Meeting of the Board of Regents | April 2003

SUMMARY:

Attached for action is a proposed amendment to subclause (1) of clause (c) of subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, relating to requirements for teacher education programs. Supporting materials for the proposed amendment are available from the Secretary of the Board of Regents.

The purpose of the amendment is to extend the date by which registered programs for the preparation of classroom teachers must achieve accreditation. For programs registered on or before September 1, 2001, the deadline is extended from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2006. Programs need this additional time to achieve accreditation because options with regard to accrediting bodies that could be selected for this purpose were not available until 2002. Programs will be required to submit to the acceptable professional education accrediting association or the State Education Department pursuant to the Regents accreditation process, the self-study or its equivalent, by July 1, 2004, as evidence of satisfactory progress toward achieving accreditation. The amendment also extends the time allowed for programs registered for the first time after September 1, 2001 to meet the accreditation requirement from within five years to within seven years of initial registration, bringing the schedule in line with the Regents accreditation cycle.

The proposed amendment was discussed at the March 2003 meeting of the Board of Regents. A Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning the proposed amendment was published in the State Register on February 19, 2003.

I recommend that the Regents take the following action:

VOTED: That subclause (1) of clause (c) of subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective May 22, 2003.

Attachment

AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

Pursuant to sections 207, 210, 215, 305, and 3004 of the Education Law.

Subclause (1) of clause (c) of subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective May 22, 2003, as follows: For programs registered [prior to] on or before September 1, 2001, the requirements of subclause (2) of this clause shall be met by December 31, [2004] 2006. For such programs, the institution shall submit to the acceptable professional education accrediting association or the department pursuant to the Regents accreditation process, the self-study or its equivalent as prescribed by thedepartment, required for the accreditation review, by July 1, 2004. For programs registered for the first time [on or] after September 1, 2001, the requirements of subclause (2) of this clause shall be met within [five] seven years of the date of the commencement of such initial registration.