LAC 28:XLV.101. Purpose

A. Bulletin 996 is intended to guide educator preparation providers in the development and review of new and existing teacher preparation programs, early childhood ancillary certificate programs and/or educational leader preparation programs, to guide the review of teacher and/or educational leader preparation programs in Louisiana, and to inform all interested persons of the Louisiana standards for teacher and educational leader preparation programs and the procedures for program evaluation. B. This bulletin establishes policies relative to the initial and ongoing approval of teacher, early childhood ancillary certificate, and educational leader preparation programs relative to the following: 1. the initial approval of a teacher and educational leader preparation program from which graduates or completers may be certified per Part CXXXI, Bulletin 746⎯Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel, Chapter 2, Subchapter A, and the initial approval of an early childhood ancillary certificate program from which completers may earn an early childhood ancillary certificate per Part CLXVII, Bulletin 140⎯Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Network and Part CXXXI, Bulletin 746⎯Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel, Chapter 3, subsection 305; 2. the alignment of approved programs to updated certification and preparation requirements, including updates to state birth to five learning and development standards and state academic content standards for elementary and secondary education, as appropriate and deemed necessary by BESE; 3. the ongoing approval of teacher preparation programs, including the establishment and implementation of a uniform quality rating system to serve as the basis for such ongoing approval decisions; 4. the fulfillment of all other obligations pursuant to federal and state law with respect to the initial and ongoing approval of teacher, early childhood ancillary certificate, and educational leader preparation programs from which graduates or completers may be certified; and the ongoing approval of early childhood ancillary certificate programs, including the establishment and implementation of a uniform early childhood ancillary certificate quality rating system to serve as the basis for such ongoing approval decisions; 5. the fulfillment of these duties and obligations in alignment with the Board of Regent’s (BOR) constitutional authority to regulate public institutions of higher education. C. Beginning December 2017, a uniform process for initial and ongoing program approval that applies equally to university and non-university teacher preparation programs, and/or educational leader preparation program providers, will be used. A uniform quality rating system will serve as the basis for renewal decisions. D. BESE shall provide for regular checkpoints to refine the quality rating system. Annually beginning winter 2017-2018, and every winter thereafter for a period of five years, the LDE shall provide a report to BESE relative to the results of pilots, study findings, and progress of preparation providers toward updated program design expectations. At such checkpoints the LDE shall submit to BESE a brief written report and recommendations, as appropriate. E. Beginning July 1, 2024, a uniform process for initial and ongoing early childhood ancillary certificate program approval that applies equally to university and non-university early childhood ancillary certificate programs will be used. A uniform early childhood ancillary certificate program quality rating system will serve as the basis for renewal decisions.