a.     Level I   –    Limited Administrative Deregulation. Exemption from compliance with Department – prescribed administrative operational requirements, such as submission and approval of class and teacher’s programs. Form IX may also be submitted without the previously required supporting documents.

       The enrolment list may be submitted anytime within the semester. The report on promotion may be submitted anytime during the following semester or trimester.

b.      Level II –  Full Administrative Deregulation.

(1)    Priority in terms of available funding assistance for scholarships, library materials, laboratory equipment, and other development items and activities from the government;

(2)    The right to use on its publication or advertisements the word “ACCREDITED” pursuant to law and Department policies and rules;

(3)    Authority to graduate students from accredited courses or programs of study in the levels accredited, that is, tertiary, secondary, and elementary, without prior approval of the Department.

(a)    The school head must furnish the regional director of the region where the school is situated a copy of its certificate of accreditation.

(b)    Within two weeks after the graduation exercises, the school shall submit to the regional director concerned an alphabetical list of the graduates by courses, accompanied by the school registrar’s certification that the students therein listed (1) have complied with all the requirements of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports for their respective courses, (2) were conferred their respective certificates or degrees on a specific date, (3) have full and complete scholastic records, and (4) that their Form 137 for high school and Form IX for college are in the custody of the school. This list shall be a sufficient basis for issuing special orders, if yet necessary.

(c)    The school will be held fully liable for the veracity of the records without prejudice to any and all such legal action, including revocation of government recognition, as may be called for under the circumstances.

(d)    The Department reserves the right to cancel and/or revoke the graduation of any student whose records are found to be fraudulent.

(4)    Authority to offer summer courses without DECS approval.

(5)    Exemption from submission of documents previously submitted, unless new information is needed.

(6)    Exemption from supervision of the regional office of programs that are already accredited.

c.     Level III

(1)    Authority to offer new degree courses allied to existing Level III accredited programs without need of prior approval of the curriculum and grant of permit/recognition by DECS. This shall imply authority to graduate students who complete the requirements of the programs.

    Allied courses shall mean those within the same field of discipline, e.g., if the accredited program is BS Commerce then the school may offer BS Management, BS in Accountancy, etc. However, even if it is within the same area of study but the requirements for faculty, facilities, and equipment are substantially different, this shall not apply, e.g., if the accredited program is Mechanical Engineering it cannot offer Chemical Engineering without prior approval from DECS.

(2)    Authority to revise the curricula, including credits, without DECS approval, provided minimal DECS requirements and guidelines are complied with, and a copy of the revised curriculum is submitted to the regional office.

(3)    Authority to grant overload in meritorious cases during regular and summer terms.

(4)    Authority to grant advance credits for subjects taken by students in other schools.

                                                  (SGD.) ISIDRO D. CARIÑO
Secretary