Advanced Level Programs and NCATE Unit Review

Advanced Level Advanced Level Programs and NCATE Programs and NCATE

Unit ReviewUnit Review

Antoinette MitchellAntoinette Mitchell

Vice President, Unit AccreditationVice President, Unit Accreditation

Advanced Level ProgramsAdvanced Level Programs

NCATE accreditation covers all programs NCATE accreditation covers all programs that prepare professionals to work in P-12 that prepare professionals to work in P-12 settings. settings.

Exceptions are programs in nursing, Exceptions are programs in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social work. and social work.


What is the definition of advanced level What is the definition of advanced level programs?programs? Programs at the post-baccalaureate levels for Programs at the post-baccalaureate levels for

(1) the continuing education of teachers who (1) the continuing education of teachers who have previously completed initial preparation have previously completed initial preparation or (2) the preparation of other professional or (2) the preparation of other professional school personnel…including master’s, school personnel…including master’s, specialists, and doctoral degree programs, as specialists, and doctoral degree programs, as well as non-degree licensure programs.well as non-degree licensure programs.

Advanced Level ProgramsAdvanced Level Programs Examples of advanced level programs include Examples of advanced level programs include

programs for the continuing education of programs for the continuing education of teachers, including:teachers, including: Curriculum and instruction specialistsCurriculum and instruction specialists Master’s degrees in education for teachersMaster’s degrees in education for teachers

Examples of advanced level programs also Examples of advanced level programs also include programs for the preparation of:include programs for the preparation of: SuperintendentsSuperintendents School counselorsSchool counselors School psychologistsSchool psychologists Reading specialistsReading specialists Educational technology specialistsEducational technology specialists


Are advanced level programs included in the Are advanced level programs included in the NCATE unit review? In the NCATE program NCATE unit review? In the NCATE program review process?review process? Yes, they are included in the NCATE Unit ReviewYes, they are included in the NCATE Unit Review Yes, they are included in the NCATE Program Review Yes, they are included in the NCATE Program Review

if NCATE has standards for those programsif NCATE has standards for those programs• State protocols will say if ncate program review is mandatoryState protocols will say if ncate program review is mandatory

If the programs are accredited by another agency, If the programs are accredited by another agency, then they need only be included in the unit review for then they need only be included in the unit review for Standard 6. (See NCATE policy on Relationships with Standard 6. (See NCATE policy on Relationships with other Nationally Recognized Accrediting Bodies) other Nationally Recognized Accrediting Bodies)


Are advanced level programs for Are advanced level programs for educators and non-educators included in educators and non-educators included in the NCATE review?the NCATE review? The answer depends on for whom the The answer depends on for whom the

program was developed and whether the program was developed and whether the majority of program completers go to work in majority of program completers go to work in the P-12 school setting.the P-12 school setting.

When there are questions, contact the When there are questions, contact the NCATE officeNCATE office


How are advanced level programs How are advanced level programs incorporated into the unit review?incorporated into the unit review? Advanced level programs in the conceptual Advanced level programs in the conceptual

frameworkframework• Mission, goals, philosophy, knowledge baseMission, goals, philosophy, knowledge base• ProficienciesProficiencies• DispositionsDispositions• Assessment systemAssessment system


In Standard 1, advanced level programs for teachers are In Standard 1, advanced level programs for teachers are specifically address in the first 4 elementsspecifically address in the first 4 elements

In Standard 1, specific elements are labeled In Standard 1, specific elements are labeled “Other Professional School Personnel”“Other Professional School Personnel”

• Prof. knowledge and skills for other professional school personnel CProf. knowledge and skills for other professional school personnel C – – including 80 % ruleincluding 80 % rule• Student learning for other professional school personnelStudent learning for other professional school personnel

In Standard 1, some elements are for both initial and advanced In Standard 1, some elements are for both initial and advanced • Dispositions for all candidatesDispositions for all candidates


The elements in Standard 1 for advanced level The elements in Standard 1 for advanced level programs are broad (i.e., content and programs are broad (i.e., content and professional knowledge); individual advanced professional knowledge); individual advanced level programs can address these by using level programs can address these by using program standardsprogram standards

• If there are professional/program standards for a given If there are professional/program standards for a given program, then the program should address those standards. program, then the program should address those standards. See NCATE website under Program Review for list of See NCATE website under Program Review for list of program standardsprogram standards

• Programs for the continuing education of teachers are Programs for the continuing education of teachers are encouraged to use the NBPTS propositions encouraged to use the NBPTS propositions

• If there are no program standards, the unit must develop If there are no program standards, the unit must develop them.them.

Advanced Level ProgramsAdvanced Level Programs In Standard 2, advanced level programs should be a In Standard 2, advanced level programs should be a

part of the unit assessment system. part of the unit assessment system.

Like initial level programs, advanced level programs Like initial level programs, advanced level programs should have:should have:

• links to the conceptual framework (candidate proficiencies)links to the conceptual framework (candidate proficiencies)• Transition pointsTransition points• Identified assessment measuresIdentified assessment measures• Proof that assessment measures are accurate, consistent, Proof that assessment measures are accurate, consistent,

fair, etc.fair, etc.• Studies of graduates (often means surveys of graduates and Studies of graduates (often means surveys of graduates and

employers)employers)• A system for the collecting, summarizing, and analyzing dataA system for the collecting, summarizing, and analyzing data• Regular use of the data collected and examplesRegular use of the data collected and examples


Standard 3Standard 3 All programs are expected to have field experiencesAll programs are expected to have field experiences Most advanced level programs are expected to have Most advanced level programs are expected to have

a clinical componenta clinical component• Only advanced level programs for the continuing education Only advanced level programs for the continuing education

of teachers are not expected to have a clinical component. of teachers are not expected to have a clinical component. Usually they have a major project that takes place in the Usually they have a major project that takes place in the candidate’s classroomcandidate’s classroom

• Most field experiences in programs for the continuing Most field experiences in programs for the continuing education of teachers can occur in the teacher’s own education of teachers can occur in the teacher’s own classroomclassroom

• Programs for the continuing education of teachers are Programs for the continuing education of teachers are expected to expose candidates to diverse school settingsexpected to expose candidates to diverse school settings


Standard 4Standard 4 Advanced level programs should assess the Advanced level programs should assess the

unit’s proficiencies related to diversity and unit’s proficiencies related to diversity and should be able to identify where in their should be able to identify where in their curricula they are addressed. curricula they are addressed. • If the programs have additional or slightly different If the programs have additional or slightly different

proficiencies, this should be clearly stated in the proficiencies, this should be clearly stated in the conceptual framework.conceptual framework.

All of the elements on diverse candidates, All of the elements on diverse candidates, faculty, and P-12 students apply to advanced faculty, and P-12 students apply to advanced level programs.level programs.


Standard 5 and Standard 6Standard 5 and Standard 6 Advanced level programs should meet these Advanced level programs should meet these

standards just as initial level programs do.standards just as initial level programs do.


How do units work to get advanced level How do units work to get advanced level programs into the process?programs into the process? Help faculty understand accreditation as a Help faculty understand accreditation as a

means of accountability and improvementmeans of accountability and improvement Help faculty clearly understand what is and Help faculty clearly understand what is and

what is not being asked of them.what is not being asked of them. Help faculty understand the standards and Help faculty understand the standards and

where they fit into the standards.where they fit into the standards. Seek input from top administratorsSeek input from top administrators

Documents

Advanced Level Programs and NCATE Unit Review