The Florida Senate

244.01  Regional education; state policy.

244.02  Regional compact.

244.03  Copies to other states approving.

¹244.01  Regional education; state policy.--It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to promote the development and maintenance of regional education services and facilities in the Southern States in the professional, technological, scientific, literary and other fields so as to provide greater educational advantages for the citizens of the state and the citizens in the several states in said region; and it is found and determined by the Legislature of the state that greater educational advantages and facilities for the citizens of the state in certain phases of the professional, technological, scientific, literary and other fields in education can best be accomplished by the development and maintenance of regional educational services and facilities, under the plan embodied in "The Regional Pact" hereinafter adopted; and this law shall be liberally construed to accomplish such purposes.

History.--s. 1, ch. 25017, 1949; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.

¹244.02  Regional compact.--The compact entered into by the state and other Southern States by and through their respective governors on February 8, 1948, as amended, relative to the development and maintenance of regional education services and schools in the Southern States in the professional, technological, scientific, literary and other fields so as to promote greater educational facilities for the citizens of the several states who reside in said region, a copy of said compact, as amended, being as follows:

WHEREAS, The States who are parties hereto have during the past several years conducted careful investigation looking toward the establishment and maintenance of jointly owned and operated regional educational institutions in the Southern States in the professional, technological, scientific, literary, and other fields, so as to provide greater educational advantages and facilities for the citizens of the several states who reside within such region; and

WHEREAS, Meharry Medical College of Nashville, Tennessee, has proposed that its lands, buildings, equipment, and the net income from its endowment be turned over to the Southern States, or to an agency acting in their behalf, to be operated as a regional institution for medical, dental and nursing education upon terms and conditions to be hereafter agreed upon between the Southern States and Meharry Medical College, which proposal, because of the present financial condition of the institution, has been approved by the said states who are parties hereto; and

WHEREAS, the said states desire to enter into a compact with each other providing for the planning and establishment of regional educational facilities;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants and obligations assumed by the respective states who are parties hereto (hereinafter referred to as "states"), the said several states do hereby form a geographical district or region consisting of the areas lying within the boundaries of the contracting states which, for the purposes of this compact, shall constitute an area for regional education supported by public funds derived from taxation by the constituent states and derived from other sources for the establishment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of regional educational schools and institutions for the benefit of citizens of the respective states residing within the region so established as may be determined from time to time in accordance with the terms and provisions of this compact.

The states do further hereby establish and create a joint agency which shall be known as the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education (hereinafter referred to as the "board"), the members of which board shall consist of the governor of each state, ex officio, and four additional citizens of each state to be appointed by the governor thereof, at least one of whom shall be selected from the field of education, and at least one of whom shall be a member of the legislature of that state. The governor shall continue as a member of the board during his or her tenure of office as governor of the state, but the members of the board appointed by the governor shall hold office for a period of four years except that in the original appointments one board member so appointed by the governor shall be designated at the time of his or her appointment to serve an initial term of two years, one board member to serve an initial term of three years, and the remaining board member to serve the full term of four years, but thereafter the successor of each appointed board member shall serve the full term of four years. Vacancies on the board caused by death, resignation, refusal or inability to serve, shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired portion of the term. The officers of the board shall be a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, a treasurer, and such additional officers as may be created by the board from time to time. The board shall meet annually and officers shall be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting. The board shall have the right to formulate and establish bylaws not inconsistent with the provisions of this compact to govern its own actions in the performance of the duties delegated to it including the right to create and appoint an executive committee and a finance committee with such powers and authority as the board may delegate to them from time to time. The board may, within its discretion, elect as its chair a person who is not a member of the board, provided such person resides within a signatory state, and upon such election such person shall become a member of the board with all the rights and privileges of such membership. This paragraph as amended in 1957 shall be effective when eight or more of the states party to the compact have given legislative approval to the amendment.

It shall be the duty of the board to submit plans and recommendations to the states from time to time for their approval and adoption by appropriate legislative action for the development, establishment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of educational schools and institutions within the geographical limits of the regional area of the states, of such character and type and for such educational purposes, professional, technological, scientific, literary, or otherwise, as they may deem and determine to be proper, necessary or advisable. Title to all such educational institutions when so established by appropriate legislative actions of the states and to all properties and facilities used in connection therewith shall be vested in said board as the agency of and for the use and benefit of the said states and the citizens thereof, and all such educational institutions shall be operated, maintained and financed in the manner herein set out, subject to any provisions or limitations which may be contained in the legislative acts of the states authorizing the creation, establishment and operation of such educational institutions.

In addition to the power and authority heretofore granted, the board shall have the power to enter into such agreements or arrangements with any of the states and with educational institutions or agencies, as may be required in the judgment of the board, to provide adequate services and facilities for the graduate, professional, and technical education for the benefit of the citizens of the respective states residing within the region, and such additional and general power and authority as may be vested in the board from time to time by legislative enactment of the said states.

Any two or more states who are parties of this compact shall have the right to enter into supplemental agreements providing for the establishment, financing and operation of regional educational institutions for the benefit of citizens residing within an area which constitutes a portion of the general region herein created, such institutions to be financed exclusively by such states and to be controlled exclusively by the members of the board representing such states provided such agreement is submitted to and approved by the board prior to the establishment of such institutions.

Each state agrees that, when authorized by the legislature, it will from time to time make available and pay over to said board such funds as may be required for the establishment, acquisition, operation and maintenance of such regional educational institutions as may be authorized by the states under the terms of this compact, the contribution of each state at all times to be in the proportion that its population bears to the total combined population of the states who are parties hereto as shown from time to time by the most recent official published report of the bureau of the census of the United States of America; or upon such other basis as may be agreed upon.

This compact shall not take effect or be binding upon any state unless and until it shall be approved by proper legislative action of as many as six or more of the states whose governors have subscribed hereto within a period of eighteen months from the date hereof. When and if six or more states shall have given legislative approval to this compact within said eighteen months period, it shall be and become binding upon such six or more states sixty days after the date of legislative approval by the sixth state and the governors of such six or more states shall forthwith name the members of the board from their states as hereinabove set out, and the board shall then meet on call of the governor of any state approving this compact, at which time the board shall elect officers, adopt bylaws, appoint committees and otherwise fully organize. Other states whose names are subscribed hereto shall thereafter become parties hereto upon approval of this compact by legislative action within two years from the date hereof, upon such conditions as may be agreed upon at the time. Provided, however, that with respect to any state whose constitution may require amendment in order to permit legislative approval of the compact, such state or states shall become parties hereto upon approval of this compact by legislative action within seven years from the date hereof, upon such conditions as may be agreed upon at the time.

After becoming effective this compact shall thereafter continue without limitation of time; provided, however, that it may be terminated at any time by unanimous action of the states and provided further that any state may withdraw from this compact if such withdrawal is approved by its legislature, such withdrawal to become effective two years after written notice thereof to the board accompanied by a certified copy of the requisite legislative action, but such withdrawal shall not relieve the withdrawing state from its obligations hereunder accruing up to the effective date of such withdrawal. Any state so withdrawing shall ipso facto cease to have any claim to or ownership of any of the property held or vested in the board or to any of the funds of the board held under the terms of this compact.

If any state shall at any time become in default in the performance of any of its obligations assumed herein or with respect to any obligation imposed upon said state as authorized by and in compliance with the terms and provisions of this compact, all rights, privileges and benefits of such defaulting state, its members on the board and its citizens shall ipso facto be and become suspended from and after the date of such default. Unless such default shall be remedied and made good within a period of one year immediately following the date of such default this compact may be terminated with respect to such defaulting state by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of the board (exclusive of the members representing the state in default), from and after which time such state shall cease to be a party to this compact and shall have no further claim to or ownership of any of the property held by or vested in the board or to any of the funds of the board held under the terms of this compact, but such termination shall in no manner release such defaulting state from any accrued obligation or otherwise affect this compact or the rights, duties, privileges or obligations of the remaining states thereunder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this compact has been approved and signed by governors of the several states, subject to the approval of their respective legislatures in the manner hereinabove set out, as of the 8th day of February, 1948.

STATE OF FLORIDA BY Millard F. Caldwell, Governor. STATE OF MARYLAND BY Wm. Preston Lane, Jr., Governor. STATE OF GEORGIA BY M. E. Thompson, Governor. STATE OF LOUISIANA BY J. H. Davis, Governor. STATE OF ALABAMA BY James E. Folsom, Governor. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI BY F. L. Wright, Governor. STATE OF TENNESSEE BY Jim McCord, Governor. STATE OF ARKANSAS BY Ben Laney, Governor. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA BY Wm. M. Tuck, Governor. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BY R. Gregg Cherry, Governor. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY J. Strom Thurmond, Governor. STATE OF TEXAS BY Beauford H. Jester, Governor. STATE OF OKLAHOMA BY Roy J. Turner, Governor. STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA BY Clarence W. Meadows, Governor.


be and the same is hereby approved and the State of Florida is hereby declared to be a party to said compact and the agreements, covenants and obligations contained therein are hereby declared to be binding upon the State of Florida.

History.--s. 2, ch. 25017, 1949; ss. 1, 2, ch. 57-177; s. 85, ch. 95-148; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.

¹244.03  Copies to other states approving.--After the effective date of this law the Secretary of State of Florida shall furnish to each of the states approving the said compact an engrossed copy of this bill.

History.--s. 3, ch. 25017, 1949; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.

244.06  Member jurisdictions.

244.08  Commission bylaws.

244.06  Member jurisdictions.--The compact for education is entered into with all jurisdictions legally joining therein and enacted into law in the following form:

PURPOSE AND POLICY.--

A.  It is the purpose of this compact to:

1.  Establish and maintain close cooperation and understanding among executive, legislative, professional educational and lay leadership on a nationwide basis at the state and local levels.

2.  Provide a forum for the discussion, development, crystallization and recommendation of public policy alternatives in the field of education.

3.  Provide a clearinghouse of information on matters relating to educational problems and how they are being met in different places throughout the nation, so that the executive and legislative branches of state government and of local communities may have ready access to the experience and record of the entire country, and so that both lay and professional groups in the field of education may have additional avenues for the sharing of experience and the interchange of ideas in the formation of public policy in education.

4.  Facilitate the improvement of state and local educational systems so that all of them will be able to meet adequate and desirable goals in a society which requires continuous qualitative and quantitative advance in educational opportunities, methods and facilities.

B.  It is the policy of this compact to encourage and promote local and state initiative in the development, maintenance, improvement and administration of educational systems and institutions in a manner which will accord with the needs and advantages of diversity among localities and states.

C.  The party states recognize that each of them has an interest in the quality and quantity of education furnished in each of the other states, as well as in the excellence of its own educational systems and institutions, because of the highly mobile character of individuals within the nation, and because the products and services contributing to the health, welfare and economic advancement of each state are supplied in significant part by persons educated in other states.

STATE DEFINED.--

As used in this compact, "state" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

THE COMMISSION.--

A.  The Education Commission of the States, hereinafter called "the commission," is hereby established. The commission shall consist of seven members representing each party state. One of such members representing Florida shall be the governor; two shall be members of the state senate appointed by the president; two shall be members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker; and two shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. The guiding principle for the composition of the membership on the commission shall be that the members, by virtue of their training, experience, knowledge or affiliations be in a position collectively to reflect broadly the interests of the state government, higher education, the state education system, local education, lay and professional, public and nonpublic educational leadership. Of those appointees, one shall be the head of a state agency or institution, designated by the governor, having responsibility for one or more programs of public education. In addition to the members of the commission representing the party states, there may be not to exceed ten nonvoting commissioners selected by the steering committee for terms of one year. Such commissioners shall represent leading national organizations of professional educators or persons concerned with educational administration.

B.  The members of the commission shall be entitled to one vote each on the commission. No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on the commission are cast in favor thereof. Action of the commission shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the commissioners are present. The commission shall meet at least once a year. In its bylaws, and subject to such directions and limitations as may be contained therein, the commission may delegate the exercise of any of its powers to the steering committee or the executive director, except for the power to approve budgets or requests for appropriations, the power to make policy recommendations pursuant to Article IV and adoption of the annual report pursuant to Article III, J.

C.  The commission shall have a seal.

D.  The commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a chair, who shall be a governor, a vice chair and a treasurer. The commission shall provide for the appointment of an executive director. Such executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and, together with the treasurer and such other personnel as the commission may deem appropriate, shall be bonded in such amount as the commission shall determine. The executive director shall be secretary.

E.  Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director, subject to the approval of the steering committee, shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the commission, and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel. The commission in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the commission.

F.  The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any party jurisdiction, the United States, or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or from any agency of two or more of the party jurisdictions or their subdivisions.

G.  The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this compact any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, foundation, or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. Any donation or grant accepted by the commission pursuant to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant to paragraph F of this Article shall be reported in the annual report of the commission. Such report shall include the nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation, grant, or services borrowed, and the identity of the donor or lender.

H.  The commission may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The commission may acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.

I.  The commission shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws. The commission shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.

J.  The commission annually shall make to the governor and legislature of each party state a report covering the activities of the commission for the preceding year. The commission may make such additional reports as it may deem desirable.

POWERS.--

In addition to authority conferred on the commission by other provisions of the compact, the commission shall have authority to:

1.  Collect, correlate, analyze and interpret information and data concerning educational needs and resources.

2.  Encourage and foster research in all aspects of education, but with special reference to the desirable scope of instruction, organization, administration, and instructional methods and standards employed or suitable for employment in public educational systems.

3.  Develop proposals for adequate financing of education as a whole and at each of its many levels.

4.  Conduct or participate in research of the types referred to in this article in any instance where the commission finds that such research is necessary for the advancement of the purposes and policies of this compact, utilizing fully the resources of national associations, regional compact organizations for higher education, and other agencies and institutions, both public and private.

5.  Formulate suggested policies and plans for the improvement of public education as a whole, or for any segment thereof, and make recommendations with respect thereto available to the appropriate governmental units, agencies and public officials.

6.  Do such other things as may be necessary or incidental to the administration of any of its authority or functions pursuant to this compact.

COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.--

A.  If the laws of the United States specifically so provide, or if administrative provision is made therefor within the federal government, the United States may be represented on the commission by not to exceed ten representatives. Any such representative or representatives of the United States shall be appointed and serve in such manner as may be provided by or pursuant to federal law, and may be drawn from any one or more branches of the federal government, but no such representative shall have a vote on the commission.

B.  The commission may provide information and make recommendations to any executive or legislative agency or officer of the federal government concerning the common educational policies of the states, and may advise with any such agencies or officers concerning any matter of mutual interest.

COMMITTEES.--

A.  To assist in the expeditious conduct of its business when the full commission is not meeting, the commission shall elect a steering committee of thirty-two members which, subject to the provisions of this compact and consistent with the policies of the commission, shall be constituted and function as provided in the bylaws of the commission. One-fourth of the voting membership of the steering committee shall consist of governors, one-fourth shall consist of legislators, and the remainder shall consist of other members of the commission. A federal representative on the commission may serve with the steering committee, but without vote. The voting members of the steering committee shall serve for terms of two years, except that members elected to the first steering committee of the commission shall be elected as follows: sixteen for one year and sixteen for two years. The chair, vice chair, and treasurer of the commission shall be members of the steering committee and, anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, shall serve during their continuance in these offices. Vacancies in the steering committee shall not affect its authority to act, but the commission at its next regularly ensuing meeting following the occurrence of any vacancy shall fill it for the unexpired term. No person shall serve more than two terms as a member of the steering committee; provided that service for a partial term of one year or less shall not be counted toward the two term limitations.

B.  The commission may establish advisory and technical committees composed of state, local, and federal officials, and private persons to advise it with respect to any one or more of its functions. Any advisory or technical committee may, on request of the states concerned, be established to consider any matter of special concern to two or more of the party states.

C.  The commission may establish such additional committees as its bylaws may provide.

FINANCE.--

A.  The commission shall advise the governor or designated officer or officers of each party state of its budget and estimated expenditures for such period as may be required by the laws of that party state. Each of the commission's budgets of estimated expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states.

B.  The total amount of appropriation requests under any budget shall be apportioned among the party states. In making such apportionment, the commission shall devise and employ a formula which takes equitable account of the populations and per capita income levels of the party states.

C.  The commission shall not pledge the credit of any party states. The commission may meet any of its obligations in whole or in part with funds available to it pursuant to Article III, G of this compact, provided that the commission takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to incurring an obligation to be met in whole or in part in such manner. Except where the commission makes use of funds available to it pursuant to Article III, G thereof, the commission shall not incur any obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party states adequate to meet the same.

D.  The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established by its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a qualified public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual reports of the commission.

E.  The accounts of the commission shall be open at any reasonable time for inspection by duly constituted officers of the party states and by any persons authorized by the commission.

F.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent commission compliance with laws relating to audit or inspection of accounts by or on behalf of any government contributing to the support of the commission.

ELIGIBLE PARTIES; ENTRY INTO AND WITHDRAWAL.--

A.  This compact shall have as eligible parties all states, territories, and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In respect of any such jurisdiction not having a governor, the term "governor," as used in this compact, shall mean the closest equivalent official of such jurisdiction.

B.  Any state or other eligible jurisdiction may enter into this compact and it shall become binding thereon when it has adopted the same; provided that in order to enter into initial effect, adoption by at least ten eligible party jurisdictions shall be required.

C.  Adoption of the compact may be either by enactment thereof or by adherence thereto by the governor; provided that in the absence of enactment, adherence by the governor shall be sufficient to make his or her state a party only until December 31, 1967. During any period when a state is participating in this compact through gubernatorial action, the governor shall appoint those persons who, in addition to himself or herself, shall serve as the members of the commission from his or her state, and shall provide to the commission an equitable share of the financial support of the commission from any source available to him or her.

D.  Except for a withdrawal effective on December 31, 1967, in accordance with paragraph C of this article, any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states. No withdrawal shall affect any liability already incurred by or chargeable to a party state prior to the time of such withdrawal.

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY.--

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

History.--s. 1, ch. 67-344; s. 86, ch. 95-148.

244.08  Commission bylaws.--Pursuant to Article III, I of the compact, the commission shall file a copy of its bylaws and any amendment thereto with the Governor.

History.--s. 4, ch. 67-344.

244.09  Interstate agreement on qualifications of educational personnel.

244.10  Commissioner designated official.

244.11  Copies of contracts with other states; depository.

244.09  Interstate agreement on qualifications of educational personnel.--The interstate agreement on qualifications of educational personnel is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, in form substantially as follows:

PURPOSE, FINDINGS, AND POLICY

1.  The states party to this agreement, desiring by common action to improve their respective school systems by utilizing the teacher or other professional educational person wherever educated, declare that it is the policy of each of them, on the basis of cooperation with one another, to take advantage of the preparation and experience of such persons wherever gained, thereby serving the best interests of society, of education, and of the teaching profession. It is the purpose of this agreement to provide for the development and execution of such programs of cooperation as will facilitate the movement of teachers and other professional educational personnel among the states party to it, and to authorize specific interstate educational personnel contracts to achieve that end.

2.  The party states find that included in the large movement of population among all sections of the nation are many qualified educational personnel who move for family and other personal reasons but who are hindered in using their professional skill and experience in their new locations. Variations from state to state in requirements for qualifying educational personnel discourage such personnel from taking the steps necessary to qualify in other states. As a consequence, a significant number of professionally prepared and experienced educators is lost to our school systems. Facilitating the employment of qualified educational personnel, without reference to their states of origin, can increase the available educational resources. Participation in this compact can increase the availability of educational personnel.

DEFINITIONS

As used in this agreement and contracts made pursuant to it, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

1.  "Educational personnel" means persons who must meet requirements pursuant to state law as a condition of employment in educational programs.

2.  "Designated state official" means the education official of a state selected by that state to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of this state, contracts pursuant to this agreement.

3.  "Accept," or any variant thereof, means to recognize and give effect to one or more determinations of another state relating to the qualifications of educational personnel in lieu of making or requiring a like determination that would otherwise be required by or pursuant to the laws of a receiving state.

4.  "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States; the district of Columbia; or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

5.  "Originating state" means a state and the subdivision thereof, if any, whose determination that certain educational personnel are qualified to be employed for specific duties in schools is acceptable in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to Article III.

6.  "Receiving state" means a state and the subdivisions thereof which accept educational personnel in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to Article III.

INTERSTATE EDUCATIONAL

PERSONNEL CONTRACTS

1.  The designated state official of a party state may make one or more contracts on behalf of his or her state with one or more other party states providing for the acceptance of educational personnel. Any such contract for the period of its duration shall be applicable to and binding on the states whose designated state officials enter into it, and the subdivisions of those states, with the same force and effect as if incorporated in this agreement. A designated state official may enter into a contract pursuant to this article only with states in which he or she finds that there are programs of education, certification standards or other acceptable qualifications that assure preparation or qualification of educational personnel on a basis sufficiently comparable, even though not identical to that prevailing in his or her own state.

2.  Any such contract shall provide for:

(a)  Its duration.

(b)  The criteria to be applied by an originating state in qualifying educational personnel for acceptance by a receiving state.

(c)  Such waivers, substitutions, and conditional acceptances as shall aid the practical effectuation of the contract without sacrifice of basic educational standards.

(d)  Any other necessary matters.

3.  No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall be for a term longer than five years but any such contract may be renewed for like or lesser periods.

4.  Any contract dealing with acceptance of educational personnel on the basis of their having completed an educational program shall specify the earliest date or dates on which originating state approval of the program or programs involved can have occurred. No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall require acceptance by a receiving state or any persons qualified because of successful completion of a program prior to January 1, 1954.

5.  The certification or other acceptance of a person who has been accepted pursuant to the terms of a contract shall not be revoked or otherwise impaired because the contract has expired or been terminated. However, any certificate or other qualifying document may be revoked or suspended on any ground which would be sufficient for revocation or suspension of a certificate or other qualifying document initially granted or approved in the receiving state.

6.  A contract committee composed of the designated state officials of the contracting states or their representatives shall keep the contract under continuous review, study means of improving its administration, and report no less frequently than once a year to the heads of the appropriate education agencies of the contracting states.

APPROVED AND ACCEPTED PROGRAMS

1.  Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to repeal or otherwise modify any law or regulation of a party state relating to the approval of programs of educational preparation having effect solely on the qualification of educational personnel within that state.

2.  To the extent that contracts made pursuant to this agreement deal with the educational requirements for the proper qualification of educational personnel, acceptance of a program of educational preparation shall be in accordance with such procedures and requirements as may be provided in the applicable contract.

INTERSTATE COOPERATION

The party states agree that:

1.  They will, so far as practicable, prefer the making of multilateral contracts pursuant to Article III of this agreement.

2.  They will facilitate and strengthen cooperation in interstate certification and other elements of educational personnel qualification and for this purpose shall cooperate with agencies, organizations, and associations interested in certification and other elements of educational personnel qualification.

AGREEMENT EVALUATION

The designated state officials of any party states may meet from time to time as a group to evaluate progress under the agreement, and to formulate recommendations for changes.

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prevent or inhibit other arrangements or practices of any party state or states to facilitate the interchange of educational personnel.

EFFECT AND WITHDRAWAL

1.  This agreement shall become effective when enacted into law by two states. Thereafter it shall become effective as to any state upon its enactment of this agreement.

2.  Any party state may withdraw from this agreement by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states.

3.  No withdrawal shall relieve the withdrawing state of any obligation imposed upon it by a contract to which it is a party. The duration of contracts and the methods and conditions of withdrawal therefrom shall be those specified in their terms.

CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

This agreement shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this agreement shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this agreement is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this agreement and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this agreement shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

History.--s. 1, ch. 69-340; s. 87, ch. 95-148.

244.10  Commissioner designated official.--For the purposes of the agreement set forth in Article IX, the "designated state official" for this state shall be the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner of Education shall enter into contracts pursuant to Article III of the agreement only with the approval of the specific texts thereof by the State Board of Education.

History.--s. 1, ch. 69-340.

244.11  Copies of contracts with other states; depository.--Two copies of all contracts made on behalf of this state pursuant to the agreement set forth in Article IX shall be kept on file in the office of the Commissioner of Education and in the office of the Department of State. The Department of Education shall publish all such contracts in convenient form.

History.--s. 1, ch. 69-340; ss. 10, 15, 35, ch. 69-106.