Overview
Connecticut educator preparation regulations require State Board of Education (SBE) approval of new educator preparation providers (EPPs) and programs leading to Connecticut educator certification. Once approved, Connecticut EPPs must seek continuing approval for programs every seven years. New program approval and continuing approval procedures are described below.
New Program Approval
Connecticut EPPs or other organizations are encouraged to develop and seek approval for new educator preparation programs that (1) address shortage area needs as reported by the CSDE and/or align with goals defined in the Connecticut State Board of Education (SBE) Five-Year Comprehensive Plan, 2016-21.
Additionally, Connecticut EPPs or other organizations seeking approval for new programs are encouraged to collaborate and/or form consortiums with other Connecticut EPPs already approved by the SBE for a program or programs indicated in the new program proposal. For example, an EPP could collaborate with another EPP for candidate access to existing courses or shared staffing of faculty.
Please note that Connecticut regulations preclude EPPs or organizations seeking approval for new programs from advertising, accepting applications for, or admitting candidates into any program that has not approved by the SBE. Upon SBE approval, a new program may begin advertising, accepting applications for, and admitting candidates.
The steps and approximate timeline for the review and evaluation of new program proposals are as follow:
Step 1: Submission and Review of the Educator Preparation Pre-Proposal Application
Please complete and submit the Educator Preparation Pre-Proposal Application electronically to Katie Moirs, CSDE Program Approval Coordinator at katie.moirs@ct.gov. Upon review and approval of the Pre-Proposal Application, the EPP or organization will be notified and required to submit a complete program proposal to the CSDE for review and evaluation.
Timeline
Notification regarding the status of the Pre-Proposal Application will occur approximately two weeks after the submission date of the application.
Step 2: Submission and Initial Review of the Educator Preparation New Program Proposal Application
Upon notification of the approval of the Pre-Proposal Application, please complete the Educator Preparation New Program Proposal Application. The Proposal Application with supporting materials may be:
- Submitted electronically to Katie Moirs, CSDE Program Approval Coordinator, at katie.moirs@ct.gov.
- Located in an electronic exhibit room created by the EPP or organization.
- Mailed to Katie Moirs, CSDE Program Approval Coordinator, at CSDE Talent Office, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103.
The proposal will be reviewed for completeness and cohesiveness. Based upon initial review findings, the proposal will either go back to the EPP or organization for revisions or move to the evaluation team for review.
Timeline
Notification regarding the status of the Educator Preparation New Program Proposal Application initial review will occur approximately two weeks after the submission date of the application.
Step 3: Evaluation Team Review
A team of content area experts reviews the proposal and required materials using the Educator Preparation Program Proposal Evaluation Instrument. Based upon team evaluation findings, the proposal will either go back to the EPP or organization for revisions or move forward to the CSDE Review Committee for consideration.
Timeline
An Evaluation Team Feedback Report will be completed approximately two months after the submission date of the proposal application.
Step 4: CSDE Review Committee Recommendation.
The CSDE Review Committee, consisting of 12 members representing Connecticut EPPs, K-12 schools, and communities, reviews the evaluation team findings and makes a recommendation to the Commissioner of Education regarding approval.
Timeline
The Review Committee meets four times during an academic year. Meeting dates are issued the spring before each academic year, so that EPPs and organizations can coordinate proposal applications appropriately.
Step 5: State Board of Education Approval
The Commissioner of Education reviews the Review Committee recommendation. If the Commissioner approves the recommendation, the proposal will go to the SBE Policy and Legislative Subcommittee for initial consideration one month and to the full SBE meeting for final voting regarding approval the following month.
Timeline
Proposals typically go to the SBE subcommittee meeting approximately one month after a Review Committee meeting and to the full board for final approval approximately two months after a Review Committee meeting.
Continuing Program Approval
On March 7, 2012, the SBE approved a resolution to establish the Educator Preparation Advisory Council (EPAC) to work with the CSDE Talent Office on the transformation of Connecticut’s system for the continuing approval of educator preparation programs. The continuing approval requirements described below are based upon EPAC recommendations and a series of legislative mandates.
All Connecticut EPPs, including alternate route to certification (ARC) programs, are required to be nationally accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and host a CAEP, on-site visit every seven years to determine reaccreditation status. Currently, state program approval is based upon accreditation findings from the CAEP on-site visit. The CSDE Review Committee, consisting of 12 members representing Connecticut EPPs, K-12 schools, and communities, makes recommendations to the SBE regarding continuing approval based on CAEP accreditation findings using criteria describing four categories of approval: full, provisional, probationary and denial of approval.
Beginning fall 2018, the CSDE Review Committee will also use the Connecticut EPP Data Dashboard in conjunction with CAEP accreditation findings to determine continuing program approval for all Connecticut EPPs. The Dashboard consists of various accountability indicators regarding Connecticut EPP programs, all of which are aligned with CAEP standards and Connecticut statutory requirements. As well as being used with CAEP accreditation findings to determine the status of state program approval every seven years, Dashboard data will be reported on annually for each EPP by individual preparation program for all indicators. In cases where annual data suggest concerns, the CSDE may require that the EPP plan for and host an interim visit before the next CAEP on-site accreditation visit. Here are the Connecticut EPP Data Dashboard accountability indicators:
- Program enrollment and completer counts and rates.
- Best attempt pass rates for licensure assessments by EPP program.
- Pre-service performance assessment (edTPA) pass rates.
- Numbers of program completers initially employed in Connecticut schools.
- Employment data for program completers in Connecticut hard to staff or high-need schools.
- Persistence rate: Candidate years in the field after the 1st and 3rd year of teaching or serving in a school leadership, administration or special service position.
- Feedback survey data from candidates regarding the readiness for teaching of candidates 1-3 years post program completion.
- Feedback survey data from employers regarding the readiness for teaching of candidates 1-3 years post program completion.
- Certification issuance rates.
- Race and Diversity Data (as represented in above indicator reports).
Please note that Connecticut ARC programs leading to cross endorsement for educators already holding a Connecticut teaching certification are not required to become nationally accredited by CAEP, with the exception of Connecticut ARC programs for advanced reading. These ARC programs are required to submit program curricula, key assessments and three years of candidate performance data from key assessments for review and evaluation by the CSDE for continuing approval consideration every seven years. The report submission may include an on-site visit by the state. Additionally, Dashboard data for these programs will reviewed annually.
Alternate Route to Certification (ARC) Cross Endorsement Program Report Form