1. UPDATE Continuous Improvement in Educator Preparation:  A Data-Informed Approach to State Program Review
Presentation to the Alabama State Board of Education
May 11, 2017
Dr. Jayne A. Meyer
Dr. Anna T. Kozlowski
Dr. Lydia Davenport, Alabama A & M University
Dr. Renay Rogers, University of West Alabama

2. Rationale for Developing the CIEP Process
Alabama’s program review process is moving from an input model that looked at syllabi and plans for assessment to a more complex model that requires institutions to provide evidence of how standards are explicitly addressed in:
Curriculum components
Field experiences prior to internship
Required key assessments and data analysis

3. CIEP has been purposefully designed to:
Respond to requests from members of the Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE) for more detailed information to help you respond to resolutions to approve programs.
Ensure Alabama EPPs have the opportunity to prepare successfully for the higher expectations in the Educator Preparation Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code adopted by ALSBE in August 2015 and the standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Provide more options for review team recommendations (initial or continuing approval for up to seven years; conditional approval for up to three years; probationary approval for one year; and denial of approval).
Provide more data-based information about program quality to CAEP and state visiting teams.
Allow the Educator Preparation (EP) section to provide ongoing oversight and support.
Provide both greater accountability and flexibility for programs.
Encourage Alabama educator preparation providers (EPPs) to seek and attain national recognition from the appropriate specialty professional associations (SPA), such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). National recognition is accepted in lieu of the CIEP process.

4. Key Assessments Praxis II content tests required for licensure
Additional assessment of content knowledge, such as a GPA analysis, comprehensive examination, or recital
Assessment of candidate’s ability to plan instruction (or for non-teaching areas to fulfill identified professional responsibilities)
Internship evaluation
Assessment of impact on student learning (or for non-teaching areas the ability to create supportive learning environments)

5. Ongoing Collaboration with Alabama’s Colleges and Universities
Alabama Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (ALACTE)
Alabama Alliance for Clinical Experiences
Field Director’s Forum
Alabama Association of Professors of Educational Leadership
CAEP Partnership Agreement Advisory Group

6. Support Provided to EPPs
CIEP templates include instructions and guidance for each section.
Rubrics for reviewing field experiences and key assessments are provided to EPPs.
Assistance is available to EPPs by phone, , and in person.
An FAQ is posted is posted on the ALSDE website. EPPs suggested questions and commented on a draft.
EP staff conducted regional workshops in April 2016 and January The first focused on developing a CIEP submission and the second focused on looking at three actual 2016 submissions and team reports.
EPPs may send in one CIEP submission per year for “feedback only” to become familiar with the CIEP process and to promote confidence and future success.

7. Ongoing Efforts to Expedite Review Process
Review team training is refined each year.
Review team template is more structured than it was initially.
Sample comments are provided to the team to expedite preparing a draft.
A coversheet with prompts was created for EPPs to use with each key assessment.
Veteran team members (P-12 teachers, EPP faculty, and ALSDE staff) are recruited.
The greatest factor in determining how quickly a program can be approved, however, is the quality of the materials submitted for review.

8. Future Support Efforts
Accept submissions for new programs and revisions to currently approved programs at any time. See “Timeline for CIEP Program Review Process.”
Develop an online manual on comprehensive review processes, including CIEP.
Review the format of CIEP templates and revise as needed to provide greater clarity.
Continue with workshops each semester. Fall workshops will be held in Montgomery and provide an overview for EPP faculty new to working on comprehensive reviews and program reviews. Spring workshops will be held in four regions and focus on specific topics. EPPs have asked for future workshops focusing on secondary programs and advanced programs.