Kan. Admin. Regs. § 91-1-231 - Procedures for initial accreditation of teacher education institutions

(a) Statement of intent. Each teacher education institution that desires accreditation by the state board shall submit a written statement of its intent to seek accreditation to the commissioner at least 24 months before the institution desires to have its initial visit. Upon receipt of this statement, the initial visit shall be scheduled by the commissioner.

(b) Preconditions.

(1) At least three semesters before the initial visit, the teacher education institution shall submit to the commissioner a preconditions report addressing each of the preconditions specified by the state board.

(2) Upon receipt of a preconditions report, the report shall be referred by the commissioner to the appropriate committee of the standards board. The committee shall review the report and determine whether all of the preconditions have been met.

(3) If all of the preconditions have been met, the committee shall recommend to the commissioner that the institution be designated an institutional candidate.

(4) If the committee determines that the preconditions have not been met, the committee shall notify the institution of the committee's determination and shall advise the institution that it may submit, within 30 days of the notice, additional or revised documentation for consideration by the committee.

(5) If additional or revised documentation is submitted, the committee shall review the documentation and make a final recommendation to the commissioner.

(6) The final determination of whether the preconditions are met shall be made by the commissioner. If the preconditions are met, the institution shall be designated as an institutional candidate.

(c) Institutional candidate visit. Following designation as an institutional candidate, an institutional candidate visit shall be scheduled by the commissioner. If it is determined, based upon the institutional candidate visit, that an institution has the ability to meet the requirements of a teacher education institution, the institution may submit programs for approval and proceed with a self-study and institutional report.

(d) Limited accreditation.

(1) To attain the status of limited accreditation, an institution shall schedule an initial visit for the institution with the commissioner and submit an institutional report that shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the commissioner. The institutional report shall be submitted at least 60 days before the date of the initial visit scheduled for the institution.

(2) After the initial visit, the institution shall be either granted limited accreditation or denied accreditation following the procedure set forth in K.A.R. 91-1-232 .

(3) Each institution shall retain the status of limited accreditation for three academic years, unless the status is changed by the state board.

(4) For licensing purposes, each institution that is granted limited accreditation shall be deemed to have full accreditation.

(e) Full accreditation.

(1)

(A) Any institution that has been granted limited accreditation from the state board may apply for full accreditation by scheduling a focused visit of the institution with the commissioner and submitting an institutional report that shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the commissioner.

(B) Each institution shall schedule the focused visit to be completed at least one year before the institution's limited accreditation expires.

(C) Each institution shall submit its institutional report at least 60 days before the date of the focused visit to the institution.

(D) After the focused visit, the institution shall be either granted full accreditation or denied accreditation following the procedures set forth in K.A.R. 91-1-232 .

(2) Subject to subsequent action by the state board, the full accreditation of any teacher education institution shall be effective for seven academic years. However, each teacher education institution granted full accreditation by the state board shall submit an annual report to the commissioner on or before July 30 of each year.

(f) Renewal of accreditation. Any institution may request renewal of its accreditation status by following the procedures specified in K.A.R. 91-1-70a .

(g) Change of accreditation status.

(1) The accreditation status of any teacher education institution may be changed or revoked by the state board if, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, the state board finds that the institution has failed to meet substantially the accreditation standards adopted by the state board, that the institution has made substantial changes to the unit, or that other just cause exists.

(2) The duration of the accreditation status of an institution may be extended by the state board.

(3)

(A) If limited or full accreditation of an institution is denied or revoked, the institution shall not admit any new students into its teacher education unit.

(B) The institution may recommend for licensure only those students who complete their programs by the end of the semester in which the accreditation denial or revocation occurs. The institution shall provide written notice to all other students in its teacher education unit at the time of accreditation denial or revocation that the institution is no longer authorized to recommend students for licensure.

Notes

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 91-1-231

Authorized by and implementing Article 6, Section 2(a) of the Kansas Constitution; effective Aug. 6, 2004; amended Aug. 12, 2011.