Accreditation:Accreditation:

The State The State Policy Policy

PerspectivePerspective

March 2008March 2008

Ensuring Educator Excellence

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ing Accreditation—California’s PastAccreditation—California’s Past

Prior to 1993, California utilized a Program Prior to 1993, California utilized a Program Evaluation process to review educator Evaluation process to review educator preparation programs—each approved preparation programs—each approved program reviewed individually program reviewed individually (implemented through 1997)(implemented through 1997)

1993: Accreditation Framework is adopted 1993: Accreditation Framework is adopted by the Commission leading to a single a by the Commission leading to a single a Accreditation decision for an institution Accreditation decision for an institution and all of its approved programs and all of its approved programs (implemented in 1998)(implemented in 1998)

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Evaluation of the Accreditation System Evaluation of the Accreditation System begins (1998)—report by AIR in 2002begins (1998)—report by AIR in 2002

Accreditation hiatus—except for Accreditation hiatus—except for NCATE visits (Dec 2002)NCATE visits (Dec 2002)

Accreditation Study Work Group, with Accreditation Study Work Group, with the Committee on Accreditation, the Committee on Accreditation, reviews and proposes a revised reviews and proposes a revised accreditation system (2004-2006)accreditation system (2004-2006)

Accreditation—Historical InfoAccreditation—Historical Info

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ing Accreditation Review ProcessAccreditation Review Process

Accreditation Accreditation Study Work Study Work

Group Group

Committee on Committee on Accreditation Accreditation

Commission Commission Legislature Legislature

Representative group of stakeholders

CSU, UC

AICCU

CTA, CFT

ACSA, CSBA, Intern, Induction

Twelve educators appointed by the Commission

6 from K-12

6 from IHEs

Fifteen individuals appointed to set policy “to ensure that those who educate the children of this state are academically and professionally prepared.”

Elected officials

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ing Accreditation Review Process ResponsibilitiesAccreditation Review Process Responsibilities

Accreditation Accreditation Study Work Study Work

GroupGroup

Committee on Committee on AccreditationAccreditation

CommissionCommission LegislatureLegislature

Review the Review the accreditation accreditation system, best system, best practices in practices in accreditation, the accreditation, the current policy and current policy and budget in budget in California and California and recommend recommend revisions to the revisions to the Committee on Committee on Accreditation. Accreditation.

Review the Review the recommendations-recommendations-Decide which Decide which recommendations recommendations and options to and options to recommend to the recommend to the Commission for Commission for adoption. adoption.

Review the Review the recommendations recommendations from the from the Committee on Committee on Accreditation. Accreditation. Consider all policy Consider all policy implications and implications and stakeholder input. stakeholder input. Adopt a revised Adopt a revised Accreditation Accreditation Framework Framework that that defines the defines the revised revised Accreditation Accreditation SystemSystem..

If necessary, If necessary, consider consider statutory statutory changes to the changes to the Education Education Code. Code.

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ing AccreditationAccreditation

Commission AdoptsCommission Adopts Recommendations (8/2006 and 9/2006)Recommendations (8/2006 and 9/2006) Revised Common Standards (6/2007)Revised Common Standards (6/2007) Revised Accreditation Framework Revised Accreditation Framework

(12/2007)(12/2007)

COA begin to implement the Revised COA begin to implement the Revised Accreditation System (2007-08)Accreditation System (2007-08)

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ing California Education ContextCalifornia Education Context

Accountability—Focus on accountability Accountability—Focus on accountability

Standards—K-12 Student Content and Standards—K-12 Student Content and Educator PrepEducator Prep

SB 2042 (1998)—Revision of Teacher SB 2042 (1998)—Revision of Teacher PreparationPreparation

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ing Recommendations to the Recommendations to the

CommissionCommission

Purposes of accreditation systemPurposes of accreditation system

Accountability-public and Accountability-public and professionprofession

Adherence to StandardsAdherence to Standards

High quality preparation for High quality preparation for educatorseducators

On-going program improvementOn-going program improvement

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Roles and Responsibilities of the Roles and Responsibilities of the Commission and the Committee on Commission and the Committee on Accreditation: Accreditation:

Maintain the current roles and Maintain the current roles and responsibilities of the Commission and responsibilities of the Commission and the Committee on Accreditation but the Committee on Accreditation but improve the communication between improve the communication between COA and the Commission. COA and the Commission.

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Accreditation should be an On-Accreditation should be an On-Going Activity, not a snapshot Going Activity, not a snapshot every six yearsevery six years

Accreditation should be an on-going Accreditation should be an on-going cycle of activities focused on data-cycle of activities focused on data-driven decision making, accountability, driven decision making, accountability, and meeting the standards. and meeting the standards.

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Establish consistency in the system Establish consistency in the system by including all Credential and by including all Credential and Certificate Programs in the Certificate Programs in the Accreditation Process:Accreditation Process:

All programs that lead to a credential or All programs that lead to a credential or certificate in California should be reviewed certificate in California should be reviewed on a periodic basis and that the review on a periodic basis and that the review process should be implemented in a process should be implemented in a manner that recognizes program manner that recognizes program differences but maintains comparable rigor differences but maintains comparable rigor across program types.across program types.

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Program Standard OptionsProgram Standard Options: Provide : Provide three program standard options: 1) three program standard options: 1) California Program Standards; 2) California Program Standards; 2) National or Professional Program National or Professional Program Standards; or 3) Experimental Program Standards; or 3) Experimental Program Standards. Standards.

If national standards are used, If national standards are used, comparability must be established and comparability must be established and programs must address the California programs must address the California specific standards in addition to the specific standards in addition to the national standards.national standards.

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Maintain the Unit Accreditation Decision but enhance the information related to each approved programs

National Unit or Program Accreditation require that all California programs must participate in the California accreditation system, but align activities with national accreditation where ever possible

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Year 1: Biennial ReportYear 1: Biennial Report

Year 2:Year 2:

Year 3: Biennial ReportYear 3: Biennial Report

Year 4: Program AssessmentYear 4: Program Assessment

Year 5: Biennial ReportYear 5: Biennial Report

Year 6: Site VisitYear 6: Site Visit

Year 7: Site Visit Follow-upYear 7: Site Visit Follow-up

Accreditation System: Submit to CTC

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ing Next StepsNext Steps

Align California’s accreditation Align California’s accreditation activities with national activities with national accreditation (NCATE, TEAC, accreditation (NCATE, TEAC, Professional Associations) Professional Associations) where possiblewhere possible

Monitor the rollout of the first Monitor the rollout of the first years of the revised systemyears of the revised system

Evaluate the systemEvaluate the system