Indiana University Northwest’s School of Education receives perfect accreditation evaluation for Educator Preparation

Indiana University Northwest’s School of Education receives perfect accreditation evaluation for Educator Preparation

Nationally recognized designation is an endorsement of educational quality

Indiana University Northwest’s School of Education received a perfect evaluation from the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) for its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. CAEP is the sole nationally-recognized accrediting body for educator preparation. Once an institution receives CAEP accreditation, it is valid for seven years.

Educator provider preparation accreditation is a coveted stamp of approval that assures quality and promotes improvement in academic standards and practices. According to CAEP, it ensures “that educator programs prepare new teachers to know their subjects, their students, and have the clinical training that allows them to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively.”

“The accreditation validates the quality of instructors and curriculum within the School of Education by an esteemed panel of our peers,” said Mark Sperling, interim dean of the School of Education. “I am absolutely delighted with the outcome of the review process. This designation speaks volume to the excellence of our program, faculty, and level of instruction our students receive.”

Sperling also noted that the School of Education’s partnerships with local school corporations are also significant indicators of the school’s reputation for superior educator preparation, with many students, including 2017 graduate Bernadette Strbjak, beginning full-time teaching positions soon after graduating.

“IU Northwest instilled confidence in me and prepared me with plenty of real-world experience [for teaching in a classroom],” said Strbjak, an elementary school teacher for the School Town of Munster.

Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review. For an institution or specialized program to become CAEP accredited, institutions must meet five core standards:

  • Content Pedagogical Knowledge
  • Clinical Partnerships and Practice
  • Candidate Quality Recruitment and Selectivity
  • Program Impact
  • Provider Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

Demonstration of the standards is based on the following 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.

A leading provider of education preparation in Northwest Indiana, the School of Education offers the following degrees and minors:

  • B.S. in Elementary / Special Education (Teaching All Learners)
  • B.S. in Secondary and K-12 Visual Arts Education
  • Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP) for bachelor’s degree holders in subjects other than education
  • M.S. in Elementary or Secondary Education
  • M.S. in Elementary or Secondary Education: Special Education Focus
  • M.S.E.D in Educational Leadership
  • Minor/Certificate in Sports Management

To learn more about the School of Education, visit iun.edu/education.