The Office of Teacher Education (OTE) was established in 2022 to support Bemidji State University’s many teacher preparation programs. While multiple schools across campus deliver the content and methods coursework needed for teacher preparation, the OTE unites all BSU programs that lead to teacher licensure and serves to ensure the following:
- Each BSU education program meets or exceeds Minnesota’s Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) requirements
- Teacher candidates have knowledgeable advisors to guide them through their coursework
- Teacher candidates receive qualifying placements for field experience and student teaching
- Teacher candidates receive guidance throughout the edTPA assessment
- Teacher candidates receive assistance with the Minnesota teacher licensure application process
- Data is collected and used to continuously improve our programs and ensure accreditation by state and national accreditation bodies
- School Partners, Cooperating Teachers, Mentors, and University Supervisors from across the State are actively engaged in teacher training and program improvement at BSU
Accreditation
Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation
National accreditation assures the quality of professional preparation programs through a nongovernmental, nonregulatory process of self-study and peer review. This standards- and evidence-based process serves two broad aims: accountability and continuous improvement. In AAQEP’s system, the process is also designed to honor local context and foster innovation and collaboration among institutions.
Founded in 2017, AAQEP is a quality assurance agency that provides accreditation services to all types of educator preparation providers. The association promotes excellent, effective and innovative educator preparation that is committed to evidence-based improvement and that enjoys a high degree of community engagement and public confidence. Visit aaqep.org for more information.
- AAQEP Annual Report: December 2024
- AAQEP Annual Report: December 2023
- AAQEP Annual Report: December 2022
- AAQEP Annual Report: December 2021
- AAQEP Annual Report: December 2020
- AAQEP Annual Report: May 2020
Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.
The HLC mission statement is “Serving the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning.”
Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) has approved programs at Bemidji State University leading to teacher licensure in a variety of areas. PELSB, formerly the Minnesota Board of Teaching, provides leadership for improvements in teacher education programs in order to assure that the state has well-qualified, professional teachers. More information is available on the Minnesota PELSB website.
PELSB provides a list of state-approved teacher preparation programs, searchable by institution and content area. To view PELSB-approved BSU licensure programs, enter “Bemidji” in the “Provider” field.
The following BSU teacher preparation programs are currently approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
- Career and Technical Education: Communications Technology (K-12)
- Career and Technical Education: Construction (K-12)
- Communication Arts/Literature (5-12)
- Communication Arts/Literature Middle Level (5-8: Endorsement Only)
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- DAPE (K-12: Endorsement Only)
- Health (5-12)
- Mathematics (5-12)
- Mathematics Middle Level (5-8: Endorsement Only)
- Music: Instrumental (K-12)
- Music: Vocal (K-12)
- Physical Education (K-12)
- PrePrimary (Age 3-PreK: Endorsement Only)
- Science: Chemistry (9-12)
- Science: Earth/Space (9-12)
- Science: General Science (5-8)
- Science Middle Level (5-8: Endorsement Only)
- Science: Life Science (9-12)
- Science: Physics (9-12)
- Social Studies (5-12)
- Social Studies Middle Level (5-8: Endorsement Only)
- Special Education: ASD (B-12)
- Special Education: EBD (K-12)
- Special Education: SLD (K-12)
- Visual Arts (K-12)
Contact
Amanda Chesley
Assistant Director of Accreditation and Assessment for Teacher Education