Northern New Mexico College Department of Teacher Education among 38 Educator Prep Providers Recognized for National Excellence
Northern New Mexico College is now among 559 providers meeting rigorous CAEP Accreditation Standards to better prepare the teachers of tomorrow.
In Fall 2023, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that the Northern’s Department of Teacher Education is one of 38 providers to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs by the CAEP Accreditation Council. CAEP Accreditation Standards are 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 Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”
CAEP is a nationally recognized accrediting body for educator preparation and accredits providers at the initial and advanced levels. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation.
Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review of the CAEP 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.
If a program fails to meet one of the standards, it is placed on probation for two years. Probation may be lifted in two years if a program provides evidence that it meets the standard.
Northern New Mexico College joins 37 other providers to receive accreditation this fall, bringing the total number to 559 CAEP-accredited providers from 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.