Section 25.125  Accreditation Review of the Educational Unit

The requirements of this Section shall apply to Accreditation Reviews that take place on or after July 1, 2003.  The review visits conducted pursuant to this Section shall be scheduled during the academic year for the mutual convenience of the affected institution and the review team.

a)         No later than one year before its Accreditation Review will be held, the institution shall submit to the State Superintendent of Education five copies of each of the  reports specified in this subsection (a) that is applicable.  However, an institution that is also seeking initial accreditation from NCATE will need to comply with NCATE's submission timelines as well. 

1)         For its first review in light of the standards incorporated by Section 25.115(b) of this Part, the institution shall submit a report providing an overview of the unit's conceptual frameworks, which shall include a description of each framework and its development.  The discussion of the frameworks shall address each of the "structural elements" found in the standards referred to in Section 25.115(b) of this Part.  For each subsequent review, the institution shall describe any changes in the conceptual frameworks that have been made since the institution's previous Accreditation Review.

2)         If at least 80 percent of an institution's teacher preparation program completers have passed the applicable form of the assessment of professional teaching (APT) in each of the preceding three years, the institution shall be deemed to be adequately addressing the Standards for All Illinois Teachers set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 24.  For any form of the APT for which this criterion has not been met, the institution shall submit a composite report covering all programs for whose candidates that form is required.  This report shall describe how those preparation programs address those standards.

3)         If at least 80 percent of an institution's administrative certification program completers have passed the applicable content-area examinations for administrative certification in each of the preceding three years, the institution shall be deemed to be adequately addressing the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 29.100).  For any administrative certification program for which this criterion has not been met, the institution shall submit a report describing how the program addresses these standards.

b)         A panel established by the State Superintendent shall review the overview of the unit's conceptual frameworks no more than 60 days after the overview is submitted.  No later than 30 days after the panel completes its review, and if the institution is to be reviewed under subsection (d)(1) of this Section, the State Board of Education shall notify the institution either that the description of its conceptual frameworks is adequate or that certain structural elements were not adequately addressed and will undergo additional scrutiny by the review team during the visit described in subsection (e) of this Section.

c)         No later than 60 days before its review visit, the institution shall submit either to the State Superintendent the number of copies specified in light of the review team's size or to NCATE the number of copies required by NCATE, with two copies to the State Superintendent, of an institutional report presented in a format prescribed by the State Board of Education and incorporating:

1)         an overview of the institution;

2)         an overview of the unit's conceptual frameworks; and

3)         evidence that it is meeting each of the standards referred to in Section 25.115(b) of this Part.

d)         A review team shall be empanelled to conduct an on-site review to verify the information provided by the institution as required by subsection (c) of this Section.  The review team shall be constituted as provided in subsection (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this Section, depending upon whether the institution is also seeking to achieve or retain accreditation of its educational unit by NCATE.

1)         Institutions Seeking State Accreditation Only

            From a pool of individuals who have been trained in the applicable standards and procedures, the State Superintendent shall empanel a team to conduct the on-site review and shall appoint the team's chair.  A staff member of the State Board of Education or another individual designated by the State Superintendent who has been trained in the applicable standards and procedures shall accompany the review team, serving as a consulting, ex officio member to ensure that applicable standards, procedures, rules, and statutes are addressed.

2)         Institutions Also Seeking to Achieve or Retain NCATE Accreditation

            A staff member of the State Board of Education or another individual designated by the State Superintendent who has been trained in the applicable standards and procedures shall accompany the review team appointed by NCATE's Board of Examiners, serving as a consulting, ex officio member to ensure that applicable Illinois standards, procedures, rules, and statutes are addressed.

e)         The review team shall visit the institution and verify the degree to which the educational unit and its programs meet the standards referred to in Section 25.115(b) of this Part.

f)          The review team shall prepare a draft report during the on-site visit, incorporating an overview of the unit and its conceptual frameworks, summarizing data on the performance of candidates and graduates, and taking into account the recommendations arising from the review of program reports as outlined in Section 25.127 of this Part.  This draft report shall be provided to the institution within 30 business days after the conclusion of the visit for the purpose of allowing the institution 30 days to correct any factual errors.  The team chair shall review the institution's suggested revisions and make appropriate corrections in consultation with the ex officio consultant who is serving pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section.  The final report shall be submitted to the State Superintendent of Education by the team's chair or by NCATE, as applicable, within 30 days after the chair's receipt of the institution's suggested corrections. The State Superintendent shall provide the final report to the institution within ten business days after receiving it.

g)         Within 30 days after receipt of the final report, the institution shall submit to the State Superintendent and to NCATE, if applicable, either a letter stating agreement with the report's findings or a rejoinder to those findings that meets the following requirements:

1)         The rejoinder must indicate the grounds for disagreement with one or more of the team's findings and include documentation to support the institution's position.

2)         All documentation must describe conditions that existed at the time of the on-site review. (Changes made by the unit after the visit will not be considered.)

3)         All documentation must relate directly to the standards and procedures that applied at the time of the on-site visit.

h)         Staff of the State Board of Education shall convey to the State Teacher Certification Board the institutional report, the review team's report, the institution's letter of agreement or rejoinder, a response to that rejoinder provided by the team's chair, the results of the review of the program reports, any other relevant documentation that was available to the review team, and the decision of NCATE's Unit Accreditation Board (UAB), if applicable.

i)          After consideration of the information submitted pursuant to subsection (h) of this Section, the State Teacher Certification Board shall convey to the State Board of Education a recommendation regarding the accreditation of the educational unit as appropriate to the circumstances, in keeping with the provisions of subsection (j) of this Section.  The State Teacher Certification Board shall also convey recommendations regarding approval of the unit's individual programs (see Section 25.127 of this Part).

j)          The possible outcomes of Accreditation Review shall align with those used in the NCATE system of review, so that Illinois institutions desiring both national accreditation through NCATE and the State recognition, accreditation, and program approval required pursuant to this Subpart C will not be caused to duplicate their efforts or undergo duplicate reviews.

1)         If the educational unit has met all the applicable standards, the State Teacher Certification Board shall recommend that the State Board of Education continue the accreditation of the educational unit (which may include the identification of areas for improvement), thereby authorizing the institution to conduct its approved programs and to recommend candidates for certification by entitlement.

2)         If the educational unit has failed to meet one or more of the applicable standards, the State Teacher Certification Board shall recommend that the State Board of Education assign accreditation of the educational unit with conditions, thereby authorizing the institution to conduct its approved programs and to recommend candidates for certification by entitlement.  An institution to which accreditation with conditions has been assigned shall, within 30 days after receipt of the State Board's decision, provide written notification to the candidates enrolled in the unit's programs to this effect.

A)        If the State Teacher Certification Board believes that the unit can make adjustments so as to satisfy the conditions expressed within six months, the Board shall recommend that the State Board of Education request submission of documentation that addresses the unmet standards as well as any other areas for improvement within that time.  However, the affected unit may choose to undergo a focused visit pursuant to subsections (j)(2)(C) and (D) of this Section instead.

B)        If documentation is submitted pursuant to subsection (j)(2)(A) of this Section, the State Board of Education shall either continue the institution's accreditation, if the conditions expressed have been satisfied, or require a focused visit addressing the unmet standards and any additional areas for improvement, which shall occur within one year after the semester in which the documentation was submitted.

C)         If the State Teacher Certification Board believes that the conditions expressed cannot be satisfied within six months, the Board shall recommend that the State Board of Education require a focused visit addressing the unmet standards and any additional areas for improvement within two years after the semester when the conditions were issued.

D)         Each focused visit shall be conducted by a team established by the State Superintendent of Education or the NCATE Board of Examiners, as applicable, and trained in the review process.  The provisions of subsection (d)(2) of this Section shall also apply.  The team conducting a focused visit shall forward to the State Teacher Certification Board a report indicating whether the conditions expressed have been satisfied.

i)          Within 30 days after receipt of this report, the institution shall submit either a rejoinder to the team's findings that meets the requirements of subsection (g) of this Section or a letter acknowledging receipt of the report.

ii)         Staff of the State Board of Education shall convey to the State Teacher Certification Board the review team's report, the institution's letter of agreement or rejoinder, a response to that rejoinder provided by the team's chair, any other relevant documentation that was available to the review team, and the decision of NCATE's Unit Accreditation Board, if applicable.

E)        After reviewing the materials submitted pursuant to subsection (j)(2)(D) of this Section, the State Teacher Certification Board shall recommend that the State Board of Education continue or revoke the unit's accreditation.

F)         A unit to which continued accreditation is granted as a result of a six-month report or a focused visit shall next be due for Accreditation Review according to its original schedule (see Section 25.115(d) of this Part).

3)         If the educational unit has failed to meet one or more of the applicable standards and exhibits areas for improvement that may limit its candidates' ability to meet the standards for certification (meaning, for an NCATE institution, if national accreditation has been revoked), the State Teacher Certification Board shall recommend that the State Board of Education assign accreditation of the educational unit with probation.  An institution to which accreditation with probation has been assigned shall, within 30 days after receipt of the State Board's decision, provide written notification to the candidates enrolled in the unit's programs to this effect.  If accreditation with probation is assigned, the unit must schedule an on-site visit within two years after the semester in which the decision was rendered. As part of this visit, the unit must address all the standards in effect at the time of the review that resulted in probation.

A)        An on-site review required pursuant to this subsection (j)(3) shall be subject to the requirements of subsections (a) through (g) of this Section.

B)        Following the on-site review, the State Teacher Certification Board shall review the team's report and, based on its assessment of the degree to which the unit has achieved compliance with the applicable standards, shall recommend to the State Board of Education that it either continue or revoke the institution's recognition and the educational unit's accreditation.

C)        A unit whose accreditation has been continued pursuant to this subsection (j)(3) shall next be subject to Accreditation Review according to its original schedule (see Section 25.115(d) of this Part).

k)         The provisions of subsection (j) of this Section notwithstanding, an institution not accredited by NCATE may decide to seek NCATE accreditation at any time, thus becoming subject to NCATE's initial review cycle.  (If NCATE accreditation is sought other than in conjunction with a scheduled Accreditation Review, an Accreditation Review shall be conducted as described in this Section, and the schedule for subsequent Accreditation Reviews shall be altered accordingly.) Conversely, an institution may choose to become disaffiliated with NCATE so that its next Accreditation Review will be conducted under subsection (d)(1) of this Section, provided that the institution notifies the State Superintendent of Education of this intention no later than 18 months prior to the scheduled date of the review visit.  The State Superintendent may make an exception to the 18-month timeframe upon determining that circumstances beyond the control of an institution prevented its meeting the deadline for this notification.

l)          Actions following upon the recommendation of the State Teacher Certification Board shall be as described in Section 25.160 of this Part.  Revocation of recognition and accreditation shall be subject to the provisions of Section 25.165(b) of this Part.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 8494, effective April 21, 2006)