Higher Education Program Review

Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) program review and Kansas State Board of Education (KSBE) approval are required for all educator preparation programs wishing to recommend completers for a Kansas educator license or endorsement area.

The program review process focuses on the specific areas that lead to an endorsement on a license. Program reviews must be completed for all programs at both the initial and advanced levels, including adding an endorsement by program completion. 

Degree programs that do not lead to licensure will not be reviewed during the program reviews or accreditation visit.

Program reviews are based on demonstrated alignment between key assessments and the endorsement area preparation standards. Educator preparation programs must detail how program candidates are prepared to know and be able to demonstrate content and pedagogical knowledge and skills.  All programs are examined through the program review process.

Review Process

A detailed description of the process for review of new programs and for renewal of continuing teacher education programs can also be found in Regulations 91-1-234 to 236 of the Regulations and Standards for Kansas Educators. 

Program approval falls into two categories – approval of new programs and renewal of currently approved programs. All new programs are Approved-with-Stipulation or Not Approved.

The status assigned to a continuing program is Approved, Approved-with-Stipulation, or Not Approved. The assignment of continued approved status to an educator preparation program is usually effective for seven academic years.

New and renewed programs that are Approved-with-Stipulation are considered to be approved but are required to have stipulations removed by a time set by KSBE.