January 2021
The National CAEP Standards for Teacher Preparation at LSU: Accredited until 2027
January 26, 2021
The Gold Standard
In a letter to the campus community in December 2020, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) officially approved LSU’s School of Education’s accreditation application. Thus, it was a welcome announcement when CAEP formally announced that LSU’s School of Education met the initial and advanced level for all CAEP standards earned by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content, pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact and capacity for continuous improvement. CAEP’s standards consist of 23 components, 2 crosscutting themes including diversity and technology. The advanced standards have 15 components. The recent notification that LSU programs met all standards for initial and advanced licensure re-affirmed the University's commitment to excellence.
The 17 educator preparation programs are found in 5 colleges, 3 schools, and 14 departments. The process required major campus-wide and partner school efforts for the highest level of recognition for this ongoing process. The School of Education and our partner schools are excited to continue nationally accredited experiences.
The CAEP standards and accreditation process are the “gold standard” by which all professional teacher preparation programs measure quality. The LSU School of Education has been recognized as an accredited member in good standing since 1954. Meeting these standards have been our legacy as LSU’s premier teacher preparation program and as well as our goal of “continuous improvement” for more than 60 years.
The School of Education is the center of teacher education programs at Louisiana State
University. Last year, student teachers contributed $1.36 million in economic impact
for Louisiana schools. We are very proud of all LSU faculty, administrators, and staff
who were and continue to be instrumental in the support, accreditation, and compliance
of our LSU School of Education accreditation process. We are grateful to the mentor teachers and principals at our 200 + partner schools for our student candidates had a very important role in providing the expertise,
experiences, and wisdom needed for students to complete their programs.
According to CAEP, accreditation is quality assurance through external peer review. When an institution or specialized program is accredited, it has demonstrated that it meets standards set by organizations representing the academic community, professionals, and other stakeholders. To maintain accreditation the institution or program must undergo a similar review on a regular basis. CAEP is a professional accreditor because it reviews departments, schools, and colleges, which prepare teachers and other educators.
The CAEP standards and accreditation process are the “gold standard” by which all professional teacher preparation programs measure quality. The LSU School of Education has been recognized as an accredited member in good standing since 1954.
The vigorous and thorough process for accreditation is one that the LSU School of Education embraces. CAEP explains, “Educator accreditation is a seal of approval that assures quality in educator preparation. Accreditation makes sure that educator programs prepare new teachers to know their content, their students, and have the clinical training that allows them to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively.” It is a peer-reviewed process focused on excellence.
Brass and Holloway (2019) cautioned the profession that this new approach focuses on the “outputs” of teacher preparation. We should not overlook the “inputs” of how new teachers are prepared. Degrees, credentials, and experience develop expertise.
We should not overlook the “inputs” of how new teachers are prepared. Degrees, credentials, and experience develop expertise...How can there be quality outputs without quality inputs?
Professional self-governance exercises scrutiny from colleagues in state agencies, internationally recognized organizations, and other universities. How can there be quality outputs without quality inputs? All education programs at LSU are also State-approved in Louisiana, and the School of Education works closely with the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Department of Education to assure compliance with State requirements for educator professional licensure.
F Neil Mathews, PhD
Director of the LSU School of Education
Brass, J., & Holloway, J. (2019). Re-professionalizing teaching: the new professionalism in the United States. Critical Studies in Education. DOI: 10.1080/17508487.2019.1579743 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17508487.2019.1579743