Interim Programs, Rule 18

On December 29, 2003, Governor Johanns signed Rule 18: Regulations and Procedures for the Approval of Interim-Program Schools in County Detention Homes, Institutions, and Juvenile Emergency Shelters. The Nebraska Department of Education Rule 18 establishes the minimum educational staffing, programs, and educational services that must be provided by Interim-Program Schools to be eligible for reimbursement from the State Office of Health and Human Services System (HHSS), beginning with the 2004-05 school year. It further establishes requirements for public schools to work cooperatively and effectively with the Interim-Program Schools to ensure that students are provided with a real opportunity to make appropriate progress toward graduation.

Rule 18 was developed over a multi-year period by an interagency task force representing various state and federal programs, with the advice and consultation of representatives from many of the schools affected. Rule 18 is intended to do two things. One is to establish standards for interim-program schools to ensure that public schools can have confidence in awarding academic credit for work accomplished by students while on the premises of interim-program schools. Second, the rule is intended to provide assurance to students in interim-program schools that their academic work will be honored by the public schools to which they will return.