In this introductory course, participants will gain a full understanding of the CAEP accreditation process, a rigorous journey that ensures educator preparation programs (EPPs) meet the highest national standards in teacher education. This course is designed to guide EPP leaders, faculty, and administrators through each phase of CAEP accreditation, from understanding each standard to preparing a comprehensive self-study and succeeding in the site visit.

The course is divided into seven focused lessons. Participants will begin with an introduction to CAEP and its role in supporting high-quality teacher preparation. Each subsequent lesson covers a specific CAEP standard, such as Content and Pedagogical Knowledge, Clinical Partnerships and Practice, and Program Impact, offering insights into the evidence, data collection, and candidate quality required to meet each criterion. The final lessons emphasize quality assurance and continuous improvement, detailing how EPPs can utilize feedback from the CAEP review to enhance their program over time.

Through practical reflection questions, activities, and worksheets, this course provides actionable steps to help EPPs evaluate and improve their alignment with CAEP standards. Participants will engage with topics such as selecting diverse, high-quality candidates, forming clinical partnerships with P-12 schools, demonstrating graduate impact, and ensuring ongoing program accountability.

By the end of this course, participants will have a solid foundation from which to lead their programs successfully through the CAEP accreditation process, ultimately fostering continuous improvement and enhancing teacher preparation quality. This course is essential for any institution committed to excellence and accountability in educator preparation.

Who this course is for:

• This course is open to anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with the CAEP accreditation process, including its major standards, what constitutes valid evidence, and how a self-study is formed.