September 2024

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Back to School With AAQEP

Christine DeGregory, Director of Professional Learning

Greetings from the third annual AAQEP Institute in St. Louis! We’re delighted to be here with so many of you this week.

This fall brings lots of learning opportunities, including a variety of convenient online sessions with AAQEP. Here are a few I’d like to highlight for your attention (see our online event calendar for more):

AAQEP Institute faculty prepare to welcome participants this morning in St. Louis.

WEBINARS

AAQEP Standards: What's New for 2025

October 15, 1:00 p.m. EDT

& October 18, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Come learn about what’s new in the anticipated AAQEP 2025 expectations framework! The final draft will be coming out in October, so join one of these webinars to catch up on the latest and discuss how the new standards and aspects will apply to various program types.

DETAILS

Fall Member Quarterly

Program Practices to Support Candidates in Technology Integration

October 29, 1:00 p.m. EDT

How is your program collaborating with P-12 partners to prepare candidates for integrating technology in their practice? Hear from AAQEP members who have signed the ISTE Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge about their program practices and plans for future work, and join the conversation about what measures might provide useful evidence for AAQEP’s proposed Aspect 1f: Completers are able to select and employ current educational technology tools and systems to support learning in the 2025 expectations framework.

ONLINE WORKSHOPS

Making the Case for Quality

October 30 & 31

1:00-4:00 p.m. EDT

Selecting the best evidence to tell your program's story means both paring down copious candidate data and increasing input from graduates' employers and other hard-to-get sources.

Framed around the AAQEP standards and evidence expectations, this workshop will get you started on creating an action plan for your quality assurance work.

Ensuring Data Quality and Equity

November 20 & 21

1:00-4:00 p.m. EST

Better-quality measures in your assessment system generate better-quality decisions, and building shared professional judgment of candidates’ performance with stakeholders can lead to both deeper partnerships and better data.

This workshop will help you ensure the validity and reliability of quantitative measures, the trustworthiness of qualitative evidence, and the fairness and freedom from bias of your entire data set.

Listen Up!

AAQEP President/CEO Mark LaCelle-Peterson recently sat for an interview with Jacob Easley II for the EDUP Xcelerated Excellence podcast. The episode, “Leading Equity and Effectiveness in Educator Preparation Through Accreditation,” illuminates AAQEP’s emphasis on quality in the context of strong P-12 partnerships to support all learners.

Listen to the conversation here.

Looking Forward to the Year Ahead

Mark LaCelle-Peterson, President & CEO

With the academic year now in full swing, I’m delighted to welcome you “back to school”—and to join you in the annual pleasures of capturing those first-day photos, welcoming fresh faces in class, and embarking with excitement on the new year’s journey.

Perhaps the most anticipated event of 2024-2025 for AAQEP is the publication of new standards for our field. The 2025 AAQEP expectations framework, on track to be adopted by the Board of Directors this December, is the first renewal of the standards since they were developed 7 years ago. (Thank you for all of the thoughtful responses to the discussion draft earlier this year, and to the Quality Expectations Committee that has driven the work!)

The final revised draft of the framework will be circulated next month, both to give everyone the opportunity to see what’s coming and to start gathering your questions and ideas about implementation. We’ll offer a pair of webinars in mid-October—see aaqep.org/2025 for details.

We very much hope to see you this fall, whether it’s at your own site visit or someone else’s, or at one of the many fall convenings on the calendar. In addition to the AAQEP Institute going on right now in St. Louis, staff will be presenting, exhibiting, or otherwise participating in several state and national conferences (more on those below).

Thank you for the important work you do, at this exciting time of year and always. All the best for a productive 2024-2025!

Congratulations on Your Accreditation

Congratulations to the educator preparation providers that earned AAQEP accreditation, either 7-year or 5-year initial status, in the past 2 months:

Bard College (NY)
Brookdale Community College (NJ)
Bushnell University (OR)
Penn State Harrisburg (PA)
University at Albany, SUNY (NY)
University of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)

For links to action reports and a complete list of AAQEP-accredited programs, visit https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs.

Join Our Monthly Call for SEAs

Sungti Hsu, Chief Relationship Officer

Do you work with educator preparation at the state level? Staff from state education agencies are invited to join AAQEP's monthly cross-state conversation—a Zoom call where you can share insights and discuss critical topics with other state colleagues related to quality assurance, continuous improvement, and innovations in educator preparation.

A typical month’s session has participants from 20 to 25 states. The conversations are uniquely participant-driven—facilitated by AAQEP staff, but with topics generated by attendees—ensuring that discussions are relevant, timely, and aligned with the challenges and opportunities you’re facing in your work. Join your peers to discuss practical solutions that can be applied in diverse educational contexts and stay informed about the latest trends and policies shaping the future of educator preparation.

If you’re not already participating in these conversations and would like an invitation to join them, please contact me.

Reports From the Road

AAQEP representatives were honored to participate in a variety of events over the summer, presenting and learning with you:

Sungti Hsu traveled to Asia in July to speak at the Future Education conference and meet with officials in China, Indonesia, and Thailand.

In August, Mark LaCelle-Peterson presented with Accreditation Commission Chair Joe Lubig (Northern Michigan University) at the Building a Better Assessment Future conference of the Michigan Assessment Consortium.

Christine DeGregory (left) attended the September conference of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors in Washington, DC, along with Pamela Ehrenberg of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Kristin McCabe (right) and the American School Counselor Association’s Angie Hickman attended the August annual meeting of the American Society of Association Executives in Cleveland.

Earlier this month, Mark addressed the Western Governors University School of Education summit in Orlando (pictured with WGU leaders Stacey Ludwig Johnson and Verna Lowe).

Sungti presented and staffed an exhibit table for AAQEP at the fall conference of the Tennessee Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Welcome to AAQEP

Please give a warm welcome to AAQEP’s newest members:

Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ)
Fort Wayne Community Schools (IN)
Hoosier Education Partners (IN)
Maryland State Department of Education (state member)

We’re so glad to be working with you!

Visit our website for a searchable directory of all AAQEP members.

Thinking about membership? Visit our membership page to learn about benefits, or sign up for a webinar to learn about the value of national accreditation and how AAQEP's collaborative, contextual approach can benefit your program:

Introductory Webinar

October 16, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT

Considering the initial accreditation pathway as your on-ramp?

Although much of the process is the same as for 7-year accreditation reviews, there are some important differences. Learn more in an informational webinar:

Initial Accreditation Pathway Webinar

October 17, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT

MEMBER CORNER

Annual Reports Coming Soon

Member Webinar:

Writing the Annual Report

Staff will offer two webinars this fall for interested members to walk through the report template and ask questions. Register through the links below:

September 25

1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT

November 19

1:00-2:00 p.m. EST

AAQEP’s annual reporting season runs October through December—which means it’s right around the corner. This year’s process will be similar to last year’s. Here’s a quick overview:

All regular members will complete an Annual Update in the Accreditation Management Platform (AMP). This brief update collects three data points related to program productivity for the prior academic year.
Some members also will complete a full Annual Report and upload it in the AMP as a PDF file. While all members are encouraged to complete the Annual Report, it is required only for members that were accredited by AAQEP before December 31, 2023, or that operate in states that mandate annual reporting prior to receiving accreditation.

The 2024 Annual Report template and guidance are available at https://aaqep.org/annual-reports. The primary contact for each regular AAQEP member will receive an email next week with details about both the AMP Annual Update and the Annual Report.

Cohorts Underway

Karen Lowenstein, Director of Member Services

AAQEP cohorts are back in session for the 2024-25 academic year. Thanks to all who were able to participate in September's cohort meetings. Members mentioned how reassuring it is to connect with peers on their quality assurance work. AAQEP staff liaisons hope to see you in October when cohorts meet again (Oct. 8-10). Bring your questions for your cohort peers!

If it turns out that your assigned cohort date/time does not work for you, please reach out to your liaison or email me at k.lowenstein@aaqep.org.

Site Visits and Logistics

Sara Hiller, Director of Accreditation Services

Did you miss our summer Site Visit Essentials webinar? Don’t worry, the recording is on YouTube here. The webinar goes over timelines and logistics around our site visit process and will be held again in January.

Here’s a quick overview of the status of active AAQEP accreditation cycles:

Spring 2024: All spring accreditation decision meetings are now complete. To see the Accreditation Commission’s action record, click here.
Fall 2024: Fall reviews are fully underway! Consult your Provider Review Timeline or Provider Review Timeline for Initial Accreditation for details of what to expect when.
Spring 2025: Logistics calls start this month. Friendly reminder, your self-studies and local practitioner selection are due at least 6 months before your scheduled visit date.
Fall 2025: Site visit scheduling has started. If you have not yet filled out the site visit dates and self-study information form, please do so as soon as possible.

Visit our Member Resources web pages for guidance documents, templates, and other support for all stages of your quality assurance review, or contact me at s.hiller@aaqep.org with any questions.

AAQEP on the Conference Circuit

Our fall travel schedule might be as busy as yours! Here are some of the upcoming state and national events where we hope to see you:

NCACTE Teacher Education Forum, Sept. 18-20 – AAQEP is honored to be a sponsor of this event in Raleigh, NC, represented by AAQEP Ambassador Chris Godwin (Campbell University).
TECSCU Fall Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 – Mark LaCelle-Peterson and Gina Anderson (Texas Woman’s University) are presenting a session on the draft 2025 AAQEP standards at this conference in St. Paul, MN.
VACTE Fall Conference, Oct. 10-11 – Christine DeGregory is attending this meeting in Salem, VA.
OCTEO Fall Conference, Oct. 10-11 – AAQEP will have an exhibit table staffed by Sungti Hsu at this meeting in Columbus, OH.
CSOTTE Annual Conference, Oct. 13-15 – Linda McKee will be participating on behalf of AAQEP as a returning sponsor of this meeting in San Marcos, TX.
NCGYO-AAQEP Webinar: Elevating Educator Preparation, Oct. 16 – Mark and Linda are copresenters in this National Center for Grow Your Own webinar about the role of educator preparation programs in teacher apprenticeship programs.
PAC-TE Teacher Education Assembly, Oct. 23-25 – Christine will be presenting a session with colleagues from Penn State Harrisburg.
NYSATE/NYACTE Fall Conference, Nov. 6-8 – Mark and Christine are presenting a session on the draft 2025 AAQEP standards, and AAQEP a returning sponsor of this meeting in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Learn How Your Program Can Be ASCA-Recognized

Webinar: ASCA Recognition Through AAQEP for School Counselor Preparation Programs

September 26, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT

Did you know that your school counselor program can pursue national recognition from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) in tandem with AAQEP accreditation? Join this webinar to learn about the no-cost, efficient application and review process for seeking approval from ASCA through its partnership with AAQEP.

Angie Hickman, Director of Research and Marketing at ASCA, will discuss the purpose and benefits of ASCA recognition as well as details about the review process. You’ll also hear from representatives of Northwest Missouri State University, home of the first program to earn ASCA recognition through AAQEP, about their experience. Bring your questions!