What Does National Accreditation Mean for Teacher Candidates?
Quality Assurance
Professional accreditation is the bedrock upon which all professions have built their reputations. It assures that those entering the respective field have been prepared to practice.
When a school of education is nationally accredited, it provides an assurance that the schools teacher preparation program has met national standards set by the teaching field at large and has undergone rigorous external and impartial review by professionals, policymakers, and representatives of the public.
Many states have reciprocity agreements based on graduation from nationally accredited schools, so graduates will generally find it easier to apply for licensure when they move out of state.
The level of excellence in the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education program is measured and assessed by these national accrediting bodies.
NCATE and TEAC recently consolidated into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) as the new accrediting body for educator preparation. Please visit http://caepnet.org for general information. CAEP will continue to advance excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.
The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) is a global community dedicated to promoting the optimal education and development of children in a changing world. The Association today is both a knowledge broker for innovative practices and an advocate for education and children's rights. These key areas of focus have evolved from the Association's vibrant and active past.
As social change agents, ACEI members have involved themselves in various critical societal issues over the years in their efforts to ensure that children around the world are protected, supported, and educated in an equitable fashion that allows them to reach their true potential.
ACEI has challenged the status quo in order to improve education opportunities for children. Through their grassroots advocacy and action-based initiatives, ACEI educators have been a clear and consistent voice for changes in education that truly support the development of stimulating and meaningful learning environments for children.
The mission of ACEI is to promote and support the optimal education, development, and well-being of elementary age children worldwide, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society.
For more than 80 years, the National Association for the Education of Young Children has worked to raise the quality of programs for all children from birth through age eight. A major part of NAEYC's efforts to improve early childhood education is through different systems of accreditation for programs that are committed to meeting national standards of quality. NAEYC also recognizes high-quality Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs, as part of the accreditation system of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
