CAEP Accountability Measures AY2020/21
The UAF School of Education Initial Teaching Licensure Programs (Elementary, Music Education, Secondary & Special Education), and the Advanced Special Education Program hold national accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP).
Measure 1: Completer effectiveness and impact on P-12 learning and development
The impact of our graduates on their P-12 students is studied through a robust case-study every other year. During the 2019/20 academic year, the UAF School of Education partnered with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD) to engage in a case study of UAF initial licensure graduates in their second year teaching in Fairbanks schools. In 2021/2022, the UAF School of Education is partnering with seven alumni (graduation years 2012-2021) that are a part of the Alaska Indigenous Teacher Network, employed in districts across Alaska. Data collection is underway and a report will be available in 2023. The case study utilizes focus groups, observations, an assessment task for teachers to analyze student learning, and district documentation when available.
A link to the 2019/20 Case Study Summary of Findings can be found here.
A link to case study methodology can be found here.
Measure 2: Satisfaction of employers and stakeholder involvement
The UAF School of Education partners with the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR) to conduct surveys from candidates, completers, and employers through the Network for Excellence in Teaching (NExT) at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Through the NExT Supervisor Survey, employers of teachers who graduated from UAF School of Education initial licensure programs are asked to rate new teacher performance across a series of skills. Advanced endorsement Special Education employers of completers from 2017-2020 received the NExT Supervisor Survey in November 2020. The NExT Survey groups teacher skills into 4 domains: Instructional Practice (based on 21 skills), Diverse Learners (based on 9 skills), Learning Environment (based on 9 skills), and Professionalism (based on 6 skills). Across these domains, the majority of responding supervisors report satisfaction with new teacher performance, and with the performance of newly endorsed Special Education teachers.
To ensure graduates continue to meet district needs, the UAF School of Education hosts three program specific External Advisor Committees (EACs) to gather focused feedback on the Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education programs. Each EAC meets two times a year. Membership represents school districts from Fairbanks, south-central Alaska, and various rural communities. Members include those who are closest to practice, such as recent alumni and mentor teachers, along with higher level administrators.
Measure 3: Candidate competency at program completion
Candidates in their final semester of their program are actively involved in student teaching. To assess candidate skills and dispositions in the classroom, both initial and advanced candidates complete three culminating assessments which are shared across programs. Candidates must meet a proficient level in each shared assessment in order to be recommended for licensure. The three culminating assessments are as follows:
Measure 4: Ability of completers to be hired in education positions for which they have been prepared
