State Partnership Agreements

CAEP has established state partnerships that are responsive to each participating state’s individual needs and policies, and are designed to promote excellence and continuous improvement in educator preparation by combining the benefits of meeting national standards with those of maintaining state program approval. The agreements aim to align the work around state expectations and to ensure thorough reviews while saving both states and providers time and expense by eliminating duplication of effort.

Partnership agreements describe the goals of the partnership and the key responsibilities of signatory parties and educator preparation providers (EPPs). States specify the composition of the visitor team as well as the program review options programs within EPPs may use.

CAEP state partnerships are responsive to the state’s needs and policies, and are designed to promote excellence and continuous improvement in educator preparation by combining the benefits of meeting national standards with those of maintaining state program approval. The agreements aim to align the work around state expectations and to ensure thorough reviews while saving both states and providers time and expense by eliminating duplication of effort. Depending on the specific parameters established in a given state’s agreement, evidence on candidate and program performance can be shared as well. 

The state partnership agreement establishes a relationship to facilitate mutual sharing of valuable information, including models of assessment, distinctive clinical experiences, or model approaches for the recruitment and retention of students. Reports from the accreditation process that are stored in the CAEP database (AIMS) are all accessible to state education contacts; these records can be used as a back-up or substitute for the state’s storage systems. Ongoing communication is a priority in the partnerships.

Program Review Options for CAEP Accreditation* by State Agreement
STATE STATE REVIEW CAEP EVIDENCE REVIEW OF STANDARD 1/A.1 SPA
Alabama X  X
 X
Alaska   X X
Arizona X X X
Arkansas X X X
California X

    
Connecticut   X X
Delaware     X
District of Columbia  X
   X
Hawaii   X
 X 
Idaho X    
Indiana X X               X
Kansas X    
Kentucky X    
Louisiana X X
Maine X
 
Maryland
X X
Michigan  X    X
Mississippi X  X
  X
Missouri X    X
Montana X X  X
Nebraska X X  X
New Hampshire X X  X
New Jersey   X  X
New York
X  X
North Carolina X    X
North Dakota X X  X
Ohio X X  X
Oklahoma X
    X
Oregon X
 X
South Carolina X    X**
South Dakota X X  X
Tennessee X    
Virginia X  
 
West Virginia   X  X**

*Available program review options may not align with state approval options. Please consult state consultant when selecting an option.

** Providers in South Carolina and West Virginia MUST select SPA program review when available.

  • Educator Preparation Providers (EPPs) select program review option(s) as determined by the CAEP-state agreement. In the absence of a CAEP-state agreement, EPPs choose among the three program review options. If State Program Review is selected, the EPP must coordinate with its respective state to provide CAEP the state agency report on the EPP’s specialty licensure areas.
  • CAEP offers three program review options for CAEP accreditation for its state and non-U.S. partners to choose from:
    1. SPA Program Review with National Recognition
    2. CAEP Evidence Review of Standard 1/A.1.
    3. State Program Review
  • The state may choose from among the three options or a combination of them for the review of specialty licensure areas by EPPs within its jurisdiction.
  • More information regarding program review options for CAEP accreditation can be found in the CAEP-State Partnership Agreements or by contacting state representative directly.
  • If an EPP does not submit its specialty licensure area for review in accordance with existing state or international partnership agreements, CAEP reserves the right to reschedule the site visit.