrative and Supervisory Certificate is assigned as principal at least one-half time for administration and supervision.004.02C3Certificates. A copy of the certificate or permit of each school staff member who is required to have a certificate is on file in the Interim-program school administrative office.004.02C4School Liaison. Each Interim-program school has a person designated as a school liaison who meets the requirements of 002.20.004.02C5Teacher Aides. An Interim-program school may employ persons who do not hold a valid Nebraska teaching certificate or permit issued by the Commissioner of Education to serve as aides to a teacher or teachers. Such teacher aides may not assume any teaching responsibilities. A teacher aide may be assigned duties which are non-teaching in nature if the employing school has assured itself that the aide has been specifically prepared for such duties, including the handling of emergency situations which might arise in the course of his or her work.004.02C6Professional Development. Each teacher participates in at least 10 hours of professional development activities each year.004.02DMaterials and Facilities004.02D1Library Resources. Staff and students in an Interim-program school have access to library media resources at least once every other week.004.02D2Healthful Conditions. Each Interim-program school maintains safe, healthful and sanitary conditions within the school building and on the school grounds and meets fire, safety, and health codes. Each such school complies with the requirements of Rule 59 (92 NAC 59: Methods for Competency Assessment of School Staff Who Provide Medications).004.02ESchool System Performance: Evaluation and Improvement004.02E1Written Report. Each Interim-program school annually prepares a written report to the governing body that includes, but need not be limited to, aggregate student demographics, school days of attendance, the school progress in implementing student academic advancement plans, and actual academic advancement or academic credits earned. The report shall not contain any personally identifiable student information.004.02E2Admissions Process. Each Interim-program school uses a uniform admissions process that examines what each student has been studying and what yet needs to be taught in that subject area for the student to receive credit for academic advancement and develops an academic advancement plan for each student. The Interim-program school consults student records regarding previous assessments and works with the school the student last attended or the school to which the student shall transfer in meeting these requirements.004.02FRelationship with School Districts004.02F1Academic Advancement and Graduation. The school liaison of the Interim- program school initiates contact with the appropriate accredited or approved school to develop an academic advancement plan intended to achieve academic progress leading to grade promotion or to graduation of students. The school liaison seeks to secure grade promotion or diplomas from schools for those students who have met their school requirements.004.02F2Special Education. The school liaison of the Interim-program school initiates contact with the school district responsible for providing special education services to each student with a disability to insure that each student with a disability is provided by the responsible school district with special education and related services pursuant to 92 NAC 51. The school liaison works with the responsible school district to insure continuation of special education services and information.92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 18, § 004