1. Embarking on the AAQEP Journey: Northwest Missouri State University
Joseph Haughey, Northwest
Nissa Ingraham, Northwest
Linda McKee, AAQEP COO
KM begins

2. Our First Steps at Northwest
Northwest nationally accredited since 1954, through NCATE, then CAEP
Northwest hosts an AACTE Data Systems Case Study – November 6-8, 2016
Unrest at the time with the accreditation process
AAQEP is founded in 2017
KM begins

3. AAQEP’s Start: Renewing a Conversation
43 individuals:
34 faculty, deans, coordinators
2 PK-12 educators
4 reps from 3 SEAs (HI, MI, UT)
3 AAQEP initial staff
39 institutions in 14 states
Yielded 3 working groups: Expectations, Process, Consistency
MLP and Member Voice

4. Design: How did AAQEP begin?1.
Working Groups met August through September of 2017; continued through 2018 2.
Draft expectations framework presented at
conferences in 12 states 3.
Comments and feedback reviewed
by Working Groups 4.
Final version posted at the end of January 2018 5.
Members currently developing quality assurance reports 6.
First 9 site visits occurring
spring 2019; 20+ in 2020; 20+ in 2021

5. AAQEP Today: 72 Members Members come from 16 states, Guam, & Canada
They represent a diverse provider population that includes:
Initial
Advanced
Traditional
Alternative
Online
Large, medium, & small
Public
Independent
Community colleges

6. Principles Supporting the Conversation
Provider collaboration
AAQEP values and provides collaboration for educator preparation to move forward in multiple ways through the accreditation process.
Improvement-focused with innovation friendly protocols
AAQEP recognizes that innovation is integral to the continuous improvement cycle.
Comprehensive–all providers, all programs
AAQEP created a comprehensive system that is open to all providers and all types of programs with the same quality expectations.
Context and mission
AAQEP recognizes the importance of context and respects institutional mission.
Philosophy of partnership
AAQEP encourages partnerships involving providers, state authorities, and the accreditor.
Efficiency and frugality in operations
AAQEP maximizes efficiency and strives for frugality while maintaining quality.
Update to 6 – see guide. This conversation matters – and here’
Promote provider collaboration
Focus on improvement and innovation
Partner with providers and their state
authorities
Recognize the value and importance of
context
Serve all providers and all programs
equitably
Seek efficiencies everywhere
Share ideas and innovations broadly

7. Support quality assurance review process
Process Innovations
Cohort grouping for increased collaboration and support
AAQEP liaison role to provide continuity and support
Proposal process for feedback and clarity of expectations
Support quality assurance review process

8. Process Innovations: Cohorts and Liaisons
Cohort monthly calls serve to:
provide a supportive learning community
foster a shared, collaborative space
Liaisons serve to:
facilitate monthly calls
provide AAQEP updates and continuous support
CD and Member

9. Abbreviated Process Timeline
Note that the first item (Site visit date set) is only approximate, with exact dates picked later

10. Northwest’s QAR Website
Leadership team established from Northwest faculty and staff
Divided into two writing groups, one for standards 1 and 2, a second for standards 3 and 4
Internal deadline April 30, 2019
Formal deadline in the early fall
Site visit in late spring 2020
Note that the first item (Site visit date set) is only approximate, with exact dates picked later

11. Composition of the Quality Review Team (QRT)
Quality Assurance Reviewers work together to form the Quality Review Team (QRT)
Quality Assurance Reviewer (1-2)
All of these individuals form the QRT and actively and collaboratively engage in the quality assurance review process.
Team Lead (1)
Local Practitioner (1)
The QRT is comprised of 3 reviewer types.

12. AAQEP Standards & Expectations Dimensions

13. Overview: Evidence Requirements & Priorities
Multiple measures with reasonable continuity
Quality of evidence must be investigated and shared
Priority is given to direct performance measures
Indirect and downstream measures must be considered
Differentiation of evidence by initial, advanced, etc.
Assessments appropriate to program (not across all)
Improvement Science view of evidence characteristics

14. Evidence Requirements & Priorities: How are the standards being met?
The center of gravity for evidence is found in direct performance measures. They provide evidence as to what can candidates do and their ability to do the job for which they were prepared.
Priority is given to direct performance measures
Although more distant/ down-stream measures may reflect intervening influences, they remain valuable for what we can learn from them.
Likewise, they contribute to the story in addressing each standard.
Indirect and down-stream measures must be considered
Evidence is differentiated by program (self-study) so to ensure that each program is working well.
Differentiation of evidence by initial, advanced, etc.

15. Evidence Requirements & Priorities: How are the standards being met?
The field has many measures available, but no one measure tells us everything we need to know.
Consistency over time allows us to look at trends, BUT reasonable continuity allows you to stop using a weaker measure when you know you’ve found a stronger measure. AAQEP does not insist on a certain number of cycles of data.
Multiple measures with reasonable continuity
Reliability, validity, trustworthiness, and fairness of evidence must be considered.
Quality of evidence must investigated and shared

16. Evidence Requirements & Priorities: How are the standards being met?
Assessments/measures are appropriate to the program. Common assessments are not required across programs, but providers’ may have common measures across programs.
Assessments appropriate to program (not across all)
The influence of Tony Bryk and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching embraces the notion of innovation. It is important to look at evidence consistently and appropriately to the purpose while you are trying to improve and adopt innovations.
Improvement Science view of evidence characteristics

17. Questions and Answers

18. Interested in Learning More? Join Us - or Host a Workshop!
AAQEP Standards and Processes: Foundations of Quality Assurance
This workshop is popular with providers looking to decide whether to pursue AAQEP accreditation and with new members developing initial plans with their teams. 
Making the Case for Quality
This workshop is designed for members actively pursuing AAQEP accreditation but is open to anyone interested in learning more about the system. Prior participation in a “foundations” workshop is encouraged but not required.
Learning From Data: Accuracy and Equity
This workshop is tailored to AAQEP members but explores concepts that are useful to anyone working with assessments in educator preparation.
Find the current event schedule at AAQEP.org

19. Follow AAQEP on Social Media
twitter.com/aaqep1
linkedin.com/company/aaqep

20. Quality Assurance Symposium
AAQEP
Quality Assurance Symposium
2020
February 27, ● Atlanta, GA Stay tuned to AAQEP.org for details

21. THANK YOU. For more information: Linda McKee: l. mckee@aaqep
THANK YOU! For more information: Linda McKee: Mike McBride: Nissa Ingraham: Joseph Haughey: Also visit aaqep.org for updates and opportunities