Southern University and A&M College among 43 Teacher Prep Programs Recognized for National Excellence in Educator Prep

SU is now 1 of 101 providers in the U.S. meeting new, rigorous CAEP national accreditation standards
to better prepare tomorrow’s teachers

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced November 27, that Southern University and A&M College is one of 43 providers from 22 states and the District of Columbia to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs. The fall 2017 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council increased to 101 the total number of providers approved under the CAEP teacher preparation standards—rigorous, nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs. 

“These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

CAEP is the sole nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Currently, more than 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including many previously accredited through former standards.

“Our students and instructors should be very proud of the work they are doing. We’ve set a very high bar for our teacher prep program and CAEP accreditation validates the hard work we are doing,” said Ray L. Belton, president-chancellor of the Southern University System. “Our students and their families are investing in an education program that is designated as nationally accredited for teacher preparation.”

Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review on five standards, which are based on two principles:

Solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators, and solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

Southern University joins 42 other providers to receive CAEP Accreditation in fall 2017, including University of Holy Cross (New Orleans) and University of Louisiana at Lafayette.