Ontario College of Teachers – 2010 Annual Report

Assuring a strong foundation for
Ontario’s teaching profession

Accreditation Committee

The College’s Accreditation Committee is mandated to ensure the quality of teacher education programs in Ontario through the regular review and accreditation of these programs.

The accreditation process assures the profession and the public that teacher education programs meet the requirements established under regulation, integrating theory and practice so that graduates are prepared and qualified for today’s classrooms.

An accreditation panel – which has a minimum of six members, including one person nominated by the institution administering the program under review – is appointed by the Accreditation Committee to review each pre-service teacher education program. Existing programs are reviewed cyclically, usually every seven years, to confirm that the program continues to meet regulatory requirements.

After examining all documents submitted by the faculty and submissions provided by members of the public, panel members normally visit the campus. They conduct on-site interviews with faculty members and various stakeholders, examine artifacts and review facilities and resources. The panel then develops its report, setting out its recommendations and detailing its supporting evidence. The Accreditation Committee considers the information provided in the panel’s report, and renders its decision.

Program Reviews

Accreditation panels – established by the Accreditation Committee – reviewed a number of teacher education programs in Ontario in 2010.

The Accreditation Committee:

• granted initial accreditation with conditions to the consecutive program of professional education with concentration in the Intermediate/Senior divisions, leading to a Bachelor of Education degree, to be offered by the School of Education at Laurentian University
• reviewed and received the annual report submitted by the Faculty of Education at Brock University outlining their progress in satisfying the conditions of initial accreditation for the integrated consecutive program of professional education. The program – which leads to a four-year Bachelor of Education degree – concentrates in the Primary and Junior divisions with a focus on aboriginal teacher education.
• reviewed and received the annual report submitted by the Schulich School of Education at Nipissing University, outlining their progress in satisfying the conditions of initial accreditation for the multi-session Teacher of Native Languages as a Second Language: Algonquin (Ojibwe) program of professional education, leading to a Diploma.
• reviewed and received the annual report submitted by the Faculté d'éducation at Université d’Ottawa, outlining their progress in satisfying the conditions of general accreditation for the multi-session, consecutive program of professional education, alternative mode, offered in French, concentrating in the Primary/Junior and Junior/Intermediate divisions and leading to a Bachelor of Education degree.
• removed conditions on the addition of the Junior/Intermediate divisions to the consecutive program of professional education offered by the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University.
• established an accreditation panel to review the application for:
  • renewal of accreditation of the concurrent and consecutive programs of professional education offered by the Faculty of Education at York University
  • initial accreditation of York’s proposed new concurrent Technological Education program which will lead to a Bachelor of Education degree or an applied degree.
• established an accreditation panel to review the application submitted by the Faculté d’éducation at the Université d’Ottawa for initial accreditation of a proposed concurrent program of professional education. This application is to offer an online French-language program concentrating in the Primary/Junior and Junior/Intermediate divisions, leading to a Bachelor of Education degree.
• established an accreditation panel to review the application for renewal of accreditation of the concurrent and consecutive programs of professional education leading to a Bachelor of Education degree offered by the Faculty of Education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Accreditation reports of professional teacher education programs are posted on the College web site.

Public Input

The College welcomes public input on the quality of teacher education programs.

Through the College web site, members of the public can learn about upcoming accreditation reviews and offer input on the quality of the programs for the panel’s consideration. The College also welcomes oral presentations made directly to the panel.

Upcoming accreditation reviews are listed at the link http://www.oct.ca/octfeedback/reviews/.

Consultation

The College hosted two consultation/briefings in March 2010 for providers of Additional Qualification (AQ) programs, welcoming input about the implementation of a new regulatory review process for the renewal of accreditation of AQ programs identified within the schedules of the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation (TQR).

Contemporary Practices in Ontario Programs of Professional Education (Practice Teaching Resource)

This document, released on September 22^nd, 2010, highlights innovative practices in Ontario’s faculties and schools of education, district school boards and schools. Developed in partnership with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation and the Ontario Association of Deans of Education, it builds on the College’s 2006 report Preparing Teachers for Tomorrow, which recommended the creation of resources to share promising practices and knowledge about the practicum.