Today, the CAEP Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting agreed on consensus recommendations to submit to the CAEP Board of Directors for consideration at its summer meeting. The consensus came after careful consideration of public comment and full Commission deliberation. As Commissioners indicated their support of the report as a whole, several took time to comment favorably on the process and inclusivity that allowed such a diverse group of Commissioners to arrive at consensus, as well as noting the import of the moment and the unique role accreditation plays in demanding high expectations of one’s own field.
The Commission was charged with developing accreditation standards — based on evidence, continuous improvement, innovation, and clinical practice — for all preparation providers. Along with rigorous standards and evidence, the Commission was to recommend transparent CAEP public accountability reporting with multiple measures, including those directly linked to student achievement.
Accreditation is a non-governmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and motivating improvement. Standards serve as the basis for any accreditor’s reviews. These attributes of accreditation spring from a broad consensus across educator preparation stakeholders, data users, and policymakers, and are what set accreditation apart from simple ranking systems.
The Commission’s report will be made available shortly after final compilation of revisions.