The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced this week that the University of South Florida (USF) College of Education earned full accreditation based on standards established by the accrediting board.
In the fall of 2020, the College of Education on USF's Tampa campus underwent a continuing accreditation review by CAEP, a review that takes place every seven years. Educator preparation programs that complete the accreditation process follow the CAEP Accreditation Standards—a rigorous, nationally recognized set of standards that are developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.
The USF College of Education offers 10 initial teacher preparation programs and four advanced preparation programs including educational leadership, reading education, counselor education and school psychology. The College of Education also offers coursework that satisfies requirements for Florida Department of Education teaching endorsements including ESOL, reading, gifted education, autism spectrum disorders and severe/profound disabilities.
"USF is incredibly grateful to the talented faculty and dedicated professional staff who worked so diligently to ensure continuing accreditation for one College of Education across three campuses," said USF Provost and Executive Vice President Ralph C. Wilcox. "This re-accreditation continues to signal a bright future for the USF College of Education and affirms our commitment to preparing the next generation of educators."
CAEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national coordinating body for U.S. accreditation which advocates for and promotes academic quality, institutional improvement, and advancement of student success. The College of Education is one of 60 providers from 26 states that received full CAEP accreditation this spring, bringing the total number of CAEP-accredited providers to 423 institutions located across 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“Full accreditation by CAEP validates the hard work of our students and faculty as we work together with our school districts to elevate the education profession and to promote equity, social justice and improved outcomes for students and communities,” said College of Education Interim Dean Judith Ponticell, PhD. “We are proud of this achievement, and we will continue setting a very high bar for our educator preparation programs.”
CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council in 2013. The organization serves as a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Approximately 700 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including some previously accredited through former standards. CAEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
“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, EdD. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
About the USF College of Education:
Home to more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members, the University of South
Florida College of Education values high-quality education and excellence in research,
teaching and learning. The College of Education is nationally accredited by the Council
for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and its educator preparation
programs are fully approved by the Florida Department of Education.
About the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation:
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation
that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student
learning.