THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

 

TO:	Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Proposed Amendment to the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to Regents Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs
DATE:	February 27, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 3
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Discussion

 

            Should the Board of Regents amend Section 4-2.6 of the Rules of the Board of Regents relating to Regents accreditation of teacher education programs?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

            Review of Policy. 

Proposed Handling

 

The proposed amendment is before the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee for discussion in March 2007 and will be submitted for action at the May 2007 Regents meeting.

 

Procedural History

 

            A Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning the proposed amendment will be published in the State Register on March 7, 2007.  Supporting materials are available upon request from the Secretary of the Board of Regents.

 

Background Information

 

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to clarify the existing procedures for institutions of higher education seeking accreditation of their teacher education programs, or renewal of such accreditation, by the Board of Regents.  Specifically, the amendment clarifies that the Deputy Commissioner may accept and/or consider additional information from the institution, other than the record before the standards board or subcommittee, when making a recommendation during a comprehensive review for accreditation, a compliance review or when reviewing programs on probationary status.  The proposed amendment also clarifies that the Deputy Commissioner may request additional written information from the standards board or subcommittee, provided that the Deputy Commissioner transmits such additional written information to the institution by first class mail within fifteen days of receipt of such information. 

 

Under the current rules, the Deputy Commissioner must review the record before the standards board, and the recommendations and report of the standards board or subcommittee when making an accreditation recommendation.  However, in some instances, the Deputy Commissioner may want to request and/or receive additional information from either the institution or the standards board in order to further inform the Deputy Commissioner’s decision.  This amendment would provide the Deputy Commissioner with the flexibility to accept and/or request additional information from the institution and/or standards board before making a recommendation.  It also provides the institution with the opportunity to notify the Deputy Commissioner if it has corrected any identified deficiencies.    

           

Recommendation

 

            Not applicable.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

The effective date of the proposed amendment is June 14, 2007.

 

 

 

Amendment to Section 4-2.6 of the Rules of the Board of Regents

            Pursuant to sections 207, 210, 214, 215, and 305 of the Education Law.

            1.  Paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of section 4-2.6 of the Rules of the Board of Regents is amended, effective June 14, 2007, as follows:

            (10) Deputy commissioner's review.  The deputy commissioner shall review the recommendations and report of the standards board or subcommittee and the entire record before the standards board or subcommittee, including but not limited to the documentation listed in subparagraphs (9)(ii) and (iii) of this subdivision.  The deputy commissioner may accept and/or request additional written information from the institution. The deputy commissioner may also request additional written information from the standards board or subcommittee, provided that the deputy commissioner shall transmit such additional written information to the institution by first class mail within fifteen days of receiving such information.  Based upon [this] a review of the record and/or any additional information submitted, the deputy commissioner shall prepare recommendations on accreditation action and program reregistration to the commissioner, together with a report of the factual basis and findings in support of the deputy commissioner's recommendations.  The department shall transmit a copy of the report and recommendations to the institution by first class mail with return receipt requested.   

2.  Paragraph 7 of subdivision (b) of section 4-2.6 of the Rules of the Board of Regents is amended, effective June 14, 2007, as follows:

(7)  Deputy commissioner’s review.   The deputy commissioner shall review the recommendations and report of the standards board or subcommittee and the entire record before the standards board or subcommittee; including but not limited to the documentation listed in subparagraphs (6)(ii) and (iii) of this subdivision.  The deputy commissioner may accept and/or request additional written information from the institution. The deputy commissioner may also request additional written information from the standards board or subcommittee, provided that the deputy commissioner shall transmit such additional written information to the institution by first class mail within fifteen days of receiving such information.  Based upon [this] a review of the record and/or any additional information submitted, the deputy commissioner shall prepare recommendations on accreditation action and program reregistration to the commissioner, together with a report of the factual basis and findings in support of the deputy commissioner's recommendations.  The department shall transmit a copy of the recommendations and report to the institution by first class mail with return receipt requested. 

3.  Paragraph 7 of subdivision (c) of section 4-2.6 of the Rules of the Board of Regents is amended, effective June 14, 2007, as follows:

(7)                Deputy commissioner’s review.  The deputy commissioner shall review the recommendations and report of the standards board or subcommittee and the entire record before the standards board or subcommittee, including but not limited to the documentation listed in subparagraphs (6)(ii) and (iii) of this subdivision.  The deputy commissioner may accept and/or request additional written information from the institution. The deputy commissioner may also request additional written information from the standards board or subcommittee, provided that the deputy commissioner shall transmit such additional written information to the institution by first class mail within fifteen days of receiving such information.  Based upon [this] a review of the record and/or any additional information submitted, the deputy commissioner shall prepare recommendations on accreditation action and program reregistration to the commissioner, together with a report of the factual basis and findings in support of the deputy commissioner's recommendations.  The department shall transmit a copy of the report and recommendations to the institution by first class mail with return receipt requested.