All educator preparation providers (EPPs) are required to solicit third-party comment on the quality of the EPP’s programs as part of the accreditation review process.

Third Party Comments

The EPP is required to solicit third party comment on its qualifications for accreditation as part of the accreditation review process. The EPP is required to provide evidence to CAEP within seven (7) days of such notice being posted. If an EPP does not provide evidence that it has sought third-party comment, CAEP reserves the right to reschedule the site review.

Not less than sixteen (16) weeks prior to the scheduled date of a site visit, both the EPP and CAEP must publicly announce the upcoming accreditation review and the date of the site review to provide time for interested stakeholders to make comments. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, full-time and adjunct faculty/educators, staff, candidates, cooperating teachers and/or mentors, completers, and employers.

CAEP accepts written comments from stakeholders up to six (6) weeks before the site visit and provides these comments to the EPP. The EPP can respond to any written comments received prior to the scheduled site review. The response must be received by CAEP no less than two (2) weeks prior to the site review. Third party comments and the EPP response, if any, are submitted in AIMS. (See Accreditation Policy.)

A sample of a Call for Comments notice is provided below. The statement may be modified by an EPP as appropriate:

The School of Education at XYZ University is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on [date of visit]. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party's relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).

We invite you to submit written testimony to:

CAEP
1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Or by email to: callforcomments@caepnet.org

Such comments must be within the specified period and based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that:

  • In CAEP's performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom.
  • A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform.
  • Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent's relationship, if any, to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review. 
Fall 2024 Reviews
Institution State Visit Begin Date Visit End Date

Alabama A&M University

AL

11/17/24

11/19/24

Aquinas College

MI

10/7/24

10/9/24

Arkansas State University

AR

10/2/24

10/4/24

Blue Mountain Christian University

MS

2/19/25

2/21/25

Central Baptist College

AR

11/6/24

11/8/24

Concordia University Chicago

IL

10/21/24

10/23/24

Dickinson State University

ND

11/4/24

11/6/24

Eastern Kentucky University

KY

10/28/24

10/30/24

Eastern Michigan University

MI

11/18/24

11/20/24

Florida A&M University

FL

11/18/24

11/20/24

Franciscan University of Steubenville

OH

11/11/24

11/13/24

Hampton University

VA

12/1/24

12/3/24

Indiana University - Purdue University, Columbus

IN

12/9/24

12/11/24

Indiana Wesleyan University

IN

10/30/24

11/1/24

Kean University

NJ

12/2/24

12/4/24

Lindsey Wilson College

KY

11/11/24

11/13/24

Malone University

OH

12/2/24

12/4/24

McNeese State University

LA

10/16/24

10/18/24

Minot State University

ND

10/2/24

10/4/24

Morris College

SC

11/13/24

11/15/24

New Jersey City University

NJ

10/7/24

10/9/24

Pittsburg State University

KS

9/23/24

9/25/24

Saint Mary's College

IN

11/4/24

11/6/24

Shepherd University

WV

9/30/24

10/2/24

Union Adventist University

NE

10/14/24

10/16/24

Universidad De Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus

PR

12/4/24

12/6/24

University of Alaska Southeast

AK

12/9/24

12/11/24

University of Indianapolis

IN

11/13/24

11/15/24

University of Louisiana at Monroe

LA

10/21/24

10/23/24

University of Nebraska At Kearney

NE

11/4/24

11/6/24

University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla

PR

10/23/24

10/25/24

University of South Carolina

SC

10/21/24

10/23/24

University of the District of Columbia

DC

12/4/24

12/6/24

University of West Florida

FL

9/16/24

9/18/24

Youngstown State University

OH

10/7/24

10/9/24