Southeast Missouri State Universitys teacher preparation programs have been granted national accreditation at the initial licensure level by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
The Accreditation Council of CAEP met April 29 and made the announcement last week.
I appreciate your commitment to excellence in educator preparation accreditation, wrote Dr. Christopher Koch, CAEP president, in a letter to Southeast President Carlos Vargas.
CAEP accreditation at Southeast runs through spring 2025, with the next site visit scheduled for spring 2024.
For many years, Southeasts education programs have been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE recently merged with the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) to form CAEP, the new standard of excellence in teacher preparation programs. This was the first time for Southeasts teacher preparation programs to be reviewed by CAEP under the newly merged organization.
Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson, who administered the accreditation process at Southeast and who recently retired as dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Studies, said the college had an excellent review. She thanked Dr. Daryl Fridley, associate dean of educator preparation, for leading the accreditation process along with the assessment and educator preparation program committee, Southeasts education faculty and the Universitys school district partners for their contributions.
Southeast was among 42 providers from 23 states and the District of Columbia that earned CAEP accreditation this spring for their educator preparation programs (EPPs). These providers join 196 previously accredited providers in promoting excellence in educator preparation, bringing the total of CAEP-accredited EPPs to 238.
The CAEP Accreditation Council held its spring 2019 review last month, during which Southeast was approved under the rigorous, nationally recognized CAEP Teacher Preparation Standards.
These providers meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate, said Koch said. Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.
CAEP is the sole nationally-recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is based on peer review and assures quality while promoting improvement. The intent is to raise the performance of all providers focused on educator preparation. Approximately 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including some previously accredited through former standards.
Southeasts education programs were required to pass peer review on five standards, which are based on two principles:solid evidence that Southeast graduates are competent and caring educators; andsolid evidence that Southeasts educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs Southeast offers.
Southeast is now among 238 CAEP-accredited providers from 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.