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The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that the ����ֱ�� School of Education has received reaccreditation for its educator preparation programs. The fall 2023 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 34 educator preparation providers receiving accreditation, bringing the total to 551 providers approved under the CAEP Accreditation Standards—rigorous, nationally-recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.  

“As the ����ֱ�� celebrates 65 years of affordable and accessible higher education, it is important to recognize the significant contributions made by our programs in education and human development,” said Brian Beabout, associate professor and acting director of the School of Education. “CAEP accreditation reminds us that there are no shortcuts to quality and addressing our region’s acute teacher shortage will take continued efforts from our faculty, staff and K-12 school partners.”

Accreditation is based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation.

“These institutions 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 CAEP president Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review of the CAEP standards, which are based on two principles:
1.    Solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators, and
2.    Solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

The ����ֱ�� School of Education prepares graduate and undergraduate students in the fields of teacher education, educational administration, counseling, and human performance and health promotion. Faculty and students also produce research that addresses difficult problems in human flourishing, and the school supports the development of sustainable, equitable and just institutions.