SECTION 712:10-5-2. Structure of Accreditation Committees

(a)   A Program Accreditation Committee (PAC) of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation carries out the responsibilities for overseeing the accreditation or continuing accreditation of institution teacher education programs. Committee members shall be selected by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and approved by Commission membership to serve on such a committee. Except for the Commission Executive Director and program(s) subject matter experts, the initial term of membership shall be two years.

(1)   Members shall have completed training related to state and NCATE accreditation and any other training deemed appropriate by the Commission.

(2)   Membership shall be comprised of:

(A)   A minimum of three Commission members who are not members of either an Accreditation Team or the Appeals Board;

(i)   The Commission chair shall appoint PAC Chair(s) from the Commission members appointed to the PAC.

(B)   Two pre-K-12 classroom teachers;

(C)   The PAC chair(s) shall serve on the Commission Administrative Committee.

(D)   Two teacher educators whose institutions will not be reviewed during the two-year term of appointment;

(E)   One PK-12 public school administrator nominated by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(F)   One superintendent from an areavocational school shall be nominated by the State Director of Career and Technology Education;

(G)   Two arts and science faculty; one from a four year institution and one from a community college shall be nominated by the Chancellor for Higher Education; and

(H)   The Commission Director of Program Accreditation shall serve in an advisory capacity.

(3)   A minimum of two PAC members may be reappointed to additional terms to allow for continuity.

(4)   Discretion and ethical judgment shall be used in making recommendations.

(5)   Meeting dates shall be established in compliance with the following criteria:

(A)   The PAC shall schedule a minimum of four meeting dates per academic year

(B)   Other meetings shall be held as needed.

(C)   Institutions with proposed units and programs for evaluation shall be notified of meeting dates four weeks in advance. Representatives from the institution(s) are encouraged to attend the meetings.

(6)   Responsibilities and authority of the PAC shall be:

(A)   Recognizing the status of all programs at each institution annually.

(B)   Reviewing the Accreditation Team Report, reviewing the NCATE Unit Accreditation Board recommendations and recommending program accreditation status to the Commission;

(C)   Following all procedures outlined in 712:10-5-1(e);

(D)   Recommending to the Commission changes in administrative rules, regulations, policies and procedures;

(E)   Ensuring training for all accreditation review team members and PAC members;

(F)   Carryingout a systematic review and development of the standards by which programs are approved;

(G)   Monitoring the performance of accreditation review team members; and

(H)   Recommending training needs for accreditation review team members, institution faculty members, and PAC members.

(b)   The Program Review Advisory Board (PRAB) shall provide consultation related to program reviews. The PRAB shall make final reviews on all program reports and make recommendations on program status for all non-NCATE institutions and for program areas not associated with an NCATE-recognized learned society. Program reviews will take place in conjunction with the college's/university's accreditation cycle, occurring according to the established NCATE/or OCTP timeline as applicable.

(1)   Members of the Program Review Advisory Board (PRAB) shall be approved by the Program Accreditation Committee.

(2)   The Program Review Advisory Board (PRAB) members shall serve an initial term of two years.

(3)   Two or more of the Program Review Advisory Board (PRAB) members may be reappointed to additional terms to allow for continuity.

(4)   Members shall have completed training on the program review process.

(5)   Discretion and ethical judgment shall be used in making recommendations.

(6)   The Program Review Advisory Board (PRAB) shall be comprised of trained reviewers in specific subject areas from the following groups:

(A)   Practicing PK-12 classroom teachers

(B)   Practicing PK-12 administrators

(C)   Higher education faculty members

(c)   The Commission Director of Program Accreditation or designee shall chair the Program Review Advisory Board (PRAB) committee.

[Source: Added at 14 Ok Reg 3198, eff 7-25-97; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 3238, eff 8-11-00; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 416, eff 11-21-00 (emergency); Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3131, eff 7-12-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2449, eff 6-27-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 227, eff 10-11-02 (emergency); Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2186, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 2633, eff 7-11-05; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 1334, eff 11-1-09; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1613, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1851, eff 7-1-11; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 840, eff 7-1-12]