A student teacher from The Teachers College at Emporia State University presents a reading lesson to students at Walnut Elementary School in Emporia, Kansas, in November 2018.
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation recently announced The Teachers College at Emporia State University is one of 42 providers from 23 states and the District of Columbia to receive accreditation for its educator preparation programs.
This achievement marks the end of a seven-year process begun by The Teachers College, which involved extensive research and documentation, demonstrating ESU’s commitment to excellent teacher preparation.
As an educator preparation provider seeking accreditation, The Teachers College at Emporia State had to pass peer review on five standards, which are based on two principles. The first is solid evidence that graduates are competent and caring educators. The second principle is solid evidence that the 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.
“Dr. Joan Brewer, associate dean of The Teachers College, and her team worked tirelessly on reviewing all elements to educator preparation in the context of CAEP standards, engaging the faculty, and making important changes to our processes and procedures to ensure that Emporia State University maintains its status as one of the premier educator preparation programs in the nation,” said Dr. Ken Weaver, Dean of The Teachers College. “The excellence of their work is reflected in the accreditor’s final recommendation which was all standards met, no areas for improvement and no problems.”
CAEP is the sole nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review serving the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement.
CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Currently, approximately 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including many previously accredited through former standards.
“We are pleased and proud that the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation continues to recognize the excellence of Emporia State’s Teachers College,” said ESU President Allison Garrett. “Educators truly build a better world by shaping the future of their students every day. We are honored to help our graduates pursue their calling.”
Accreditation lasts seven years and ESU’s next site visit will be in 2025. ESU was previously accredited through NCATE, an accreditation it maintained for more than 20 years.
“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 Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
The spring 2019 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 42 newly accredited EPPs, bringing the total to 238 providers approved under the CAEP Teacher Preparation Standards — rigorous, nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.