(a)
Any two or more school districts, each of which receive funding for educational programs pursuant to a consolidated application form prepared by the State Board of Education, may join together or join together with one or more county superintendents of schools to apply to the State Department of Education to become a consortium for conducting program reviews of educational programs utilizing consolidated application funding or for providing program development assistance and reviewing school site plans, or both.
(b)
The State Board of Education shall prescribe the form and manner of the consortium application.
(c)
To ensure adequate program and plan review, consistency, or application of compliance and quality criteria, consortia review personnel shall use review instruments and processes and receive training approved by the State Department of Education.
(d)
The majority of persons participating in program reviews shall be persons who are not in the employment of the district under review.