TESOL to No Longer Serve as SPA for CAEP Accreditation

by TESOL International Association |

Like many organizations, TESOL International Association (TESOL) is facing enormous challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn in the English education sector. As a result, the TESOL Board of Directors made a number of difficult decisions in order to keep the Association financially sustainable. 

In light of these conversations and current budget constraints, TESOL International Association will no longer serve as a SPA for CAEP accreditation of TESOL programs

This decision does not mean that TESOL is abandoning holding these standards for TESOL teacher education programs at colleges and universities. The Association is committed to always holding these standards, convening task forces to update them as necessary, and continuously sharing them with higher education institutions. 

TESOL has long valued its higher education community. To this end, the Association will seek to routinely engage the higher education community through the Higher Education Interest Section and other TESOL Interest Sections dedicated to teacher education, while showcasing their work at future TESOL Conventions.

For programs already in the SPA review process, TESOL is committed to completing their review cycle. If a program is currently preparing a response to conditions outlined in a previous review, they should continue to prepare their documentation, and their program will be reviewed during the cycle indicated in their program report. All initial SPA TESOL Program reviews, however, have been suspended.

Finally, it is important for TESOL to acknowledge the possibility of revisiting this issue in the future. While it is currently in the Association’s best interest to move forward with this difficult decision, TESOL may revisit serving as a SPA in the future.

TESOL thanks its many members of the higher education community for their deep and abiding commitment to the training of future TESOL professionals. The Association stands in appreciation and strong support for all that they have done, and will continue to do.

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