By: Erik Pedersen, Senior Communications Manager

BALTIMORE – Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Education received full seven-year accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), recognizing its continuing excellence in preparing educators to reach their highest potential in the profession.

CAEP, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement.

“One of the most meaningful aspects of the CAEP accreditation process is the opportunity to come together as a school to engage in reflection and self-study while we celebrate areas of excellence and identify opportunities for improvement that will make the School of Education stronger, more effective, and more able to meet the increasing needs of changing educator and student populations,” said Dr. Kathryn Doherty, dean of NDMU’s School of Education. “By aligning ourselves with national standards and benchmarks, we can best achieve the school and University mission to serve our communities and transform lives through education.”

NDMU’s bachelor's, master's, and certification programs received accreditation based on CAEP Accreditation Standards. Those standards are based on two principles: solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators and solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff can create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

NDMU’s School of Education provides innovative, relevant education to aspiring teachers, with undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates, accelerated offerings, and more programs in teacher-shortage fields (STEM, TESOL, Gifted and Talented, Special Education) than any other Maryland university. The school also offers two Ph.D. programs for individuals looking to receive executive-level education to enhance their leadership, knowledge and practitioner skills.

School of Education alumni and students are consistently honored for their professional accomplishments in the field. Recent accolades during the current calendar year include the 2022-23 Baltimore County Teacher of the Year, the 2022 Maryland Assistant Principal of the Year, the Maryland History Day Middle School Teacher of the Year, and a $30,000 award from the CIA to promote STEAM education at a local Baltimore school.

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.