Section 25.115  Recognition of Institutions, Accreditation of Educational Units, and Approval of Programs

In order for an Illinois institution of higher education to offer one or more programs that prepare professional educators, that institution must be recognized, and the educational unit responsible for such programs must be accredited, by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.  "Educational unit" means the institution or college, school, department, or other administrative body within the institution that is primarily responsible for the initial and continuing preparation of teachers and other education professionals.  Each program that is offered by a recognized institution must also be individually approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.  "Program" or "preparation program" means a program that leads to certification.  Electronic transmission of written materials required pursuant to this Subpart C may be authorized or required by the State Superintendent of Education when this method may be more cost effective or feasible.

a)         An institution shall be recognized if it is regionally accredited and:

1)         is approved as a degree-granting institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, if the institution is subject to provisions of the Institution of Learning Powers Act [110 ILCS 50];

2)         sponsors a course of study leading to an appropriate baccalaureate or higher degree and awards the degree; and

3)         conducts or proposes to conduct at least one approved program that will prepare professional educators.

b)         An educational unit shall be accredited if its accreditation visit occurs prior to the fall of 2008 and the institution meets the standards enumerated in "Professional Standards for the Accreditation of Schools, Colleges, and Departments of Education" (2002), published by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023 (no later amendments to or editions of these standards are incorporated by this Section).  Beginning with accreditation visits in the fall of 2008, the 2008 edition of these standards shall apply; no later amendments or editions are incorporated.

c)         A preparation program shall be approved if it meets the applicable content standards established by the State Board of Education and the standards set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 24 (Standards for All Illinois Teachers) or 23 Ill. Adm. Code 29.100 (Illinois Professional School Leader Standards), as applicable, except as provided in Section 25.135 of this Part.

d)         The accreditation of an educational unit and the approval of its programs shall be subject to review every seven years.  Accreditation Review shall be conducted as provided in Sections 25.125 and 25.127 of this Part  and decisions regarding continued accreditation and approval shall be made as provided in those Sections.  The State Superintendent shall alter the timing of an institution's review at the institution's request if the Superintendent determines that the request is based on unforeseen circumstances that were beyond the institution's control and were demonstrably related to the institution's ability to prepare for the review.

e)         Each accredited educational unit shall annually submit to the State Superintendent of Education, in a format defined by the State Superintendent and according to a timeline announced at least six months in advance:

1)         a report that  describes any significant changes in the unit or its programs, updates any information previously provided as needed, and provides institutional data that describe the results of unit and program assessments and the actions taken or planned to address areas identified for improvement; and

2)         as relevant to the institution, a report on all programs provided by the institution that have been approved as an alternative route to certification under Section 25.67 of this Part.

f)          If relevant to the institution, the report required under subsection (e) of this Section shall include a description of how the unit has addressed any applicable standards identified during the most recent review of the unit and its programs as "not met" or "met with areas for improvement".  However, for institutions that have been assigned "Continuing Accreditation with Conditions" or "Probation", this description shall not be required in those years in which the institution is required to submit a special report or is subject to a focused or full visit as discussed in Section 25.125(j) of this Part. 

g)         No later than April 7 of each year, each institution shall report to the State Board of Education, using a form supplied by the Board, on its program completers' pass rates on the examinations required for initial certification pursuant to this Part and other information required by Title II of the Higher Education Act [20 USCA 1027].  Further, each institution shall make this information readily available to the public on an annual basis and shall include it in or with publications routinely sent to potential applicants, guidance counselors, and prospective employers of the institution's program completers.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3413, effective February 22, 2008)