Former Non-Public School Requirements  (1955-1979)

STANDARDS FOR APPROVED NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  I.  DEFINITIONS

     A.  Public School---A public school is a school which has been established, and is maintained and
           operated by a county or city board of education appointed or elected in accordance with State law.
     B.  Non-Public School---A non-public school is a school not established, maintained and operated
           by a county or city board of education appointed or elected in accordance with State law.  Such
           schools are generally of two types:
           1.  Sectarian School, a school whose operation is controlled directly or indirectly by any church
                or sectarian body or by any individual or individuals acting on behalf of a church or sectarian body.
           2.  Nonsectarian School, a school "whose operation is not controlled directly or indirectly by any
                church or sectarian body or by any individual or individuals acting on behalf of a church or
                sectarian body."
     C.  Approved School---An approved school, public or non-public, is one that meets the minimum
           requirements for operation as a kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school as defined by the
           Constitution, the General Statutes, and rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education.
           1.  An Approved Kindergarten is one that operates in accordance with standards adopted by the
                State Board of Education.
           2.  An Approved Elementary or Secondary School is one that meets the requirements as outlined herein.
     D.  Accredited School---An accredited school, public or non-public, is one that exceeds the minimum
           requirements for operation as an approved school and meets certain standards of excellence
           established by the State Department of Public Instruction.  (See "Standards for Accreditation of
           Elementary Schools," "Standards for Accreditation of Junior High Schools," and "Standards for
           Accreditation of High Schools," State Department of Public Instruction.)

 II.  SUMMARY OF MINIMUM STANDARDS

 An approved non-public school shall meet the following minimum standards:

1. The school shall be under the jurisdiction of a responsible administrative authority.  Organization and administration shall be substantially the same as that in public schools.  (See Section III.)
2. The course of study shall be equal to or substantially the same as that provided for children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools.  Requirements for completion of a year's work by pupils and their promotion shall correspond to those of the same grade in the public school.  (See Section IV.)
3. Teachers shall be qualified and shall hold certificates in accordance with provisions of the law governing public school teachers.  (See Section IV.)
4. Materials of instruction, including textbooks, shall be substantially equal to materials provided for public schools.  (See Section VI.)
5. Physical facilities shall be approved by the appropriate State agencies as to health and safety, and the school shall be adequately equipped.  (See Section VII.)

III.  ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

1. The number of teachers employed in a non-public school shall not be less than the number employed in a public school of the same size.
2. The length of the school day shall not be less than that determined by the county or city board of education for the public schools in the administrative unit in which such school is located.  According to North Carolina General Statutes 115-36, "Minimum time for which teachers shall be employed in the schoolroom or on grounds supervising the activities of children shall not be less than six hours."
3. The school term shall not be less than one hundred eighty days.  (G.S. 115-36)
4. The supervisory officer or teacher shall make such reports as may be required of him by law.  (G.S. 115-257.)
5. Requirements of the compulsory school attendance law shall be observed.  (G.S. 115-166.)  (See "Child Accounting and School attendance," State Department of Public Instruction.)
6. Health laws shall apply to children attending non-public schools in the same manner as they apply to children in the public schools.  (G.S. 130-87, 90, 91, 93.1.)

IV. COURSE OF STUDY

The minimum course of study for elementary and secondary schools shall consist of not less than that prescribed for public schools for the scope of the program offered.

1. The curriculum for grades 1 through 8 shall include as a minimum the following areas of study in each grade:  Language arts (reading, English, spelling, writing), mathematics, social studies including Americanism, science, health and physical education, art, music, and such other subjects as required by the General Statutes.
2. The curriculum for grades 9 through 12 shall include as a minimum these courses:  English -- 4 units; mathematics -- 1 unit; science (including biology) -- 2 units; social studies (including United States History) -- 2 units; and physical and health education -- 1 unit.  Requirements for graduation from a non-public high school shall consist of not less than the minimum number of units required by the State Department of Public Instruction for graduation from a public high school.

V. TEACHERS

1. All teachers, principals, and other professional personnel employed in non-public schools shall hold certificates entitling such individuals to perform school services corresponding to similar positions in the public schools or meet current regulations of the State Board of Education governing emergency temporary personnel.  (G.S. 115-256.)  (See "Teaching In North Carolina," State Department of Public Instruction.)
2. As in public schools, all personnel employed in non-public schools shall secure a health certificate each year.  (G.S. 115-143.)
3. Teaching and health certificates shall be filed with the administrative head of the school in which the teacher is employed.
4. No person under eighteen years of age shall be employed as a teacher.  (G.S. 115-152.)

VI. MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION

1. Instructional and library supplies shall be substantially the same in quantity and quality as those provided in the public schools.

NOTE:  For 1971-72 the State Board of Education allotted funds to the public schools on the basis of $5.50 per child in average daily membership for instructional materials.

2. Textbooks shall be substantially the same in quantity and quality as those furnished and used in public schools.

VII. PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL AND ACCREDITATION

1. APPROVAL---In order to gain State approval for a non-public school, the responsible official of such school shall:

Submit to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, on official forms, a report covering the school's operations.

Upon receipt of the official report and request, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction will direct staff members to:

        1.  Evaluate the official report from the school.
        2.  Visit the school and evaluate its operations.
        3.  Recommend to the State Superintendent and Approval Committee approval or non-approval
             of the school.
        4.  Notify the proper school officials of the action taken by the State Superintendent and
             Approval Committee.

If the school is approved, the name of the school will be added to the list of "Approved Non-Public Schools."

Continued approval will be based upon the submission of properly executed official reports to the State Superintendent and periodic visits to the schools by State Department of Public Instruction staff members.

2. ACCREDITATION---The procedure for accreditation of non-public schools is the same as for approval, except that evaluation for "accreditation" is based on the applicable standards for accreditation  (elementary, junior high and high school.)

VIII.  PHYSICAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

All non-public schools shall conform to the health and safety requirements prescribed by law for public schools, including:

     A.  Yearly inspection by health and safety authorities; achievement of a sanitation grade of 85 for the
            building and grounds; and, a sanitation grade of 90 for any food handling and serving facility.

     B.  Yearly inspection by the proper fire inspection authorities; and, a satisfactory report on fire safety
           from such authorities.

(Health:  G.S. 72-46; 115-150, 150.1, 150.2; 130-87, 90, 91, 92, 93; 130-160; 130-170.  Safety:  G.S. 143-138, 139 and sec. 612 (d) of the North Carolina State Building Code.)

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