Kan. Admin. Regs. § 91-1-236

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 25, June 20, 2024

Section 91-1-236 - Procedures for renewing approval of teacher education program

(a) Application for program renewal.

(1) Each teacher education institution that desires to have the state board renew the approval status of one or more of its teacher education programs shall submit to the commissioner an application for program renewal. The application shall be submitted at least 12 months before the expiration of the current approval period of the program or programs.

(2) Each institution shall also submit a program report, which shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the commissioner. The program report shall be submitted at least six months before the expiration of the current approval period of the program or programs. The program report shall include confirmation that the candidates in the program will be required to complete the following:

(A) Coursework that constitutes a major in the subject at the institution or that is equivalent to a major; and

(B) at least 12 weeks of student teaching.

(b) Review team. Upon receipt of a complete program report, a review team shall be appointed by the commissioner to analyze the program report. The chairperson of the review team shall be designated by the commissioner. The number of review team members shall be determined by the commissioner, based upon the scope of the program or programs to be reviewed. An institution may challenge the appointment of a review team member only on the basis of a conflict of interest.

(c) Program review process.

(1) In accordance with procedures adopted by the state board, each review team shall examine and analyze the program report and prepare a review report expressing the findings and conclusions of the review team. The review team's report shall be submitted to the commissioner. The report shall be forwarded by the commissioner to an appropriate representative of the teacher education institution.

(2) Any institution may prepare a written response to the review team's report. Each response shall be prepared and submitted to the commissioner within 45 days of receipt of the review team's report. The review team's report, any response filed by the institution, and any other supporting documentation shall be forwarded by the commissioner to the evaluation review committee.

(d) Initial recommendation. The evaluation review committee, in accordance with procedures adopted by the state board, shall prepare a written initial recommendation regarding the appropriate status to be assigned to the program or programs, which shall include a statement of the findings and conclusions of the evaluation review committee. The recommendation shall be submitted to an appropriate representative of the teacher education institution and to the commissioner.

(e) Request for hearing.

(1) Within 30 days of the receipt of an initial recommendation of the evaluation review committee, the teacher education institution may submit a written request to the commissioner for a hearing before the evaluation review committee to appeal the initial recommendation of the committee. This request shall specify, in detail, the basis for the appeal, including an identification of each item disputed by the institution.

(2) If a request for a hearing is submitted, the evaluation review committee shall conduct a hearing. The committee shall then prepare a written final recommendation regarding the appropriate status to be assigned to the program or programs, which shall include a statement of the findings and conclusions of the evaluation review committee. The final recommendation shall be submitted to an appropriate representative of the teacher education institution and to the commissioner. The final recommendation shall be submitted by the commissioner to the state board for its consideration and determination of program approval status according to paragraph (f)(1).

(3) If a request for a hearing is not submitted within the time allowed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the initial recommendation of the evaluation review committee shall become the final recommendation of the review committee. The committee's final recommendation shall be submitted by the commissioner to the state board for its consideration and determination.

(f) Approval status.

(1) The status assigned to any teacher education program specified in this regulation shall be approved, approved with stipulation, or not approved.

(2) Subject to subsequent action by the state board, the assignment of approved status to a teacher education program shall be effective for seven academic years. However, the state board, at any time, may change the approval status of a program if, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, the state board finds that the institution either has failed to meet substantially the program standards adopted by the state board or has made a material change in a program. For just cause, the duration of the approval status of a program may be extended by the state board. The duration of the approval status of a program shall be extended automatically if the program is in the process of being reevaluated by the state board.

(3)

(A) If a program is approved with stipulation, that status shall be effective for the period of time specified by the state board, which shall not exceed seven years.

(B) If any program of a teacher education institution is approved with stipulation, the institution shall include in an upgrade report to the commissioner the steps that the institution has taken and the progress that the institution has made during the previous academic year to address the deficiencies that were identified in the initial program review.

(C) The upgrade report shall be submitted by the commissioner to the evaluation review committee for its examination and analysis. After this examination and analysis, the evaluation review committee shall prepare a written recommendation regarding the status to be assigned to the teacher education program for the succeeding academic years. The recommendation shall include a statement of the findings and conclusions of the evaluation review committee. The recommendation shall be submitted to an appropriate representative of the teacher education institution and to the commissioner. If the institution does not agree with this recommendation, the institution may request a hearing according to the provisions in subsection (e).

(D) For licensure purposes, each teacher education program that is approved with stipulation shall be considered to be approved.

(4) Students shall be allowed two full, consecutive, regular semesters following the notification of final action by the state board to complete a program that is not approved. Summers and interterms shall not be counted as part of the two regular semesters. Students who finish within these two regular semesters may be recommended for licensure by the college or university.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 91-1-236

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