About Us

Group of people holding fists together in solidarityFounded in 2017, the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) is a membership association and quality assurance agency that offers accreditation services and formative support to all types of educator preparation providers. The association is approved as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

AAQEP is nationally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Over 200 educator preparation providers in 33 states and territories and 2 foreign countries are AAQEP members.

AAQEP Design Principles

  1. Collaboration across preparation providers

  2. Improvement-focused, innovation-friendly protocols

  3. Partnership among institutions, state agencies, and AAQEP

  4. Comprehensive standards that address all types of providers

  5. Respect for context and mission

  6. Consistency and calibration of all reviews and decisions

  7. Efficiency and frugality in operations

  8. Sharing of findings and innovations with the field

Read more about the design principles in the Guide to AAQEP Accreditation.

MISSION

AAQEP promotes and recognizes quality educator preparation that strengthens the education profession’s ability to serve all students, schools, and communities, and to do so equitably.

To accomplish its mission, AAQEP:

  • Supports the professional development of those engaged in educator preparation and the continuous improvement of preparation programs
  • Coordinates formative peer reviews in support of member institutions' quality assurance and continuous improvement efforts
  • Designs and implements accreditation processes that respect the diversity and autonomy of institutions and providers

VISION

AAQEP promotes excellent, effective, and innovative educator preparation that is committed to evidence-based improvement and enjoys a high degree of community engagement and public confidence.

AAQEP leverages credible evidence, technological advances, and innovations in quality assurance/accreditation to provide transparent, understandable reports on program quality and to foster innovation and improvement.


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