All educator preparation providers (EPPs) are required to solicit third-party comment on the quality of the EPP’s programs as part of the accreditation review process.

Third Party Comments

The EPP is required to solicit third party comment on its qualifications for accreditation as part of the accreditation review process. The EPP is required to provide evidence to CAEP within seven (7) days of such notice being posted. If an EPP does not provide evidence that it has sought third-party comment, CAEP reserves the right to reschedule the site review.

Not less than sixteen (16) weeks prior to the scheduled date of a site visit, both the EPP and CAEP must publicly announce the upcoming accreditation review and the date of the site review to provide time for interested stakeholders to make comments. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, full-time and adjunct faculty/educators, staff, candidates, cooperating teachers and/or mentors, completers, and employers.

CAEP accepts written comments from stakeholders up to six (6) weeks before the site visit and provides these comments to the EPP. The EPP can respond to any written comments received prior to the scheduled site review. The response must be received by CAEP no less than two (2) weeks prior to the site review. Third party comments and the EPP response, if any, are submitted in AIMS. (See Accreditation Policy.)

A sample of a Call for Comments notice is provided below. The statement may be modified by an EPP as appropriate:

The School of Education at XYZ University is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on [date of visit]. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party's relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).

We invite you to submit written testimony to:

CAEP
1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Or by email to: callforcomments@caepnet.org

Such comments must be within the specified period and based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that:

  • In CAEP's performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom.
  • A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform.
  • Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent's relationship, if any, to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review. 
Spring 2023 Reviews
Albion College MI 4/30/2023 5/2/2023
American University DC 3/26/2023 3/28/2023
Azusa Pacific University CA 2/13/2023 2/15/2023
Belhaven University MS 3/19/2023 3/21/2023
Bluefield University VA 3/19/2023 3/21/2023
Boise State University ID 4/9/2023 4/11/2023
Charleston Southern University SC 4/23/2023 4/25/2023
Coppin State University MD 4/16/2023 4/18/2023
Dakota State University SD 4/30/2023 5/2/2023
Hunter College of the City University of New York NY 5/7/2023 5/9/2023
Kansas State University KS 4/2/2023 4/4/2023
Lake Erie College OH 4/16/2023 4/18/2023
Miami University OH 4/23/2023 4/25/2023
Northern New Mexico College NM 2/18/2023 2/20/2023
Oklahoma Wesleyan University OK 4/23/2023 4/25/2023
Otterbein University OH 5/7/2023 5/9/2023
Ouachita Baptist University AR 2/27/2023 3/1/2023
Queens University of Charlotte NC 4/2/2023 4/2/2023
Randolph-Macon College VA 4/16/2023 4/18/2023
Regent University VA 6/12/2023 6/14/2023
Roanoke College VA 4/30/2023 5/2/2023
Rutgers University - Camden NJ 3/26/2023 3/28/2023
Saginaw Valley State University MI 3/19/2023 3/21/2023
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania PA 4/9/2023 4/12/2023
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville IL 4/23/2023 4/25/2023
Southern New Hampshire University NH 3/27/2023 3/29/2023
State University of New York College at Brockport NY 3/5/2023 3/7/2023
Tennessee State University TN 4/23/2023 4/25/2023
The University of Alabama AL 2/5/2023 2/7/2023
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke NC 4/2/2023 4/4/2023
The University of Toledo OH 4/16/2023 4/18/2023
Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Cupey Campus (formerly Universidad Metropolitana) PR 6/18/2023 6/20/2023
University of Central Missouri MO 4/16/2023 4/18/2023
University of Central Oklahoma OK 4/2/2023 4/4/2023
University of Evansville IN 4/2/2023 4/4/2023
University of New Orleans LA 3/19/2023 3/21/2023
University of Sioux Falls SD 2/26/2023 2/28/2023
University of Utah UT 1/30/2023 2/1/2023
William Carey University MS 4/23/2023 4/25/2023