November 29, 2011
Angela Khashafyan
Bell Language School
1535 McDonald Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11230
Thank you for submitting the Statement of Interest and Eligibility for the Bell Language School. We have reviewed the application and have found that the program meets the eligibility requirements to seek accreditation by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). CEA invites you to begin the process.
I would suggest that you review the standards, especially those in the areas of curriculum and student achievement before attending the workshop. The eligibility application asks that you: Provide a curriculum overview such as a scope and sequence document or other document that includes course objectives and student learning outcomes for all courses and levels. If you have more than one curricular track (academic, general or other) please provide a curricular overview for each. I was able to find an curricular objectives for the courses that you offer in the materials that you submitted, but was unable to find student learning outcomes, statements of what a student will be able to do upon the completion of the course or level. CEA standards require that a curriculum include student learning outcomes that are 1) in line with course objectives, 2) are written, observable, measurable, and 3) are able to be expressed in terms of academic readiness or practical applications.
The next step is attendance at a required accreditation workshop, which includes a discussion of accreditation in general, CEA procedures, the self-study process, and writing the self-study report. A lot of time is spent discussing the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions, which form the basis for review.
Since much of the workshop focuses directly on how to carry out the self-study and respond to the standards, CEA requires that a self-study coordinator, the person who will lead the self-study process, attend the workshop. The self-study coordinator is responsible for several activities: organizing faculty and staff into self-study teams; setting the timeline for the self-study process, and submitting the self-study plan (due within 3 months of the workshop); facilitating the self-study process; communicating with CEA as issues arise; compiling the final self-study report (due within 18 months of the workshop); and working with CEA to carry out the site visit. CEA recommends that the director not be the self-study coordinator because of the time it takes. The director or others are welcome to attend a workshop, however, to be informed. The next workshop will be held March 26 – 27, 2012 at the TESOL Convention in Philadelphia.
Attending a CEA workshop implies that the site is ready to begin the review process. Enclosed is a workshop registration form. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about next steps.
We look forward to working with you and your staff throughout the accreditation process.
Sincerely,
Kristen Wyckoff, Accreditation Manager
Attachment: Workshop registration