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Mark LaCelle-Peterson, President & CEO
I’m excited to report that AAQEP’s Initial Accreditation Pathway (IAP) is now up and running to support educator preparation providers with a new “on-ramp” to AAQEP accreditation. This pathway offers EPPs an option—and it is optional—of a distinct review track leading to a shorter, nonrenewable accreditation status before moving into the 7-year accreditation cycle.
Who should choose this option? We developed the IAP to serve two groups of providers: first, those who were developing new programs and wanted their very first completers to graduate from an accredited program, and second, those who wished to maintain national accreditation while transitioning from another accreditor to AAQEP without a gap in status and without having to host two site visits at the point of transition.
So what’s different about the IAP? Compared to AAQEP’s 7-year accreditation pathway, the chief differences of the IAP are a more streamlined process and an initial accreditation term of up to 5 years (although some states may recognize the status for a shorter period).
Much is the same across both pathways: They’re based on the same standards, the EPP writes a self-study report, a review team investigates it and conducts a site visit, and the Accreditation Commission meets to make the accreditation decision.
The IAP self-study is briefer, though, focused on evidence about the assessment system and the provider’s capacity for quality; because the programs choosing this pathway are new, newly revised, or just implementing new assessment systems, outcome evidence is typically not available. (Hence the shorter term of accreditation.) And the site visit is fully virtual.
Is the IAP an AAQEP original? No—many accreditation agencies provide an accreditation pathway that is similar to AAQEP’s IAP, under labels such as preaccreditation, initial accreditation, or candidacy. In the federal accreditation system, these pathways count as accreditation statuses with regard to participation in the federal financial aid system.
Who can participate in the IAP? While the process is available to all providers just entering the AAQEP system or offering an entirely new or revised program, some states are still determining how it will interface with their requirements. Be sure to check with AAQEP or with your state authorizer for particular guidelines for your state.
When will this process be available? It already is! Our staff began working with five providers to pilot the initial accreditation process during the winter. Following presentations at the 2023 Quality Assurance Symposium and in subsequent webinars, several other members have jumped onboard.
If you’re interested in learning more, please join us for a webinar in the coming weeks (see below), download our initial accreditation FAQ, or visit our website for additional information.
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