Streamlining & Redesign of the Accreditation Process: Preliminary Discussions Donna M. Gollnick

Online Institutional Report Tested in fall 2008 & spring 2009 visits Tested in fall 2008 & spring 2009 visits Characteristics Characteristics –Prompts for each element –11 required tables –Ability to upload key links, tables, & figures Institutions to have option of Online IR in fall 2009 and spring 2010 visits Institutions to have option of Online IR in fall 2009 and spring 2010 visits

Data from national program review Accepted for Std. 1 Accepted for Std. 1 –Content knowledge for teachers –Pedagogical content knowledge for teachers –Professional knowledge & skills for other school professionals –Student learning for teachers & other school professionals

Streamlining Options in Spring 2009 & Fall 2009 Visits Previsit conducted electronically Previsit conducted electronically Visit to begin on Sunday afternoon & finish by noon on Wednesday Visit to begin on Sunday afternoon & finish by noon on Wednesday School visits eliminated School visits eliminated Poster sessions eliminated Poster sessions eliminated Virtual focused visits Virtual focused visits

Exhibits Electronic exhibits should be used when possible (not required, but most institutions now have most of the exhibits available electronically). Electronic exhibits should be used when possible (not required, but most institutions now have most of the exhibits available electronically). Exhibits should be available for each standard Exhibits should be available for each standard List of key exhibits are available on NCATE’s website List of key exhibits are available on NCATE’s website

Future Goals

Who is involved in these discussions? Selected deans, NCATE coordinators, & state agency representatives have participated (or will) with senior staff to discuss program review, unit accreditation, and continuous improvement visits. Selected deans, NCATE coordinators, & state agency representatives have participated (or will) with senior staff to discuss program review, unit accreditation, and continuous improvement visits. Executive directors of member organizations Executive directors of member organizations Input from institutions and other NCATE constituents being sought at Input from institutions and other NCATE constituents being sought at –Annual conferences –Special meetings –Website

Next Steps Recommendations being shared with NCATE board members as they are developed. Recommendations being shared with NCATE board members as they are developed. UAB will consider & refine recommendations at its April 2009 meeting. UAB will consider & refine recommendations at its April 2009 meeting. Executive board will adopt recommendations at its May 2009 meeting. Executive board will adopt recommendations at its May 2009 meeting.

Continuing to Streamline Shorter visits being tested in 2009 Shorter visits being tested in 2009 Smaller teams, especially for continuing visits Smaller teams, especially for continuing visits Better use of technology before, during, & after the visit Better use of technology before, during, & after the visit Less burdensome self-study process Less burdensome self-study process Less burdensome program review process Less burdensome program review process

Continuous Improvement How can accreditation be used to support continuous improvement in teacher education? How can accreditation be used to support continuous improvement in teacher education? How could NCATE determine that standards continue to be met, allowing a different type of self-study & visit? How could NCATE determine that standards continue to be met, allowing a different type of self-study & visit?

How can data be used to determine if stds are met? Part B of AACTE/NCATE annual report currently under revision Part B of AACTE/NCATE annual report currently under revision Part C (NCATE portion) now includes Part C (NCATE portion) now includes –substantive changes –Progress made on eliminating areas for improvement

What key criteria would suggest a conventional visit? Assessment system no longer exists, data are not collected systematically & regularly, or data are not used to evaluate candidates & programs. Assessment system no longer exists, data are not collected systematically & regularly, or data are not used to evaluate candidates & programs. Major changes have occurred. Major changes have occurred. –Majority of programs offered online –Number of off-campus programs, especially outside the state, increased dramatically

Considering a brief report 3 years before visit Address key standards elements Address key standards elements Report would be reviewed by BOE members Report would be reviewed by BOE members –Identify any concerns –Indicate the type of visit needed If evidence suggest that standards continue to be met, the unit could work with NCATE to identify the focus of the next visit. If evidence suggest that standards continue to be met, the unit could work with NCATE to identify the focus of the next visit.

What might this continuous visit look like? Self-study would focus on Self-study would focus on –Specific standard, especially 3 or 4 –Transformational project in teacher education –Further development of valid & reliable assessments

What would be involved? Data would have to show that standards continue to be met. Data would have to show that standards continue to be met. Unit would submit a proposal & negotiate the nature of the next visit with NCATE Unit would submit a proposal & negotiate the nature of the next visit with NCATE The IR would include data on the work being done The IR would include data on the work being done Some BOE team members would have expertise in area of unit’s self-study Some BOE team members would have expertise in area of unit’s self-study