Action Plan in the Matter of Revocation of Accreditation of the UAA School of Education Jim Johnsen President, University of Alaska February 21, 2019 1
Contents • The Problem • Background • Considerations, Options and Next Steps 2
The Problem 3
The Problem • UAA’s School of Education was informed on January 11, 2019 that the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has revoked accreditation for UAA’s initial licensure teacher education programs. • Under State law and regulation, CAEP accreditation has been the basis for licensure of our program graduates to teach in Alaska. (It may also be required for licensure to teach in certain other states.) • CAEP accreditation is not only a requirement for licensure, it is a nationally recognized measure of how well the “unit”, in this case UAA’s School of Education, measures its effectiveness as a basis for continuous program improvement in preparation of high quality educators for Alaska. How should UA respond to this serious failure? How should we ensure our students a certain path to licensure from an accredited and approved program? 4
Our Commitment • Our students’ needs are the highest priority • Assure a certain pathway to licensure for graduates from an accredited and approved program • High quality academics • Address the serious failure and breach of student trust • We will rectify the problems • UAA students have full access to UAF/UAS accredited programs • Students held harmless from transfer fees and costs • Tailored options that best suit individual students 5
Background 6
Enrollment in UA Initial Placement Teacher Education Programs UAA UAF UAS Not CAEP accredited. CAEP accredited. NCATE accredited. CAEP review next year. Programs # Students Programs # Students Programs # Students Elementary Education Bachelor of 252 Elementary Education Bachelor of 132 Elementary Education Bachelor of Arts 71 Arts in Education Arts in Education in Education Elementary Post‐baccalaureate 16 Elementary Education Post‐ 6 program (K‐8) baccalaureate program (K‐8) Secondary Education Masters of Arts 25 Can transfer to secondary post‐ 19 Secondary Education Masters of Arts 21 in Teaching (7‐12) baccalaureate degree w/Secondary in Teaching (7‐12) M.Ed. Early Childhood Bachelor of Arts 114 All credits will transfer to ‐ (preK‐3) Elementary Education Bachelor of Arts in Education. (K‐8) Early Childhood Post‐baccalaureate 4 All credits will transfer to ‐ program Elementary Education post‐ (preK‐3) baccalaureate program (K‐8) Special Education initial licensure 2* Special education initial licensure 12 Special education initial licensure 8 Early Childhood Special Education 2* All credits will transfer to special ‐ Early Childhood Special Education licensure education initial licensure (K‐12) licensure # Students: Fall 2018 enrolled majors (IPEDS) minus Fall 2018 UAA graduates * Students in these licensure programs impacted by the CAEP decision (numbers from UAA SOE) 7
UAA Initial Placement Teacher Education Programs Estimated Estimated Fall 2018 Degrees per #Students #Students NOT Enrolled Fall 2018 UAA Programs year (5 year graduating this graduating this majors (IPEDS graduates average) spring & spring & data) summer summer Elementary Education Bachelor of 18 267 15 27 234 Arts in Education Elementary Post‐baccalaureate 2 16 0 2 14 program (K‐8) Secondary Education Masters of Arts 25 36 11 23 0 in Teaching (7‐12) Early Childhood Bachelor of Arts 15 117 3 27 99 (preK‐3) Early Childhood Post‐baccalaureate 2 program 4 0 3 2 (preK‐3) 1 Special Education initial licensure 2* 0 1 1 Early Childhood Special Education 1 2* 0 1 1 licensure * Students in these licensure programs who are impacted by the CAEP decision (numbers from UAA SOE) 8
What is CAEP? • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) • Sole national accrediting body for educator preparation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation • Relatively new accreditor; their standards and performance measures were not fully implemented until 2016 • Created through the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) • 35 states and 850+ educator preparation providers in the CAEP Accreditation system 9
About CAEP Accreditation • CAEP accredits the School of Education (rather than specific programs such as elementary education) and its ability to demonstrate systematic collection, analysis, and utilization of performance data to continuously improve outcomes for the educators it prepares • While UAA’s application for CAEP accreditation of initial licensure programs was not approved, UAF’s was approved in November 2018. UAS is in the early stages of preparation for CAEP review, which will occur over the coming year • Reaccreditation for UAA’s initial licensure programs likely will take up to 3 years to accomplish, and require a significant commitment of resources, attention, and commitment by UAA School of Education faculty and leaders. In the interim, State Board of Education approval of UAA’s initial licensure programs—based on its assessment of UAA’s substantial compliance with CAEP standards—is required 10
CAEP Accreditation Process/Cycle • Accreditation is quality assurance through external peer review • Dual function of assuring quality and promoting improvement • Evidence‐based process for evaluating how we collect common data, analyze trends, and self‐assess in order to continually improve our programs and outcomes • Cycle involves a self‐study, formative review, 2‐3 day site visit, panel reviews, council review, and final action/decision • This was UAA’s first program accreditation cycle with CAEP; UAA was previously accredited through CAEP’s predecessor, NCATE • Like many other states. the Alaska State Board of Education has adopted CAEP accreditation as the standard for assessing teacher education program quality 11
CAEP Accreditation Process at UAA, 2017‐2019 • 8.31.2017 UAA submitted its Self‐Study Report to CAEP • 12.18.2017 CAEP provided Formative Feedback Report to UAA • 2.18.2018 UAA provided Self‐Study Addendum to CAEP • 3.08.2018 Interim Dean Paul Deputy placed on administrative leave • 3.26.2018 Interim Dean Claudia Dybdahl hired • 4.30.2018 CAEP conducted its site visit at UAA and provided initial feedback on outcomes • 6.04.2018 Draft Site Visit Report provided • 6.12.2018 Factual Correction Provided to CAEP from UAA • 6.14.2018 Final Site Visit Report available to UAA • 7.23.2018 Continued dialog with CAEP on Final Site Report including a rejoinder to the Report • 11.15.2018 UAA received notice from CAEP that a decision regarding accreditation was delayed “to allow the Accreditation Council to reconsider a stipulation preliminarily recorded for Standard 3”. UAA was informed that they should receive a notification of decision no later than December 31. • 1.11.2019: UAA received notice of revocation 12
Specific Findings by CAEP in its Final Report to UAA The CAEP Accreditation Council found that UAA’s initial licensure programs failed to meet 4 of 5 accreditation standards: Standard 1: Content and Pedagogical Knowledge Not Met “Lack of program design to national, state, and SPA standards prohibits the Education Preparation Provider’s (UAA) ability to develop candidates' understanding of professional concepts and principles of the education profession.” Standard 2: Clinical Partnerships and Practice Met Standard 3: Candidate Quality, Recruitment, and Selectivity Not Met “All components of the standard are not met by the evidence provided.” Standard 4: Program Impact Not Met “All components of the standard are not met by the evidence provided.” Standard 5: Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement Not Met “The Education Preparation Provider lacks a viable Quality Assurance System with data‐ driven continuous improvement.” 13
Why We Failed CAEP • Lack of commitment of resources, attention, expertise to program accreditation in general • Lack of leadership, resources, attention, expertise, communication, and collaboration within the UAA School of Education • Culture of non‐responsiveness among previous UAA leaders • Lack of timely communication within UAA and up to President and BOR • Lack of accreditation “Early Warning System” 14
Programs Impacted by CAEP Decision Only UAA “initial licensure” education programs impacted: Elementary Bachelor of Arts (K‐8) o Elementary Post‐Baccalaureate Certification (K‐8) o Master of Arts in Teaching Certification (7‐12) o Early Childhood Bachelor of Arts (pre K‐3) o Early Childhood Post‐Baccalaureate Certification (pre K‐3) o Special Education Initial Certification o Early Childhood Special Education Licensure o These programs have ~67% of the majors in the UAA SOE 15
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