Board approves Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation as national accreditor

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board voted April 25 to adopt the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) as an approved national accrediting body for Minnesota educator preparation providers under AAQEP’s recently updated standards.

Board staff presented a summary noting that AAQEP (referred to in prior materials as the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation) has updated its standards in 2024 and that AAQEP has received new Minnesota providers since initial approval. Staff explained that, under board rule, an accreditor must return to PELSB for reapproval when it changes its standards.

Board members discussed whether approvals should be time‑limited or automatically revisited when the accreditor changes standards; staff and members noted current rule language requires reaccreditor reapproval when standards change. Board member comments supported reapproval while preserving staff and board review in the event of future accreditor standard changes.

The motion to adopt AAQEP as a national accreditor passed with board members voting in favor of approving AAQEP’s reapproval under its updated standards; one board member noted a potential conflict and indicated willingness to abstain if a conflict existed. The board chair announced the motion passed and that staff will track future standard changes per rule.

Why it matters: National accreditors set standards used by educator preparation programs. Board approval allows Minnesota programs accredited by AAQEP to satisfy PELSB program‑approval expectations under the board’s rules.

Next steps: PELSB staff will notify AAQEP and affected Minnesota providers of the reapproval and continue to monitor and require reapproval when accreditor standards change under board rule.