D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-A, § 1704
1704.1 An educator preparation provider or subject area program shall submit to OSSE an application for state approval in such a form as OSSE may prescribe.
1704.2 Except as permitted in Section 1704.8, an educator preparation provider shall submit evidence of accreditation by an external accreditor. If the provider is accredited, OSSE shall make an approval determination based on the provider's accreditation status and information that the education preparation provider submits in its application.
1704.3 An application for state approval of an educator preparation provider shall include the following:
for state approval and the reasons for the revocation or other action limiting the authorization, license, or approval; and
(g) Such other information as OSSE may reasonably require to render an approval determination.
1704.4 Except as provided in Section 1704.9, a subject area program shall submit documentation that the program is recognized by a specialized professional association (SPA). If the program is recognized by the applicable SPA, OSSE shall make an approval determination based on the recognition by the SPA and information that the subject area program submits in its application.
1704.5 An application for state approval of a subject area program shall include the following:
(6) Any revocation or other action limiting the recognition, license, or approval that occurred during the five (5) years preceding application for state approval and the reasons for the revocation or other action limiting the recognition, license, or approval; and
(g) Such other information as OSSE may reasonably require to render an approval determination.
1704.6 An elementary education subject area program, early childhood education subject area program, special education subject area program, reading subject area program, and any other subject area program preparing educator candidates with primary responsibility for literacy instruction shall be required to demonstrate to OSSE that its candidates are required to complete coursework that addresses competency and requires candidates to demonstrate competency in each of the five (5) components (phonemic awareness, phonics, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension) of scientifically-based reading instruction.
1704.7 A subject area program that does not operate within an educator preparation provider shall submit evidence to OSSE that it operates within an IHE and has notified the educator preparation provider operating within that IHE. The subject area program and IHE shall submit a written agreement to OSSE that will govern in the event of a closure of the subject area program. This agreement shall address how the subject area program and IHE will meet data collection and reporting requirements included in this chapter after closure of the program.
1704.8 An educator preparation provider may request state review by OSSE if the provider is an alternate route organization or institution that does not have accreditation by an external accreditor and either:
(a) Operates solely in the District of Columbia; or
(b) Can demonstrate that fifty percent (50%) or more of its program completers are employed by local educational agencies in the District of Columbia per year, in each of the three (3) years preceding submission of the application.
1704.9 A subject area program may request state review by OSSE if either:
(a) A specialized professional association does not exist for the subject area program; or
(b) The educator preparation provider in which the subject area program operates is an alternate route organization or institution that
meets one of the conditions set forth in 1704.8.
1704.10 The purpose of a state review is for OSSE to determine whether the educator preparation provider or subject area program meets the same or comparable standards to those established by an external accrediting body, a specialized professional association, or other OSSE standards, as applicable.1704.11 OSSE shall adopt standards for purposes of determining the approval status of an educator preparation provider or subject area program during a state review, as follows:- (a) In the case of an educator preparation provider, OSSE shall adopt the standards established by an external accrediting body and make those standards publicly available; and
- (b) In the case of a subject area program for which a specialized professional association does not exist, OSSE shall adopt the same or comparable standards to those established by a specialized professional association and make those standards publicly available.1704.12 A state review shall include:- (a) The designation of a review team by OSSE, which shall have external peer reviewers and other persons as determined by OSSE;
- (b) Examination of documentary evidence by the review team;
- (c) A virtual or on-site visit by the review team;
- (d) Preparation of a report by OSSE, which shall contain the review team's recommendation for state approval;
- (e) Submission of OSSE's report to the educator preparation provider or subject area program, as applicable;
- (f) An opportunity for the education preparation provider or subject area program, as applicable, to submit a written response setting forth any factual errors and any available documentation to support its claims of factual errors;
- (g) Review by the review team of each response submitted by the educator preparation provider or subject area program, as applicable, and submission by the review team of amendments to the OSSE report, as determined necessary by the review team; and
(h) Review by OSSE of the review team’s amendments to the report and a determination by OSSE to accept or reject the review team’s recommendation.
1704.13 OSSE shall approve or deny the application and provide written notice of the decision to the educator preparation provider or subject area program.
SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 69 DCR 007389 (June 24, 2022).