Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, December 1, 2023
RELATES TO:
KRS
161.028,
161.030,
164.945,
164.946,
164.947,
20 U.S.C. 1021-1022
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
161.028(1) authorizes the
Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) to establish standards and
requirements for obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate and for
programs of preparation for teachers and other professional school personnel.
KRS
161.030(1) requires all
certificates issued under
KRS
161.010 to
161.126
to be issued in accordance with the administrative regulations of the EPSB.
This administrative regulation establishes the standards for accreditation of
an educator preparation provider and approval of a program to prepare an
educator.
Section 1. Definitions.
(1) "Accreditation Reviewers" means the
evaluators who review educator preparation providers as part of the
accreditation process.
(2)
"Advanced programs" means educator preparation programs offered at the graduate
level and designed to develop additional specialized professional skills or
credentials for P-12 educators who have already completed an initial
certification program.
(3) "CAEP"
means the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation that
establishes a set of national accreditation standards for educator preparation
that apply to the state accreditation process.
(4) "Educator Preparation Provider" (EPP)
means the accredited unit at an institution responsible for the preparation of
educators.
(5) "Initial programs"
means educator preparation programs offered at the undergraduate or graduate
levels to prepare an individual for a first professional teaching credential.
These programs are designed to prepare candidates who have not yet earned a
certificate to become P-12 educators.
(6) "Institution" means a college or
university..
(7) "National
Specialized Professional Association" means the association that defines the
content-area standards for specialized programs. EPSB approved National
Specialized Professional Associations are published on the EPSB
website.
(8) "State accreditation"
means recognition by the EPSB that an EPP has met accreditation standards as a
result of review, including an on-site team review.
(9) "Technical visit" means an on-campus,
in-person visit by EPSB staff to an institution or EPP to advise for program
and accreditation reviews.
(10)
"Unit" means the college, school, or department of education that is seeking a
first-time EPSB accreditation.
(11)
"Institutional accreditation" means the accreditation that is granted to an
entire institution. This may be earned through a regional accreditor or
national accreditor that is recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education.
Section 2.
General Accreditation Requirements.
(1) A
Kentucky institution offering an educator preparation program shall have:
(a) National accreditation by an educator
preparation accreditor approved by the EPSB; or
(b) State accreditation by the
EPSB.
(2) State
accreditation shall be based on the EPSB-approved national accreditation
standards aligned to the components enumerated in
KRS
161.028(1)(b), and that are
established by CAEP.
(a) The 2022 CAEP
Initial-Level Standards shall be the accreditation standards for EPPs offering
initial teacher certification programs.
(b) The CAEP Standards for Accreditation at
the Advanced Level shall be the accreditation standards for EPPs offering
advanced educator preparation programs.
(3) All educator preparation institutions and
programs operating in Kentucky that require licensure by the Council on
Postsecondary Education under
KRS
164.945,
164.946,
164.947,
and
13 KAR
1:020 shall be approved by the EPSB under this
administrative regulation as a condition of offering an educator preparation
program or a program leading to rank change.
(4) For continuing national or state
accreditation, an EPP shall submit the following evidence as part of the
accreditation process:
(a) Documentation
submitted to the EPSB staff for Title II compliance, indicating that the EPP's
summary pass rate on state licensure examinations meets or exceeds the required
state pass rate of eighty (80) percent; and
(b) Documentation of institutional
accreditation. Required documentation shall include a copy of the current
institutional accreditation letter or report that indicates institutional
accreditation status.
Section 3. Developmental Process for New
Educator Preparation Institutions.
(1)
Institutions requesting approval from the EPSB to be recognized as a new EPP
shall follow the four (4) stage developmental process established in this
Section to gain temporary authority to admit and exit candidates and operate
one (1) or more educator preparation programs. The developmental process is
required whether an institution intends to seek national or state
accreditation.
(2) Stage One:
Application.
(a) The institution shall submit
to the EPSB for review and acceptance an official notice of intent from the
chief executive officer and the governing board of the institution indicating
the institution's intent to begin the developmental process to become an
educator preparation provider.
(b)
The EPSB staff shall make a technical visit to the institution.
(c) The institution shall submit the
following documentation:
1. A letter from the
institution's chief executive officer that designates the unit as having
primary authority and responsibility for professional education
programs;
2. A chart or narrative
that lists all educator preparation programs to be offered by the institution,
including any nontraditional and alternative programs, and shall depict:
a. The degree or award levels for each
program;
b. The administrative
location for each program; and
c.
The structure or structures through which the unit implements its oversight of
all programs;
3. If the
unit's offerings include off-campus programs, a separate chart or narrative as
described in subparagraph 2 of this paragraph, prepared for each location at
which off-campus programs are geographically located;
4. An organizational chart of the institution
that depicts the educator preparation unit and indicates the unit's
relationship to other administrative units within the college or
university;
5. The name and job
description of the head of the unit and an assurance that the head has the
authority and responsibility for the overall administration and operation of
the unit;
6. The policies and
procedures that guide the operations of the unit. Required documentation shall
include the cover page and table of contents for codified policies, bylaws,
procedures, and student handbooks;
7. The unit's processes, including a
description of the quality assurance system, to regularly monitor and evaluate
its operations, the quality of its offerings, the performance of candidates,
and the effectiveness of its graduates;
8. Program review documentation identified in
Section 18 of this administrative regulation; and
9. The institutional accreditation. Required
documentation shall include a copy of the current institutional accreditation
letter or report that indicates institutional accreditation status.
(d) Stage One documentation shall
be reviewed by EPSB staff and the Program Review Committee. The Program Review
Committee shall make one (1) of the following recommendations:
1. Concerns identified and reported to the
educator preparation unit for resolution; or
2. Recommendation to proceed to Stage
Two.
(e) Following a
recommendation from the Program Review Committee, EPSB staff shall make an
additional technical visit to the institution.
(3) Stage Two: On-Site visit and
Accreditation Audit Committee Recommendation.
(a) Nine (9) months prior to the scheduled
on-site visit, the institution shall submit to the EPSB a written narrative
self-study to describe the process and document that the unit has evaluated its
practices against the EPSB approved accreditation standards. The written
narrative may be supplemented by a chart, graph, diagram, table, or other
similar means of presenting information and shall not exceed 100 pages in
length.
(b) A team of trained
reviewers identified by EPSB staff shall make a one (1) day visit to the
institution to verify the self-study evidence.
(c) The team of three (3) shall be comprised
of:
1. One (1) representative from a public
postsecondary institution;
2. One
(1) representative from an independent postsecondary institution; and
3. One (1) representative from a P-12
organization.
(d) The
team shall submit a written report of its findings to the EPSB staff.
(e) The EPSB staff shall provide a copy of
the written report to the institution.
(f)
1. The
institution may submit a written rejoinder to the report within thirty (30)
working days of its receipt.
2. The
rejoinder may be supplemented by materials pertinent to the conclusions found
in the team's report.
(g)
The Accreditation Audit Committee shall review the materials gathered during
Stages One and Two and make one (1) of the following recommendations to the
EPSB with regards to temporary authorization:
1. Approval;
2. Approval with conditions; or
3. Denial of
approval.
(4)
Stage Three: EPSB Ruling.
(a) The EPSB shall
review the materials and recommendations from the Accreditation Audit Committee
and make one (1) of the following determinations with regards to temporary
authorization:
1. Approval;
2. Approval with conditions; or
3. Denial of approval.
(b) An institution receiving approval or
approval with conditions shall:
1. Hold this
temporary authorization for two (2) years; and
2. Continue the developmental process by
pursuing accreditation as established in this administrative
regulation.
(c) An
institution denied temporary authorization may reapply twelve (12) months after
the EPSB's decision.
(d) During the
two (2) year period of temporary authorization, the institution shall:
1. Admit and exit candidates;
2. Monitor, evaluate, and assess the academic
and professional competency of candidates; and
3. Provide reports to the EPSB staff on the
institution's progress as requested.
(e) During the two (2) year period of
temporary authorization, the EPSB staff:
1.
May schedule additional technical visits; and
2. Shall monitor progress by review of annual
reports and admission and exit data.
(5) Stage Four: Initial Accreditation Visit.
(a) The institution shall pursue either
national or state level accreditation within two (2) years of the approval or
approval with conditions of temporary authorization.
(b) If the institution pursues national
accreditation, all further accreditation activities shall be governed by
Section 4 of this administrative regulation.
(c) If the institution pursues state
accreditation, all further accreditation activities shall be governed by
Section 6 of this administrative regulation.
Section 4. National Accreditation.
(1) An EPP may pursue initial or continuing
national accreditation, if the national accreditor has been approved by the
EPSB as demonstrating the requirements of
KRS
161.028.
(2) A national accreditor seeking EPSB
approval shall apply to the EPSB and submit documentation of the following:
(a) Established rigorous standards for
educator preparation that align with
KRS
161.028(1)(b) and guide
institutions in establishing and maintaining high quality programs that produce
evidence of academic achievement and educator performance;
(b) Attestation that all accreditation
standards be met for an educator preparation provider to obtain and maintain
accredited status;
(c) The scope of
accreditation;
(d) The capacity for
staff and resources to carry out the operations of the organization;
(e) Public dissemination of information about
the accreditation status of educator preparation providers including length of
a term of accreditation, reasons for awarding accreditation status, information
about any deficiencies in relation to accreditation standards and policies and
reasons for conditional approval or denial of accreditation;
(f) A system of quality assurance for
standards, policies, and procedures that is reviewed on a cyclical
basis;
(g) Policies and procedures
and a governance structure that support the established accreditation and
decision-making processes; and
(h)
Letter(s) of support and interest from a Kentucky EPP.
(3) National accreditors approved by the EPSB
shall notify the EPSB in writing of any changes to the requirements of
subsection (2) of this section and shall include the rationale for the
changes.
(4) If an EPP pursues
initial or continuing accreditation from a national accreditor approved by the
EPSB, the accreditation decision of the national accreditor shall be presented
for recognition by the EPSB at the next scheduled meeting following the
national accreditation decision.
(5) If the EPP is denied accreditation by the
national accreditor, the EPP may seek Emergency Authorization to Operate from
the EPSB as outlined in Section 5 of this administrative regulation.
(6) As part of national accreditation, an
EPP's programs leading to educator certification and rank change shall be
reviewed through the state program review process as established in Section 17
of this administrative regulation. Twenty-four (24) months prior to the
scheduled on-site visit, the EPP shall submit programs for review in accordance
with Section 18 of this administrative regulation.
(7) Prior to the scheduled on-site evaluation
visit, EPSB staff shall participate in the pre-visit to the institution to
serve as a state consultant to the national chair.
(8) At least one (1) EPSB staff member shall
be assigned as support staff and liaison during the national accreditation
visit and one (1) state representative trained in the standards of the national
accreditor shall serve as a member of the site visit team.
(9) To maintain continuing national
accreditation, the EPP shall follow the cycle and timelines established by the
national accreditor.
Section
5. Emergency Authorization to Operate (EAO).
(1) If a Kentucky EPP seeks initial or
continuing national accreditation from a national accreditor approved by the
EPSB and is denied accreditation, the EPP may apply for an EAO.
(2) An EAO shall allow the EPP to temporarily
operate for one (1) year or two (2) academic terms.
(3) The EPP shall not admit new candidates
during the EAO period.
(4) The
application for an EAO shall be made from the EPP to the EPSB within five (5)
business days of the date of the official notification by the national
accreditor that the EPP was denied national accreditation.
(5) The EPSB staff shall conduct a technical
visit to the EPP within ten (10) business days of receipt of the request for
EAO.
(6) The EPP shall submit a
Corrective Action Plan (CAP) addressing all identified deficiencies from their
national accreditation within fifteen (15) calendar days following the
technical visit.
(7) The CAP shall
be reviewed by the Accreditation Audit Committee for recommendation to the EPSB
for state accreditation, state accreditation with conditions, state
accreditation with probation, or denial.
(8) The EPSB shall review the recommendation
from the Accreditation Audit Committee at the next EPSB meeting and make the
determination to grant the EPP state accreditation, state accreditation with
conditions, state accreditation with probation, or deny
accreditation.
Section 6.
State Accreditation.
(1) EPPs seeking first or
continuing state accreditation shall be on a seven (7)year review
cycle.
(2) If an EPP held national
accreditation prior, but now seeks state accreditation, the EPP shall be
reviewed for state accreditation in the same year as their previous national
cycle.
(3) Twenty-four (24) months
prior to the scheduled on-site visit, the EPP shall submit programs for review
in accordance with Section 18 of this administrative regulation.
(4) Nine (9) months prior to the on-site
visit the EPP shall submit a self-study document and supporting evidence that
address the state accreditation standards.
(5) Assigned accreditation reviewers shall
conduct an offsite review of the self-study and supporting evidence and produce
a Formative Feedback Report to the EPP., 009,
Section 7. Accreditation Reviewers.
(1) Accreditation Reviewers shall be
comprised of:
(a) Teacher educators;
(b) P-12 teachers and administrators;
and
(c) State and local policymaker
groups.
(2) Accreditation
reviewers shall be trained on the CAEP accreditation standards.
(3) The EPSB staff shall select and appoint
for each scheduled on-site accreditation a team of Accreditation Reviewers
giving consideration to the number and type of programs offered by the
institution.
(4) The EPSB staff
shall identify a chair for the team.
Section 8. State Accreditation Previsit to
the Institution. No later than one (1) month prior to the scheduled on-site
evaluation visit, the EPSB staff and team chair shall conduct a pre-visit to
the institution to make a final review of the arrangements.
Section 9. State On-site Accreditation Visit.
(1) At least one (1) staff member of the EPSB
shall be assigned as support staff and liaison during the accreditation
visit.
(2) The educator preparation
institution shall reimburse a state team member for travel, lodging, and meals
in accordance with
200 KAR
2:006.
(3)
The Accreditation Reviewers shall conduct an on-site evaluation of the
self-study materials prepared by the institution and seek out additional
information, as needed, to make a determination as to whether the standards
were met for the accreditation of the institution's educator preparation unit
and for the approval of an individual educator preparation program..
(4)
(a) An
off-campus site that offers a self-standing program shall require a team
review. If additional team time is required for visiting an off-campus site,
the team chair, the institution, and the EPSB shall negotiate special
arrangements.
(b) Off-campus
programs shall be:
1. Considered as part of
the unit and the unit shall be accredited, not the off-campus programs;
and
2. Approved in accordance with
Section 23 of this administrative regulation.
(5) Accreditation reviewers shall recommend
findings on each of the accreditation standards. A recommendation about each
standard shall be limited to the following options:
(a) Met;
(b) Met, with one (1) or more defined areas
for improvement; or
(c) Not
met.
(6)
(a) The Accreditation Reviewers shall review
each program and cite the areas for improvement for each, if
applicable.
(b) The Accreditation
Reviewers shall define the areas for improvement in its report.
(7) The EPP may submit within
thirty (30) working days of receipt of the report a written rejoinder that may
be supplemented by materials pertinent to a conclusion found in the evaluation
report.
(a) The accreditation documentation
shall be provided for review by the Accreditation Audit Committee and
EPSB.
(b) An unmet standard or area
of improvement cited by the team may be recommended for change or removal by
the Accreditation Audit Committee or by the EPSB because of evidence presented
in the rejoinder.,
Section
10. Accreditation Audit Committee.
(1) The Accreditation Audit Committee shall
be a committee of the EPSB, and shall report to the full EPSB. The EPSB shall
appoint the Accreditation Audit Committee as follows:
(a) One (1) lay member;
(b) Two (2) classroom teachers;
(c) Four (4) EPP representatives, two (2)
from a state-supported institution and two (2) from an independent educator
preparation institution, appointed from nominees provided by the Kentucky
Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; and
(d) One (1) school administrator.
(2) The chair of the EPSB shall
designate a member of the Accreditation Audit Committee to serve as its
chair.
(3) An appointment shall be
for a period of four (4) years except that three (3) of the initial
appointments shall be for a two (2) year term. A member may serve an additional
term if renominated and reappointed in the manner established for membership. A
vacancy shall be filled as it occurs in a manner consistent with the provisions
for initial appointment.
(4)
Following an on-site accreditation visit, the Accreditation Audit Committee
shall review the reports and materials constituting an institutional
self-study, the report of the accreditation reviewers, and the institutional
response to the evaluation report. The committee shall then prepare a
recommendation for consideration by the EPSB.
(a) The committee shall review procedures of
the Accreditation Reviewers to determine whether approved accreditation
guidelines were followed.
(b) For
each institution, the committee shall make a recommendation with respect to the
accreditation of the institutional unit for educator preparation as well as for
approval of the individual programs of preparation.
(c) For first accreditation, one (1) of four
(4) recommendations shall be:
1.
Accreditation;
2. Provisional
accreditation with conditions;
3.
Provisional Accreditation with probation; or
4. Denial of accreditation.
(d) For regular continuing
accreditation, one (1) of four (4) recommendations shall be:
1. Accreditation;
2. Accreditation with conditions;
3. Accreditation with probation; or
4. Revocation of accreditation..
(5) The Accreditation
Reviewers Team Chair may write a separate response to the recommendation of the
Accreditation Audit Committee if the Accreditation Audit Committee's decision
differs from the Accreditation Reviewer's evaluation report.
Section 11. Official State
Accreditation Action by the EPSB.
(1) A
recommendation from the Accreditation Audit Committee shall be presented to the
full EPSB.
(2) The EPSB shall
consider the findings and recommendations of the Accreditation Audit Committee
and make a final determination regarding the state accreditation of the
EPP.
(3) Decision options following
a first accreditation visit shall be "accreditation", "provisional
accreditation with conditions", "provisional accreditation with probation", or
"denial of accreditation".
(a) Accreditation.
1. This accreditation decision indicates that
the EPP meets each of the standards for accreditation. Areas for improvement
may be cited, indicating problems warranting the institution's attention. In
its subsequent annual reports, the educator preparation unit shall be expected
to describe progress made in addressing the areas for improvement cited in the
EPSB's action report.
2. The next
on-site visit shall be scheduled for seven (7) years following the semester of
the visit.
(b)
Provisional accreditation with conditions.
1.
This accreditation decision indicates that the EPP has three (3) or more areas
for improvement within one (1) standard or multiple areas for improvement
across multiple standards. The EPP has accredited status but shall satisfy
conditions by providing evidence of addressing each area for improvement. The
EPSB shall require submission of documentation that addresses the areas for
improvement within six (6) months of the accreditation decision. Following the
review of the documentation, the EPSB shall decide to:
a. Accredit;
b. Provisionally accredit with probation;
or
c. Deny accreditation.
2. If the EPP is accredited, the
next on-site visit shall be scheduled for seven (7) years following the
semester of the first accreditation visit.
(c) Provisional Accreditation with Probation.
1. This accreditation decision indicates that
the EPP has not met one (1) or more of the accreditation standards. The EPP has
accredited status but is on probation. The EPP shall schedule an on-site visit
within two (2) years of the semester in which the provisional probationary
decision was rendered. The EPP as part of this visit shall address the unmet
standard and the identified areas for improvement. Following the on-site
review, the EPSB shall decide to:
a. Accredit;
or
b. Deny accreditation.
2. If the EPP is accredited, the
next on-site visit shall be scheduled for seven (7) years following the
semester of the first accreditation visit.
(d) Denial of accreditation. This
accreditation decision indicates that the EPP does not meet two (2) or more of
the standards, and has pervasive problems that limit its capacity to offer
quality programs that adequately prepare candidates.
(4) Decision options following a continuing
accreditation visit shall be "accreditation", "accreditation with conditions",
"accreditation with probation", or "revocation of accreditation".
(a) Accreditation.
1. This accreditation decision indicates that
the EPP meets each of the standards for accreditation. Areas for improvement
may be cited, indicating problems warranting the EPPs attention. In its
subsequent annual reports, the EPP shall describe progress made in addressing
the areas for improvement cited in EPSB's action report.
2. The next on-site visit shall be scheduled
for seven (7) years following the semester of the visit.
(b) Accreditation with conditions.
1. This accreditation decision indicates that
the EPP has met all standards, but has three (3) or more areas of improvement
within one (1) standard or multiple areas for improvement across multiple
accreditation standards. If the EPSB renders this decision, the EPP shall
maintain its accredited status, but shall satisfy conditions by addressing each
area for improvement in a written report. EPSB shall require submission of
documentation that addresses the areas for improvement within six (6) months of
the decision to accredit with conditions. Following the review of the
documentation, the EPSB shall decide to:
a.
Continue accreditation;
b. Continue
accreditation with probation; or
c.
Revoke accreditation.
2.
If the EPSB renders the decision to continue accreditation, the next on-site
visit shall be scheduled for seven (7) years following the semester in which
the continuing accreditation visit occurred.
(c) Accreditation with probation.
1. This accreditation decision indicates that
the EPP has not met one (1) or more of the accreditation standards and has
pervasive problems that limit its capacity to offer quality programs that
adequately prepare candidates. As a result of the continuing accreditation
review, the EPSB has determined that areas for improvement with respect to
standards may place an institution's accreditation in jeopardy if left
uncorrected. The EPP shall schedule an on-site visit within two (2) years of
the semester in which the probationary decision was rendered. The EPSB Staff
shall schedule a visit focused on the unmet standard or standards within two
(2) years of the semester that the accreditation with probation decision was
granted. Following the on-site review, the EPSB shall decide to:
a. Continue accreditation; or
b. Revoke accreditation.
2. If accreditation is continued, the next
on-site visit shall be scheduled for seven (7) years after the semester of the
continuing accreditation visit.
(d) Revocation of accreditation. This
decision follows a probationary visit and indicates that the EPP does not meet
one (1) or more of the accreditation standards, and has pervasive problems that
limit its capacity to offer quality programs that adequately prepare
candidates. Accreditation shall be revoked if the unit:
1. No longer meets requirements of
accreditation, such as loss of state program approval, national accreditation
for educator preparation, or institutional accreditation;
2. Misrepresents its accreditation status to
the public;
3. Falsely reports data
or plagiarized information submitted for accreditation and program review
purposes; or
4. Fails to submit
annual reports or other documents required for accreditation and program
review.
(5)
Notification of the EPSB action to revoke continuing accreditation or deny
first accreditation shall include notice that:
(a) The EPP shall inform candidates currently
admitted to a certification or rank program of the following:
1. A candidate recommended for certification
or advancement in rank within the twelve (12) months immediately following the
denial or revocation of state accreditation and who applies to the EPSB within
the fifteen (15) months immediately following the denial or revocation of state
accreditation shall receive the certificate or advancement in rank;
and
2. A candidate who does not
meet the criteria established in subparagraph 1. of this paragraph shall
transfer to an EPSB accredited EPP to receive the certificate or advancement in
rank.
(b) An institution
for which the EPSB has denied or revoked accreditation may seek national or
state accreditation. For state accreditation, the on-site accreditation visit
shall be scheduled by the EPSB no earlier than two (2) years following the EPSB
action to revoke or deny state accreditation. During this two (2) year period,
candidates may not be admitted to any educator preparation program.
Section 12. Revocation
for Cause.
(1) If an area of concern or an
allegation of misconduct arises between accreditation visits, staff shall bring
a complaint to the EPSB for initial review.
(2) After review of the allegations in the
complaint, the EPSB may change the accreditation status of the EPP or refer the
matter to the Accreditation Audit Committee for further
investigation.
(3)
(a) Notice of the EPSB's decision to refer
the matter and the complaint shall be sent to the EPP.
(b) Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
complaint, the EPP shall respond to the allegations in writing and provide
evidence pertaining to the allegations in the complaint to the EPSB.
(4)
(a) The Accreditation Audit Committee shall
review any evidence supporting the allegations and any information provided by
the EPP.
(b) Upon completion of the
review, the Accreditation Audit Committee shall issue a report containing one
(1) of the following four (4) recommendations to the EPSB:
1. Accreditation;
2. Accreditation with conditions;
3. Accreditation with probation; or
4. Revocation of accreditation.
(5) The EPP shall
receive a copy of the Accreditation Audit Committee's report and may file a
response to the Accreditation Audit Committee's recommendation.
(6)
(a) The
recommendation from the Accreditation Audit Committee and the EPP's response
shall be presented to the EPSB.
(b)
The EPSB shall consider the findings and recommendations of the Accreditation
Audit Committee and make a final determination regarding the accreditation of
the EPP.
Section
13. Public Disclosure.
(1) After
an accreditation and program approval decision becomes final, the EPSB shall
prepare official notice of the action. The disclosure notice shall include the
essential information provided in the official letter to the institution,
including the decision on accreditation, program approval, standards not met,
program areas for improvement, and dates of official action.
(2) The public disclosure shall be entered
into the minutes of the EPSB for the meeting in which the official action was
taken by the EPSB.
Section
14. Appeals Process.
(1) If an
institution seeks appeal of a decision, the institution shall appeal within
thirty (30) days of receipt of the EPSB official notification. An institution
shall appeal on the grounds that:
(a) A
prescribed standard was disregarded;
(b) A state procedure was not followed;
or
(c) Evidence of compliance in
place at the time of the review and favorable to the institution was not
considered.
(2) An ad hoc
appeals board of no fewer than three (3) members shall be appointed by the EPSB
chair from members of the Accreditation Reviewers who have not had involvement
with the team visit or a conflict of interest regarding the institution. The ad
hoc committee shall recommend action on the appeal to the EPSB.
(3) The consideration of the appeal shall be
in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B.
Section 15. Interim Reports.
(1) Each state accredited EPP shall report to
the EPSB in the third year following its previous accreditation visit to
provide data about:
(a) Progress made in
addressing areas for improvement identified by its last accreditation
evaluation;
(b) Changes in the
institution's institutional accreditation status; and
(c) Continuous improvement efforts relating
to the accreditation standards.
(2)
(a) The
EPSB staff shall review each EPP's interim report to monitor the progress of
the EPP to continue a program of high quality.
(b) The EPSB may pursue action against the
EPP based on data received in this report.
Section 16. In compliance with the Federal
Title II Report Card State Guidelines established in
20 U.S.C. 1022f
and
1022g, the
EPSB shall identify an EPP as:
(1) "At-risk of
low performing" if an EPP has received a:
(a)
State accreditation rating of "provisional";
(b) State accreditation rating of
"accreditation with conditions";
(c) Summative Praxis II pass rate below
eighty (80) percent ; or
(d)
National accreditation rating of "accreditation with stipulation"; or
(2) "Low performing" if an EPP has
received a state or national accreditation rating of "accreditation with
probation".
Section 17.
The Education Professional Standards Board shall maintain data reports related
to the following:
(1) Current accreditation
status of all institutions with EPSB approved programs;
(2) Contact information for the person
responsible for the EPP;
(3) Year
of last state accreditation visit and year of next scheduled visit;
(4) Table of the EPP's approved certification
program or programs;
(5) Tables
relating the EPP's total enrollment disaggregated by ethnicity and gender for
the last three (3) years;
(6)
Tables relating the EPP's faculty disaggregated by the number of full-time
equivalents (FTE), ethnicity, and gender for the last three (3)
years;
(7) Table of the number of
program completers (teachers and other school professionals) for the last three
(3) years;
(8) Table relating pass
rates on the required assessments;
(9) Table relating pass rates for the
Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (if applicable);
(10) Table relating pass rates for the
Kentucky Principal Internship Program (if applicable);
(11) Table indicating student teacher
satisfaction with the preparation program;
(12) Table relating teacher intern
satisfaction with the preparation program; and
(13) Table relating new teacher (under three
(3) years) and supervisor satisfaction with the preparation program.
Section 18. Program Review
Components for Developmental Process.
(1) To
operate a program leading to certification or rank change, the EPP shall have
its program review documents reviewed by the EPSB for each separate program of
educator preparation for which the EPP is seeking approval.
(2) The following information shallbe
demonstrated in the program review documentation:
(a) An overview that includes:
1. The context and unique
characteristics;
2. Description of
the organizational structure;
3.
The vision, mission, and goals; and
4. The shared values and beliefs for educator
preparation.
(b) A
description of its systematic approach for continuous improvement;
(c) A description of its clinical
partnerships;
(d) An alignment of
the program's coursework and field and clinical experiences with the content
standards of the relevant National Specialized Professional Association,
student academic expectations as established in
703 KAR 4:060, and relevant state
performance standards in Title 16 of the Kentucky Administrative
Regulations;
(e) Identification and
alignment of the program assessments to the state performance standards to
assure each candidate's mastery prior to exit from the program;
(f) Identification of how the program
addresses the applicable regulatory requirements of Title 16 of the Kentucky
Administrative Regulations;
(g) A
list of faculty responsible for and involved with the conduct of the specific
program, along with the highest degree of each, qualifications for the program,
and status of employment within the program and the university; and
(h) A curriculum guide provided to each
candidate that includes the following:
1. Name
of the program and resulting certification and rank;
2. Program admission criteria;
3. Program coursework;
4. Program exit requirements;
5. Certification requirements if they differ
from the program exit requirements.
Section 19. New Program Approval for an
Accredited EPP.
(1) An accredited EPP shall
submit a program proposal for each new educator preparation program.
(2) A program proposal shall demonstrate the
following components:
(a) A description of its
clinical partnerships relevant to the new program;
(b) A description of the application of the
EPP's continuous improvement plan as it pertains to the new program;
(c) An alignment of the program's coursework
and field and clinical experiences with the content standards of the relevant
National Specialized Professional Association, student academic expectations as
established in
703 KAR 4:060, and relevant state
performance standards in Title 16 of the Kentucky Administrative
Regulations;
(d) Identification and
alignment of the program assessments to the state performance standards to
assure each candidate's mastery prior to exit from the program;
(e) Identification of how the program
addresses the applicable regulatory requirements of Title 16 of the Kentucky
Administrative Regulations;
(f) A
list of faculty responsible for and involved with the conduct of the specific
program, along with the highest degree of each, qualifications for the program,
and status of employment within the program and the university; and
(g) A curriculum guide provided to each
candidate that includes the following:
1. Name
of the program and resulting certification and rank;
2. Program admission criteria;
3. Program coursework;
4. Program exit requirements; and
5. Certification requirements if they differ
from the program exit requirements.
(3) A program shall receive EPSB approval
prior to admission of students to the program. The Program approval decision
options shall be:
(a) Approval with the next
review scheduled during the regular accreditation cycle;
(b) Approval with conditions with a maximum
of one (1) year probationary extension for correction of a specific problem to
be documented through written materials or through an onsite visit. At the end
of the extension, the EPSB shall decide if the documentation supports:
1. Approval; or
2. Denial.
(c) Denial of approval indicating that a
serious problem exists which jeopardizes the quality of preparation for school
personnel.
Section
20. Continuing Program Approval.
(1) An EPP that has been granted approval for
each of its educator preparation programs, shall submit the following for each
educator preparation program for which it seeks continuing approval:
(a) Report of any changes in the program
since the last EPSB review;
(b)
Summary analysis of the program assessment data to identify areas of strength
and weakness relevant to the educator performance standards; and
(c) Description of the program's continuous
improvement plan based on the program analysis.
(2) The EPSB shall order a review of an
educator preparation program if it has cause to believe that the quality of the
preparation is seriously jeopardized.
(a) The
review shall be conducted under the criteria and procedures established in the
EPSB "Emergency Review of Certification Programs Procedure" policy incorporated
by reference.
(b) Phase One Review
shall require a written report about the identified program(s) and the
continuous improvement plans.
(c)
The Phase Two Review shall require an on-site review to be conducted by EPSB
staff and a team of trained reviewers.
(d) The review shall result in a report to
which the EPP may respond.
(e) The
review report and EPP response shall be used by the Program Review Committee as
the basis for a recommendation to the full EPSB for:
1. Approval;
2. Approval with conditions; or
3. Denial of approval for the
program.
(f) If the EPSB
denies approval of a program, the EPP shall notify each candidate currently
admitted to that program of the EPSB action. The notice shall include the
following information:
1. A candidate
recommended for certification or advancement in rank within the twelve (12)
months immediately following the denial of state approval and who applies to
the EPSB within the fifteen (15) months immediately following the denial of
state approval shall receive the certification or advancement in rank;
and
2. A candidate who does not
meet the criteria established in subparagraph 1. of this paragraph shall
transfer to an EPSB approved program to receive the certificate or advancement
in rank.
Section
21. Content Review Committee.
(1)
(a) EPSB
staff shall identify and train a content review committee in each of the
certificate areas to provide content area expertise to EPSB staff and the
Program Review Committee.
(b)
Nominations for the content review committees shall be solicited from the
education constituent groups.
(2)
(a) A
content review committee shall review all new educator preparation program
proposals to establish congruence of the program with standards of National
Specialized Professional Association and appropriate state performance
standards in Title 16 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations.
(b) EPSB staff may initiate a content review
committee for a continuing approval review as determined by program changes
that may have occurred since the last review.
(3) A content review committee shall submit
written comments to EPSB staff and the Program Review Committee for use in the
program review process.
(4) A
content review committee shall not make any determination or decision regarding
the approval or denial of a program.
Section 22. Program Review Committee.
(1) The EPSB shall appoint and EPSB staff
shall train a Program Review Committee representative of the constituent groups
to the EPSB.
(2) The Program Review
Committee shall conduct a preliminary review of the Development Process Stage
One documentation for adequacy, timeliness, and conformity with the
corresponding standards and Kentucky Administrative Regulations.
(3) The Program Review Committee shall send a
Program Review Update to the Stage One applicants indicating whether the
documentation satisfies the submission requirements. If a requirement has not
been met, the applicant shall be asked to revise or send additional
documentation.
(4) For new program
approval, the Program Review Committee shall:
(a) Determine that the submitted material
meets requirements;
(b) Ask EPSB
staff to resolve with the EPP a discrepancy or omission in the report or
programs;
(c) Make a recommendation
for program approval to the EPSB; or
(d) Recommend that the evaluation and
approval process be terminated as a result of a severe deficiency in the
program.
(5) For
continuing program approval, the Program Review Committee shall:
(a) Determine that the submitted material
meets requirements;
(b) Identify
additional components of the program to be reviewed;
(c) Ask EPSB staff to resolve with the EPP a
discrepancy or omission in the report or programs;
(d) Refer an unresolved discrepancy or
omission to the on-site accreditation team for resolution; or
(e) Recommend that the evaluation and
approval process be terminated as a result of a severe deficiency in the
program.
(6) EPSB staff
shall discuss a recommendation for termination with the EPP. The EPP may submit
a written response that shall be presented with the Program Review Committee
comments and program review documents to the full EPSB.
Section 23. Approval of Off-site Programs.
(1) Institutions in Kentucky with educator
preparation programs shall seek approval from the EPSB before offering courses
or whole programs at an off-campus site.
(a)
The institution shall submit a written request to the EPSB to begin offering
courses at the off-site location describing the location and physical
attributes of the off-campus site, resources to be provided, faculty and their
qualifications, and a list of courses or programs to be offered.
(b) The off-site location shall be approved
by the EPSB before the institution may begin offering courses at the
location.,
Section
24. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) The following material is incorporated by
reference:
(a) "2022 CAEP Initial Level
Standards", December 2020;
(b)
"CAEP Standards for Accreditation at the Advanced Level", June 2021;
and
(c) "Education Professional
Standards Board Emergency Review of Certification Programs Procedure",
2020.
(2) This material
may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at
the Kentucky Department of Education, 300 Sower Boulevard, 5th Floor,
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
23 Ky.R. 4275;
Am. 24 Ky.R. 343; eff. 8-4-1997; 1952; eff. 5-18-1998; 27 Ky.R. 3356; 28 Ky.R.
383; eff. 8-15-2001; Recodified from 704 KAR 20:696, 7-2-2002; 29 Ky.R. 2916;
30 Ky.R. 260; eff. 8-13-2003; 31 Ky.R. 1854; 32 Ky.R. 29; eff. 8-5-2005; 32
Ky.R. 2047; 33 Ky.R. 19; eff. 8-7-2006; 34 Ky.R. 1081; 1690; eff. 2-1-2008; 35
Ky.R. 2321; 2655; eff. 6-8-2009; 37 Ky.R. 2027; 2365; eff. 5-6-2011; 48
Ky.R.449, 1494; eff. 2-1-2022.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
161.028,
161.030