Accreditation Committee
The College’s Accreditation Committee ensures 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. The programs integrate theory and practice so that graduates are prepared and qualified for today’s classrooms.
The Accreditation Committee appoints an accreditation panel to review each pre-service teacher education program. Each panel has a minimum of six members, including one person nominated by the institution administering the program under review. Existing programs are reviewed cyclically, usually every seven years, to confirm that the program continues to meet regulatory requirements.
Panel members normally visit the campus after examining all documents submitted by the faculty. They conduct on-site interviews with faculty members and various stakeholders, examine artifacts, and review facilities and resources. Members of the public are always provided with an opportunity to offer feedback about the programs under review.
The panel then develops its report, setting out its recommendations and detailing its supporting evidence. The Accreditation Committee considers the information in the panel’s report and issues a decision.
Enhanced Teacher Education Program
Beginning on September 1, 2015, the initial teacher education program at Ontario’s faculties of education will expand to four semesters and include twice the amount of practice teaching time (80 days, up from 40). The enhanced program includes greater attention to students’ mental health and well-being, how to teach with technology, and diversity among other core elements.
The Accreditation Regulation was amended in October 2013 to describe the requirements for the enhanced teacher education program and the transition process for accredited programs. The Accreditation Committee will play a critical role in the accreditation of enhanced programs at all Ontario faculties of education.
Accreditation Reviews
The College reviewed the accreditation of 14 teacher education programs at Ontario faculties of education in 2013. All programs were renewals of currently accredited programs except for the following two programs:
- The committee granted initial accreditation with conditions to a new concurrent program at the Université d’Ottawa, Faculté d’éducation for the Primary/Junior and Junior/Intermediate divisions. The coursework will be offered by distance education with a face-to-face practicum experience.
- The Faculty of Education at York University received accreditation for a new area of study in the part-time consecutive program focusing on teaching Technological Education at the secondary level. This program leads to a Bachelor of Education degree (BEd).
The Accreditation Committee renewed the accreditation of the following programs of professional education:
- Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa (English-language programs)
- Consecutive BEd program (Primary/Junior, Primary/Junior with a focus on teaching French as a Second Language, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior divisions)
- Consecutive program for persons of First Nation, Métis or Inuit ancestry (Primary/Junior divisions). The Aboriginal Teacher Education Program leads to a BEd or a Certificate in Aboriginal Teacher Education.
These programs were granted general accreditation with conditions.
- Faculté d’éducation at the Université d’Ottawa (French-language programs):
- Multi-session consecutive program (Technological Education subjects at the Grades 9/10 and Grades 11/12 level). This program leads to a BEd or a Certificate in Education.
This program was granted general accreditation.
- Consecutive BEd program (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior divisions)
- Multi-session BEd consecutive program in an alternative delivery format (Primary/Junior and Junior/Intermediate divisions)
- Concurrent BEd program (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior divisions)
These programs received general accreditation with conditions.
- Multi-session consecutive program (Technological Education subjects at the Grades 9/10 and Grades 11/12 level). This program leads to a BEd or a Certificate in Education.
- Faculty of Education at Queen’s University
- Consecutive BEd program (Primary/Junior and Intermediate/Senior divisions)
- Part-time consecutive program for persons of First Nation, Métis or Inuit ancestry (Primary/Junior divisions). The Aboriginal Teacher Education Community-Based program leads to a BEd or Diploma in Education.
- Full-time consecutive program (Technological Education subjects at the Grades 9/10 and Grades 11/12 levels). This program leads to a BEd or a Diploma in Education.
- Multi-session consecutive program (Technological Education subjects at the Grades 9/10 and Grades 11/12 levels). This internship format program leads to a BEd or a Diploma in Education.
- Concurrent BEd program (Primary/Junior and Intermediate/Senior divisions). This program includes Queen’s Concurrent, and Queen’s-Trent Concurrent for Primary/Junior and Intermediate/Senior divisions and Queen’s-Waterloo Joint Program for Intermediate/Senior divisions.
All programs were granted general accreditation.
- Schulich School of Education at Nipissing University
- Multi-session consecutive program (Native Languages). The Teacher of Anishnaabemwin as a Second Language program leads to a Diploma in Education.
The program was granted general accreditation with conditions.
- Multi-session consecutive program (Native Languages). The Teacher of Anishnaabemwin as a Second Language program leads to a Diploma in Education.
In late 2013, an accreditation panel reviewed a renewal application for accreditation of the pre-service programs at the Faculty of Education at Trent University. This decision will be available in the next annual report.
Monitoring Programs with Conditions
A faculty of education is required to provide an annual report when a teacher education program is accredited with conditions. This report details the faculty’s progress in satisfying the conditions of their program’s accreditation. Faculties may also request that the committee remove conditions from accredited programs.
The Accreditation Committee reviewed and received annual reports for the following programs:
- Faculté d'éducation at the Université d’Ottawa (French-language program)
- Multi-session, consecutive BEd program (Primary/Junior and Junior/Intermediate divisions) offered in an alternative mode.
- L’école des sciences de l’éducation at Université Laurentienne (French-language program)
- Multi-session consecutive BEd program (Primary/Junior and Junior/Intermediate divisions) offered in an alternative delivery mode.
- Faculty of Education at Lakehead University
- Consecutive BEd program (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior divisions)
- Concurrent BEd program (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior divisions), including a concurrent Native Teacher Education Program
- Single-degree consecutive program (Primary/Junior divisions), leading to a four-year Honours Bachelor of Education (Aboriginal) degree
- Multi-session consecutive program (Native Languages), leading to a Diploma in Education.
The committee removed all conditions from the Lakehead single-degree Honours Bachelor of Education (Aboriginal) consecutive program (Primary/Junior). Some conditions were removed from its consecutive and concurrent Bachelor of Education programs. Conditions were retained for its multi-session consecutive program for teaching Native Languages (Native Language Teacher’s Certification Program).
The committee also granted extensions of accreditation to several faculties. Accreditation Committee decisions for professional teacher education programs, including extensions, are posted on the College website.
Public Input
The College welcomes public input about the teacher education programs it reviews.
An email notification tool on the College website allows members of the public to learn about upcoming accreditation reviews and offer input on the quality of the programs for the panel’s consideration. The College also welcomes presentations made directly to the panel. Open forum meetings are held during accreditation site visits to provide the public with opportunities to offer input to the panel.
Visit our website to learn about our upcoming accreditation reviews.
Follow the College on Facebook and Twitter for information about accreditation reviews.
Resources
The Pre-Service Accreditation Handbook was updated in 2013 with new examples of supporting criteria for each of the accreditation requirements. Sample templates that faculties may wish to use when preparing their applications for accreditation were also included.
