November 17, 2021

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) granted accreditation to Drexel University School of Education educator preparation programs. Drexel is the only university in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs to be approved under the CAEP Accreditation Standards – rigorous, nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.

“We are very proud of the commitment our faculty and staff make to prepare our teacher education students for success in their classrooms and schools. CAEP accreditation validates the hard work we are doing,” said Penny Hammrich, PhD, Dean and Distinguished University Professor for Drexel University’s School of Education. “Future students and their parents can rest assured that they are investing in a teacher preparation program that is nationally accredited.”

The School of Education received accreditation for its initial licensure level programs which includes Elementary Education (grades prek-4), Middle Level (grades 4-8 with a combination of Math, English, and Science certification options), and Secondary Education (grades 7-12 in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, English, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies subjects). The accredited areas are offered as both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programs of study. 

CAEP also granted accreditation to the School of Education’s advanced licensure programs which include post-baccalaureate certifications in the areas of Instructional Technology Specialist, Reading Specialist, School Principal, Superintendent, Special Education, Special Education Leadership, and ESL Program Specialist.

The School of Education is one of 39 schools and colleges to receive accreditation in 2021.

“These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

The CAEP Board of Directors updated the educator preparation standards in 2020 as part of its commitment to reviewing the standards at least every seven years. The changes to the CAEP standards reflect the Board’s commitment to equity and diversity and also place an emphasis on the importance of technology in preparing future educators.

CAEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation.

Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review of the CAEP standards, which are based on two principles:

1. Solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators, and
2. Solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

The School of Education joins a network of 461 CAEP-accredited providers from 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

About The Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation 

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (www.CAEPnet.org) advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.