Accreditation
Relay is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Relay received initial accreditation from MSCHE in 2012, and Relay received reaffirmation of accreditation in 2017. Relay’s next comprehensive review is scheduled for 2025–2026 academic year.
Relay is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), 1140 19th St NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 223-0077, http://www.caepnet.org/. CAEP is a professional accreditor for educator preparation programs and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Relay received accreditation for its initial and advanced-level programs from CAEP in 2020 with no stipulations or areas for improvement.
State Authorization
New York
Relay was granted a charter in 2011 by the Board of Regents in the state of New York for its postsecondary education programs at its New York City campus. New York also serves as Relay’s home state for participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) as outlined in the subsequent section.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Relay was approved to participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) on May 31, 2018, by the New York State Education Department, which acts as the SARA State Portal Entity for the state of New York. SARA is a voluntary, interstate reciprocity agreement that establishes comparable standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education. As a result of Relay’s participation in SARA, Relay may offer distance education programs in SARA member states. SARA only applies to distance education and does not cover instruction provided on the ground at any Relay campus.
California
Relay Graduate School of Education is not required to be authorized by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to enroll California residents into its online programs pursuant to California Education Code (CEC) section 94801.5(c).
Colorado
Relay is authorized to operate and grant degrees in the state of Colorado by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
Connecticut
Relay is authorized to operate as an institution of higher learning in the state of Connecticut by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education.
Delaware
Relay has full approval for degree-granting authority by the Delaware Department of Education to offer courses, programs of courses, and/or degrees in the state of Delaware.
District of Columbia
Relay is licensed by the District of Columbia Higher Education Learning Commission to offer courses or instruction leading to the award of certificates, diplomas, or degrees in the District of Columbia.
Georgia
Relay Graduate School of Education is authorized under the nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990.
Illinois
Relay Graduate School of Education is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701-1377,, www.ibhe.org
Indiana
Relay is authorized to operate in the state of Indiana by the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education, 101 W Ohio Street, Suite 670, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1984.
Louisiana
Relay is currently licensed by the Board of Regents of the state of Louisiana. Licenses are renewed by the state Board of Regents every two years. Licensed institutions have met minimal operational standards set forth by the state, but licensure does not constitute accreditation, guarantee the transferability of credit, nor signify that programs are certifiable by any professional agency or organization.
New Jersey
Relay is licensed by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to offer programs in New Jersey.
Tennessee
Relay is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation of minimum standards concerning quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility.
Texas
Relay is legally authorized to operate and grant degrees in Texas by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
For more information about Relay’s authorizations, see Appendix A. To review accreditation and authorization documentation or to request information on contacting any agency that regulates the institution, email support@relay.edu.
Educator Preparation Program Approvals
Relay is a state-approved educator preparation program (EPP) provider in the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia*. Students located outside of these states may be able to enroll in and complete a Relay educator preparation program as an out-of-state certification/licensure candidate.
Professional organizations, societies, states, and licensing jurisdictions have specific requirements for membership, certification, or licensure. In the states in which Relay is an approved in-state educator preparation provider, Relay works to align Relay’s program(s) offered in the state to the state’s educational requirements for educator certification/licensure. Students should be aware that the professional organizations, societies, states, and licensing jurisdictions are responsible for defining, amending, and executing approval requirements and decisions for membership, certification, or licensure. Relay can provide the public-facing information for the professional organizations’, societies’, states’, and licensing jurisdictions’ requirements for membership, certification, or licensure. Relay can provide guidance regarding a state’s licensure requirements for states in which Relay is an approved in-state provider and to the students who seek licensure in the same state. Relay may not be able to provide assistance to a student regarding the interpretation or understanding of a state’s licensure requirements for states in which Relay is not an approved, in-state education preparation provider. Students intending to seek licensure of any type must take full responsibility for ensuring that their degree program at Relay meets the licensing requirements of their local states, school districts, professional associations, or agencies. See Relay’s Licensure Disclosures webpage for more information.
* Relay is in the initial stages of program revision approvals in Washington D.C. and Indiana. Due to the time required to receive the approvals, Relay will not accept new students into Relay’s Washington D.C. and Indiana in-state approved educator preparation programs for the Summer 2023-2024 cohorts. Students located in these areas may be eligible to enroll in and complete an educator preparation program at Relay as an out-of-state certification/licensure candidate.