The Inquiry Brief or Inquiry Brief Proposal is about a single program, but, in the TEAC system, a single program may include several license areas, options, and levels if they share a common logic, structure, quality control system, and similar and comparable categories of evidence. Thus, if an institution has two or more education programs, some or all of them might be submitted for accreditation with a Brief as a single program. In cases where the state requires that all education programs be accredited, the faculty should use the criteria below to determine whether to bundle some or all of the institution's programs as a single program for accreditation or treat them separately in the Inquiry Brief or Inquiry Brief Proposal. Faculty should consider the programs' similarities and the comparability of the evidence for their outcomes:

• Program structure. Those programs that have essentially the same requirements, rationale, logic, and faculty can be presented in a single Brief.
  
• Quality control system. Programs that share the same quality control system can usually be presented in a single Brief.
  
• Evidence. If the program faculty can aggregate the evidence for the outcome of these programs honestly, then the programs can be presented in a single Brief.

Even if the programs are registered with the state separately or lead to different professional licenses, they can nevertheless be bundled as a single program for TEAC accreditation if they satisfy the conditions above. They would be treated as a single program, but one that has multiple options, areas, levels, and license outcomes.

If the institution's education programs are dissimilar in their underlying logic or in the nature of the evidence for the TEAC quality principles, the institution must submit separate Briefs for each distinct program.

Moreover, faculty and program administrators must consider evidence of program quality in deciding whether or not to bundle programs. TEAC will review for accreditation only those professional education programs for which the institution has evidence to support its claims. It is possible, therefore, that some of the institution’s teacher education programs would have TEAC accreditation and others would not. Those that do not would simply remain unaccredited, and the institution would have to accept the consequences of their status. TEAC does not allow weak programs to be represented in an Inquiry Brief or Inquiry Brief Proposal. Programs that cannot provide convincing evidence should not benefit undeservedly from their association with programs that have solid evidence and have earned accreditation.

Note that TEAC’s protocol agreements with most states require that the institution submit all its education programs for accreditation review. (See TEAC's relationship with states, other accreditors, and professional associations.)


Return to Inquiry Brief and Inquiry Brief Proposal