Virginia Administrative Code › Title 8 - EDUCATION › Agency 20 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Chapter 543 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN VIRGINIA › Part II - Accreditation and Administering this Chapter › Section 8VAC20-543-20 - Accreditation and administering this chapter

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Institutions of
				  higher education seeking approval of an education endorsement program shall be
				  accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
B. Professional education programs in
				  Virginia shall obtain and maintain national accreditation from the Council for
				  the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Professional education
				  programs in Virginia seeking accreditation through CAEP shall adhere to
				  procedures and timelines established by CAEP and the CAEP/Virginia Partnership
				  Agreement. Professional education programs shall ensure and document that
				  programs are aligned with standards set forth in
				  8VAC20-543-40
				  through
				  8VAC20-543-50
				  and meet competencies outlined in
				  8VAC20-543-60
				  through
				  8VAC20-543-640.
C. If a professional education program fails
				  to maintain accreditation, enrolled candidates shall be permitted to complete
				  their programs of study. Professional education programs that fail to maintain
				  accreditation shall not admit new candidates. Candidates shall be notified of
				  the education endorsement program's approval status.
D. Teacher candidates may complete academic
				  degrees in the arts and sciences, or equivalent. "Education preparation
				  program" includes four-year bachelor's degree programs in teacher education.
				  Candidates in early/primary education (preK-3), elementary education (preK-6),
				  middle education (6-8), and special education programs may complete a major in
				  interdisciplinary studies or its equivalent. Candidates seeking a secondary
				  endorsement area must have earned a major, or the equivalent, in the area
				  sought.
E. Professional studies
				  coursework and methodology, including field experiences, required in this
				  chapter shall be designed for completion within an approved program.
F. Professional education programs shall
				  ensure that, as a condition of degree completion, each student enrolled in the
				  education preparation program receives instruction on positive behavior
				  interventions and supports; crisis prevention and de-escalation; the use of
				  physical restraint and seclusion, consistent with the regulations of the State
				  Board of Education; and appropriate alternative methods to reduce and prevent
				  the need for the use of physical restraint and seclusion; ensure that
				  candidates demonstrate proficiency in the use of educational technology for
				  instruction; complete study in child abuse recognition and intervention; and
				  complete training or certification in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary
				  resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators. Candidates in
				  education endorsement programs must demonstrate an understanding of
				  competencies, including the core concepts and facts of the disciplines and the
				  Virginia Standards of Learning, for the content areas they plan to teach.
				  Professional education programs shall ensure that candidates demonstrate skills
				  needed to help preK-12 students achieve college and career performance
				  expectations.
G. Standards and
				  procedures for the review and approval of each education endorsement program
				  shall adhere to procedures for administering the chapter as defined in this
				  section and in
				  8VAC20-543-40,
				  8VAC20-543-50,
				  and
				  8VAC20-543-60.
				  These procedures shall result in biennial recommendations to the State Board of
				  Education for one of the following three ratings: "approved," "approved with
				  stipulations," or "approval denied."
H. Education endorsement programs shall be
				  approved under this chapter biennially based on compliance with the criteria
				  described in
				  8VAC20-543-40,
				  8VAC20-543-50,
				  and
				  8VAC20-543-60.
I. The Department of Education will determine
				  the timeline and procedures for applying for education endorsement program
				  approval.
J. Education endorsement
				  programs in Virginia shall address the competencies set forth in this chapter,
				  and the curriculum for each program must be documented and submitted to the
				  Department of Education for approval.
K. Professional education programs shall
				  submit to the Department of Education on behalf of each education endorsement
				  program under consideration a biennial accountability measurement report and an
				  annual professional education program profile to include data prescribed by the
				  State Board of Education on education endorsement programs in accordance with
				  department procedures and timelines.
L. The professional education program
				  authorized administrator shall maintain copies of approved education
				  endorsement programs and required reports.
M. The Department of Education may conduct
				  onsite visits to review education endorsement programs and verify
				  data.
N. The Advisory Board on
				  Teacher Education and Licensure (ABTEL) is authorized to review and make
				  recommendations to the State Board of Education on approval of Virginia
				  education endorsement programs for school personnel. The Board of Education has
				  final authority on education endorsement program approval.
O. In administering this chapter, licensure
				  requirements for Virginia are outlined in the Licensure Regulations for School
				  Personnel (8VAC20-23). This document should be referenced for detailed
				  information regarding requirements for Virginia licensure. An individual must
				  meet licensure requirements set forth in the Code of Virginia.
P. Modifications may be made by the
				  Superintendent of Public Instruction in the administration of this chapter.
				  Proposed modifications shall be made in writing to the Superintendent of Public
				  Instruction, Commonwealth of Virginia.
Q. Upon the effective date of this chapter,
				  the State Board of Education grants colleges and universities two years to
				  align their existing approved programs with this chapter and allows only
				  college and universities that on the effective date of this chapter are
				  accredited by the State Board of Education process four years to become
				  accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
				  with the option of submitting a progress report to the Superintendent of Public
				  Instruction to request an additional year, if needed.
Statutory Authority: §§ 22.1-298.1 and 22.1-299
						of the Code of Virginia (8VAC20-23-10,
						8VAC20-23-40,
						8VAC20-23-50,
						8VAC20-23-720,
						8VAC20-23-755,
						8VAC20-23-760,
						8VAC20-23-800)
						.