The board must set approval standards for nonpublic schools, must approve qualifying schools, may not bar teacher hiring solely because accreditation is not regional, and must give approved nonpublic school certificates and diplomas the same privileges as public-school ones.
§11. Approval of nonpublic schools by board A.(1) The board shall adopt standards and guidelines which shall be applied in determining whether a nonpublic school applying for approval meets the requirements of a sustained curriculum or specialized course of study of quality at least equal to that prescribed for similar public schools. (2) The board shall not adopt a standard or guideline that prohibits a nonpublic, parochial school or school board from hiring a teacher solely because the accreditation of the postsecondary education institution at which he completed his teacher education program is not a regional accreditation. Such a school or school board may hire a teacher who completed his teacher education program at a nationally accredited institution and who meets all other criteria provided in the standards and guidelines. (3) The board shall appoint an advisory committee of nonpublic school representatives, who shall advise and counsel with the board relative to standards and guidelines affecting these schools. After initial approval the board shall periodically determine whether the nonpublic school is maintaining such quality and if not, shall discontinue approval of the school. B. The board shall approve any nonpublic elementary or secondary school which makes application therefor on a form furnished by the board, if such school meets and maintains a sustained curriculum or specialized course of study of quality at least equal to that prescribed for similar public schools. C. All certificates and diplomas issued by an approved nonpublic school shall carry the same privileges as one issued by a state public school. Acts 1975, No. 274, §1; Acts 2019, No. 437, §1; Acts 2022, No. 566, §1.