Educator preparation programs—accreditation, approval criteria, 79.2, 79.4, 79.9
ARC 5582C
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT[281]
Notice of Intended Action
Proposing rule making related to educator preparation programs and providing an opportunity for public comment
The State Board of Education hereby proposes to amend Chapter 79, "Standards for Practitioner and Administrator Preparation Programs," Iowa Administrative Code.
Legal Authority for Rule Making
This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 256.7(5).
State or Federal Law Implemented
This rule making implements, in whole or in part, 2020 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2356.
Purpose and Summary
Chapter 79 outlines the standards and program requirements that all traditional educator preparation programs must meet to be approved to prepare educators in Iowa. Compliance with these standards is required and is evaluated during each educator preparation program's approval review. The standards are also applied in an annual reporting system. This proposed rule making updates the standards to remain current with United States Department of Education regulations and align with Board of Educational Examiners rules for licensure, and incorporates requirements in 2020 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2356, section 1.
Fiscal Impact
This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.
Jobs Impact
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
Waivers
No waiver of these standards is permitted.
Public Comment
Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 11, 2021. Comments should be directed to:
Thomas Mayes Department of Education Grimes State Office Building, Second Floor 400 East 14th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146 Phone: 515.242.5614 Email: thomas.mayes@iowa.gov |
Public Hearing
A public hearing at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:
May 11, 2021 8:30 to 9 a.m. |
ICN Room, Second Floor Grimes State Office Building Des Moines, Iowa Via videoconference: IDOE.zoom.us/j/94718226002?pwd=MENTN0xkcjJZL25HN2hGZkRRVjZndz09 |
Persons who wish to make oral comments at the public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rule making.
Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Department and advise of specific needs by calling 515.281.5295.
Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).
The following rule-making actions are proposed:
Item 1. Rescind the definitions of "ISSL" and "Regional accreditation" in rule 281—79.2(256).
Item 2. Adopt the following new definition of "Institutional accrediting agency" in rule 281—79.2(256):
"Institutional accrediting agency" means an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Agencies include regional and national accreditors. The department will maintain a web link to a list of currently approved accreditors on the department's practitioner preparation web page.
Item 3. Amend rule 281—79.4(256) as follows:
281—79.4(256) Criteria for practitioner preparation programs. Each institution seeking approval by the state board of its programs of practitioner preparation, including those programs offered by distance delivery models or at off-campus locations, must be regionally accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and shall file evidence of the extent to which each program meets the standards contained in this chapter by means of a written self-evaluation report and an evaluation conducted by the department. The institution shall demonstrate such evidence by means of a template developed by the department and through a site visit conducted by the department. After the state board has approved the practitioner preparation programs of an institution, students who complete the programs and are recommended by the authorized official of that institution will be issued the appropriate license and endorsement(s).
Item 4. Amend rule 281—79.9(256) as follows:
281—79.9(256) Approval of program changes. Upon application by an institution, the director is authorized to approve minor additions to, or changes within, the curricula of an institution's approved practitioner preparation program. When an institution proposes a revision which exceeds the primary scope of its programs, including revisions which significantly change the delivery model(s), the revisions shall become operative only after having been approved by the state board. Approval of any institution's application for adding the dyslexia specialist endorsement must include approval by the Iowa reading research center.
This notice is now closed for comments. Collection of comments closed on 5/11/2021.
The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.
View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 4/21/2021.
The following administrative rule references were added to this document. You may click a reference to view related notices.
Rule 281-79.2 Rule 281-79.4 Rule 281-79.9The following keywords and tags were added to this document. You may click a keyword to view related notices.
Approval of program changes Criteria for practitioner preparation programs© 2024; State of Iowa | Privacy Policy