Standards for Middle/Junior High School Programs
A junior high/middle school may be any combination of grades four (4) through nine (9). The following standards for junior high/middle school programs are to be used by principals of schools who are making application for Provisional, Accredited, or Accredited With Quality status for programs in their schools. The number of standards required to be answered affirmatively in order to meet the 85% required by the Commission for Accredited status is given at the beginning of each section of standards.
I. Organization
(For Accredited status 12 affirmative answers are required, including standards 1 through 10)
1. The school schedules 180 full school days for students each year.
2. A school day consists of at least six hours exclusive of lunch and break periods. (Normal class changing time will count as being part of the six hour school day. Schools may operate on shortened schedules up to one day for each grading period for teacher parent conferences.)
3. The maximum individual class size is 33 students or less, and the school-wide average class size is 28.6 or less with the following exceptions:
(a) Remedial classes without aides do not exceed 18 students.
(b) Remedial classes with aides do not exceed 24 students.
(c) Instrumental music classes do not exceed 100 students.
(d) Choral music classes do not exceed 80 students.
(e) Physical education classes without aides do not exceed 40 students.
(f) Physical education classes with aides do not exceed 53 students.
4. The principal of any junior high/middle school must have at least one-half of his or her time free from classroom responsibilities to supervise instruction. Principals of schools with 14 or more teachers have full time for administration and supervision.
5. All inter-school contests and all other school-sponsored activities are under the direct and complete control of the school administration. Responsibilities related to school-sponsored activities are not delegated to any person or persons other than employees of the school system.
6. The Media Center has a minimum of 10 books per student or a minimum of 7 books per student and an annual expenditure of $2.00 or more per student for computer disks, video cassettes, video disks, filmstrips and other non-print media.
7. Complete and accurate permanent records are maintained for all students.
8. Each teacher has at least one 30 minute period during the class day for planning and preparation for instruction.
9. Student records are protected against fire, theft, and damage by being located in a fire-resistant cabinet or a duplicate set of records is located in another area.
10. Whenever the person designated as the principal or headmaster of the school leaves the position, the Executive Director of the Georgia Accrediting Commission must be notified within 3 months.
11. At least 60% of students entering the school enter from accredited feeder schools.
12. The school provides each student a minimum of 30 minutes for lunch.
13. The organization of the Media Center collection and the school schedule facilitate use of the collection by the students during all school hours.
14. Student activities include access to health and psychological counseling services.
15. When offered by the school, the weekly meals provide one-third of the recommended weekly dietary allowance of nutrients and include meat or a meat alternate, bread, milk, and fruits and/or vegetables.
II. Summer School
(For Accredited status 5 affirmative answers are required.)
1. The summer school program, if offered, is operated in accordance with a normal instructional program. The school system also handles all funds involved in the summer program. In addition, all conditions of Provisional accreditation are met.
2. There are at least 120 clock hours of instruction for each 15 quarter hours of credit or each Carnegie Unit awarded.
3. A school does not grant students more than 25 quarter hours of credit or 1 and 1/2 Carnegie Units in a summer school of 30 days or less. Nor does it grant more than 30 quarter hours of credit or two Carnegie Units during any summer school period.
4. No teacher teaches more than two subjects in the same period.
5. Credit is not granted to any student in more than three subject areas during any summer school period.
III. Personnel
(For Accredited status 12 affirmative answers are required, including standards 1 through 10.)
1. In addition to the principal, the teaching staff includes five or more full-time qualified teachers in the middle school.
2. A school with an enrollment of 750 or more must have a full-time assistant principal. A combination school of 30 or more classroom teachers must have an assistant principal. Either the principal or the assistant principal must have responsibility in the middle grades area.
3. All teachers employed on a full-time or part-time basis as instructors in the school hold a Georgia State professional certificate or a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 semester hours of professional education. An exception may be granted for those teachers issued permits by the Georgia Department of Education. This standard may also be met by teachers with bachelor's degrees completing 6 semester hours per year of appropriate professional education until 18 semester hours of credit are obtained.
4. All teachers employed in the school hold
(a) a Georgia certificate in field when assigned to teach in grades 6, 7, 8, or 9 or (b) a bachelor&rsquo>s degree and 27 semester credit hours in elementary or middle grades education and have at least 6 semester hours credit in any field in which they teach (equivalent staff development units may be substituted for semester hours).
5. The principal holds a Georgia state administrator's professional certificate. In non-public schools, the principal may hold a master's degree with 15 semester hours in school administration and supervision.
6. The superintendent or headmaster holds a five-year Georgia administrator's certificate in order for any school in the system to be accredited. In non-public schools, the superintendent or headmaster holds, as a minimum, a master's degree with a minimum of 15 semester hours in school administration and supervision.
7. The governing board delegates to the superintendent or headmaster all executive and administrative functions, including the nomination of personnel.
8. Teachers and all other personnel of an individual school are employed only upon the recommendation by the principal to the superintendent or headmaster.
9. Schools with seven through nine teachers have 1/4-time secretarial service, 10 through 13 teachers have ½>-time secretarial service, 14 through 16 teachers have 3/4- time secretarial service, and with 17 or more teachers have full-time secretarial service.
10. Schools with more than 200 students have one person assigned at least one-half time to media services.
11. The qualifications and assignments of the Media Specialists conform to the following provisions:
A junior high or middle school that is part of a combination school has media service allocated on the basis of the total enrollment of the combination school.
12. All persons employed as paraprofessionals, auxiliary helpers, or teachers' aides are under the direct supervision of a professionally qualified person.
13. A school counselor with at least a master's degree and 18 semester hours credit in guidance and counseling or SC-5 certificate is assigned for guidance and testing equivalent to one period per day for each 100 students.
14. Assistant principals have preparation leading toward a Georgia state administrator's professional certificate or a master's degree with a minimum of 15 semester hours in administration and supervision. Assistant principals who do not meet these requirements may earn 6 semester hours in administration and supervision each year until the requirements are met.
15. The governing board of a school or school system publishes policies that will assure the observance of professional ethics by all concerned and will attract, retain, and promote the professional development of competent school personnel.
16. All teachers who do not hold current Georgia teaching certificates and who have been employed by the school or school system for five years or more have received at least 6 semester hours or 10 quarter hours of college credit, or 10 Continuing Education Units, or 100 contact hours in locally approved professional development activities within the past five years.
IV. Program of Studies
(For Accredited status 4 affirmative answers are required, including standards 1 through 3.)
1. The following subject matter areas are included in a program of studies for junior high/middle schools: language arts, social studies, science and mathematics.
2. Opportunities for exploration include at least four of the following areas:
- Visual Arts
- Computer literacy
- Foreign Language
- Laboratories in reading and mathematics
- Home Economics
- Industrial Arts/Technology
- Program of Education and Career Exploration (PECE)
- Speech and Drama
- Group Guidance
- Music (general), vocal, and/or instrumental
- Business Exploration
- Agri-horticulture
3. The academic requirements in grade nine (if the school houses grade nine) insure that students take one unit in language arts and one unit in mathematics or science.
4. Evidence exists of a functioning physical education and health program.
5. All transfer credit that is not from a GAC or SACS accredited school is validated. Acceptance of work endorsed by other accrediting groups is the prerogative of local schools. To validate credit a school may give examinations or may certify satisfactory performance.
V. School Plant
(For Accredited status 24 affirmative answers are required, including standards 1 through 22.)
1. A safety preparedness plan has been developed for the school.
2. Fire drills are conducted monthly.
3. A natural disaster plan has been developed and drills are conducted yearly.
4. Panic hardware is installed and operational on all outside doors except classrooms that open directly to an outside area.
5. Electrical and gas outlets and lighting fixtures are in safe condition.
6. There is a minimum of 20 square feet of floor space per student in each instructional area.
7. Commodes, lavatories, and urinals are clean and operational.
8. Fire extinguishers are available and have current inspection labels attached.
9. Exit lights are operating.
10. All storage spaces are free of fire hazards.
11. Equipment on the school grounds is in safe condition.
12. Building appears to be structurally sound.
13. Drinking fountains are available and operational.
14. All exits are free of obstruction.
15. In schools with kitchens, equipment is safe and operational.
16. An exhaust system is installed in science laboratories and functions when hazardous fumes are present.
17. There is adequate lighting throughout the school plant.
18. Science laboratory equipment and furnishings are in safe and operational condition.
19. All buildings have a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Georgia State Fire Marshall. Those buildings not eligible to be issued a Certificate of Occupancy by the State Fire Marshall have an acceptable inspection report by an appropriate local, State, or federal fire official on file.
20. Protective eyewear is used in appropriate laboratories.
21. Emergency eyewash equipment is provided in labs where chemicals are used.
22. Schools of 300 students or less have a school site of at least 4 acres. Schools of more than 300 students have a school site of at least 4 acres plus an additional acre for each 100 students above 300.
23. Outside lighting is sufficient to avoid hazards at night.
24. Where lockers are present, they are operable.
25. Adequate teacher workspace is available.
26. Shelving in the Media Center is adequate for materials and equipment.
27. In schools with lunchroom workers, separate restroom facilities are available for lunchroom workers.
28. Automatic door closers are present in areas where food is prepared or consumed.
Vl. Finances (For Accredited status 5 affirmative answers are required.)
1. All financial activities relating to inter-school contests and all other school- sponsored activities are under the direct control of the principal or headmaster.
2. The monthly and annual salary of the principal is greater than that of any other member of the school staff with the same level of preparation and experience.
3. The annual salary of the superintendent or headmaster is greater than that of any other member of the system staff with the same level of preparation and experience.
4. At least $6.00 per student enrolled is spent for library books and other library media, exclusive of equipment, each school year.
5. The school has a system of internal accounting records showing all receipts and disbursements. These records are audited annually by a qualified individual who is not a member of the administrative staff of the school.
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