Request for Initial Approval Program: Rule 8705.2100
Process
Preparation provider submits RIPA application.
PELSB staff conducts an initial audit for: SEP Title Alignment, scope of license, reporting year, double counting of hours with SEP or connected application, methods experience, required reading, field experience hours, student teaching weeks, admission criteria, key assessments assessing specific content standards and monitoring progress throughout the program, exit criteria, signed fiscal attestation, p-12 school partners, current teachers in content area, and program leader qualifications.
The provider may need to make changes or resubmit with a discretionary variance request.
Two content reviewers check to make sure that the intent, full breadth and depth, and all aspects of the teacher standards are taught and assessed within the program. Reviewers check to see if information reported in the matrices or excel spreadsheet is validated by the syllabi or accompanying documentation. If all standards are met, skip to step 10. If standards are not met, go to step 5 or 8.
Provider has an opportunity to respond to reviewer comments and make changes.
If RIPA submission is early enough, there can be a second content review where all standards found to be "not met" and "met with concern" are reviewed again.
Provider can offer justification of how "not met" and "met with concern" standards are met.
The Program Review Panel (PRP) reviews the program application and makes a recommendation.
The Teacher Preparation Committee reviews the PRP recommendation and makes a recommendation to the full Board.
The Board makes a decision whether the program is initially approved.
For RIPAs and revised PERCAs, PELSB solicits the help of content experts, educators whose academic preparation and teaching experience in a particular field aligns to that of the program being review. Content experts review the evidence submitted by a program, most often syllabi and/or course outlines, and make a finding as to whether each of the applicable teacher standards in an application is "met," "met with concern" or "not met". For a standard to be “Met,” there must be evidence of the following:
Intent: Does the course content, learning activities, and assessments align with the intent of the standard?
Full Standard: Is the full standard addressed through the learning activity(ies) and assessment(s) specified (not just one aspect of the standard)?
Breadth and depth: Is the breadth and depth of the standard able to be addressed through the identified activities/courses? Are too many standards overloaded into a single course or learning task?
Syllabi Verification: Do the syllabi validate what is reported in the matrix?
For RIPA applications undergoing a second review, consider these recommendations:
Use a different font color or highlight changes in the syllabus to allow reviewers to easily identify additional or changed information.
Upload a document with brief descriptions of changes made as a response to the first reviewers' findings.
Special Education RIPA Guidance
Guidance for meeting the pedagogy standards of MN Rule 8710.2000, the special education core standards of MN rule 8710.5000, and the specific SPED disability area as in MN rules 8710.5050 through 5850.
Timeline
Submission by August 31 - Recommended for a fall start date of the following year. There is time for two external reviews and two Program Review Panel (PRP) reviews, if needed.
Submission before December 31 - During this time, priority is given to the review of PERCAS and the RIPAs submitted by August 31. If time allows, new RIPAs will be processed, and only the April or May PRP evaluation will be possible. Therefore, there is no assurance that the review will be completed in time for launch in the fall.
Submission after December 31 - RIPAs may be submitted, but they will only be reviewed if time allows. They may be reviewed as late as July when the new RIPA window commences.
NOTE: If a program has standards that are found to be "not met" or "met with concern" or have an attached discretionary variance request must be reviewed by the PRP and Teacher Preparation Committee prior to Board action.
Reviewers
If you would like to be a program reviewer, please complete this application.
