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Federal Law EnforcementTraining Accreditation

Overview

115-501 (CFO/OAC)

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• A process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.

• The act of granting credit or recognition (especially with respect to educational institutions that maintain suitable standards.)

Accreditation

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Background

• Early 1900s - a national effort to raise the level of policing in America through the establishment of training standards.

• The terms “competent, trained, and ethical” are behavioral expectations of all law enforcement officers.

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History1900 Start of effort to raise standards

1953 “Model Police Training Act”

1967 President’s Commission on Law Enforcement recommended each state establish a POST Commission

1979 CALEA established

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History1999 OMB directed federal L.E. community

2002 FLETA Board established; Office of Accreditation formalized

2005 First accreditations awarded

Today – Continual growth

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Serve the nation by promoting professionalism, excellence and

competence in training throughout the federal law enforcement community.

FLETA Vision

FLETA Strategic Plan 2012-2016, Accepted July 12, 2012

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• Enhance the quality of federal law enforcement by establishing and maintaining a body of standards to protect the effective and efficient use of resources for federal law enforcement training;

FLETA Mission

• Administer an accreditation process based on those standards to foster consistency in federal law enforcement training; and

• Ensure compliance and provide assistance with the accreditation process in order to instill public confidence in federal law enforcement.

FLETA Strategic Plan 2012-2016, Accepted July 12, 2012

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• Maintain a quality and efficient accreditation process.

FLETA Goals

FLETA Strategic Plan 2012-2016, Accepted July 12, 2012

• Maintain a clearinghouse of successful training practices.

• Increase awareness of, and commitment to the FLETA accreditation process by the law enforcement and training communities.

• Create and implement standards for e-learning.

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• FLETA Office of Accreditation (OA) facilitator and working arm for Board.

• OA receives direction from the FLETA Board on all accreditation matters and the conduct of FLETA Board business.

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Office of Accreditation

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Importance of Accreditation• Enhance public confidence in integrity,

professionalism, and accountability

• Provides assurance that an academy or program has voluntarily submitted to a self-regulation process.

• Demonstrates compliance with a set of standards established by the law enforcement community.

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Accreditation Benefits• Improves Training Quality

– Review of Training– Training Issues are Identified and Prioritized for

Correction– Identification of New Methods– Revision to Meet New Threats / Expectations / Etc.– Systematic Approach to Training

• Supports Organizational & Operational Success– Level of Training Directly Impacts Operations

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Accreditation Benefits• Minimizes Training Costs

– Identification & Removal of Duplication and Non-Essential Elements

– Identification of Existing Training for Use– Establishment of Joint-Training Agreements– Delivering the Right Training at the Right Time

• Minimizes Liabilities– Improved Training– Consistent & Improved Administrative Processes

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Accreditation Benefits• Increases Management Confidence

– Graduates Perform in an Acceptable & Legal Manner– Provides Senior Management a Training “Audit”– Supports Presidential Mandates – Efficiency

Reviews– Demonstrates Self-Regulation to OMB– Future Training Budget Support

• Increases Staff Confidence– Provides Accountability Tool for Training Staff– Provides Structure for Training Staff Development

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Accreditation Benefits• Supports Human Capital Goals

– Better Trained Employee = Greater Retention– Attracts High-Caliber Candidates– Attracts & Retains Training Staff

• Builds L.E. Alliances– Networking with Other Federal L.E. Agencies– Sharing of Information, Training Methods– Provides Benchmarking Opportunities– Better Able to Work Together Across Agency Lines

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Accreditation Benefits

• Elevates Training Priority– Requirements to Meet Set Standards– Recognition of the Importance of the Training Mission

• Benefits Commensurate With– Degree of Emphasis on the Process– Support from Senior Management– Staff Buy-in at All Levels

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Federal Law EnforcementTraining Accreditation

The Accreditation Process

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FLETA Process1. Application

2. Applicant Preparation

3. FLETA Assessment

4. FLETA Accreditation

5. Reaccreditation• Every 5 Years – New and Independent Review

FLETA

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Accreditation ProcessApplication

• Assign an Accreditation Manager (AM).

• Complete and submit the application to the OA. No costs associated Application remains in effect until accreditation

awarded or at the end of three years If application expires, new application required

• Identify and train personnel as assessors.

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Types of Accreditation

ProgramCourses or groups of training sessions or learning activities conducted for a specific audience, with the expectation that learning will occur and/or performance will improve, or that a prescribed level of proficiency will be achieved, as evidenced by an appropriate evaluation tool.

FLETA Board Minutes Nov. 17, 2011

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Types of Accreditation

Program• The recognition that a specific training

program is in compliance with all applicable FLETA program standards.

• 52 standards that must be met in: Program Administration Training Staff Training Development Training Delivery

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Types of AccreditationAcademy

• Recognition that an academy complied with all applicable FLETA standards.

• All basic programs and the basic instructor development program must have received FLETA accreditation before the academy can be considered.

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Types of ProgramsBasic

An entry-level program that is transitional to law enforcement service and provides training on critical competencies and responsibilities. Successful completion of a Basic Training Program is generally a requirement for appointment to a law enforcement service job or job series.

FLETA Board Minutes Nov. 17, 2011

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Types of ProgramsBasic Instructor Development

A foundational training program designed to prepare new instructors for full-time assignment to a training academy. The training should incorporate a number of instructional methodologies such as lectures, discussions, demonstrations, role-plays, facilitation, and practical exercises.

FLETA Board Minutes Nov. 17, 2011

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Accreditation ProcessApplicant Preparation

• Comparison/Gap analysis between policies/directives and FLETA Standards.

• Develop accreditation files (electronic or paper).

• Request N/A status from OA Executive Director for standards not applicable.

• Populate files with policies and evidence.

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Accreditation ProcessApplicant Preparation

• Schedule FLETA assessment with OA.

• Conduct self-assessment.

• If non-compliance found, develop & execute Corrective Action Plan (keep OA informed).

• Submit self-assessment certification to OA 60 days prior to FLETA assessment.

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Accreditation ProcessFLETA Assessment

• OA schedules, selects assessors, and coordinates.

• Agency provides space, access, and logistics.

• FLETA assessment team reviews and provides findings.

• If non-compliance identified, agency prepares and implements Corrective Action Plan.

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Accreditation ProcessFLETA Assessment

• Assessors prepare report for the OA.

• OA reviews report with assessors and agency, finalizes, and forwards to the FLETA Board Review Committee (BRC).

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Accreditation ProcessFLETA Accreditation

• BRC review final assessment report.

• Agency, assessment team leader, and the OA Program Manager appear before BRC.

• BRC prepares recommendation for the Board.

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Accreditation ProcessFLETA Accreditation

• Agency appears before the Board for decision.

• Agency submits annual reports on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries of the accreditation award.

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Accreditation ProcessReaccreditation

• New and independent review of program or academy.

• Agency submits an application for reaccreditation.

• Identifies and selects assessment dates in conjunction with the Office of Accreditation.

• Completes all steps of the process.

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Accreditation ProcessResources

• Identification of an AM and provide time and support to complete the process.

• Train staff at all levels in the FLETA process.

• Complete review of all directives/policies.

• Identify electronic vs. paper & project resources to support decision.

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Accreditation ProcessResources

• Provide personnel to serve as FLETA assessors.

• Attend Board meetings and other FLETA training opportunities.

• Sign up for RSS feeds on FLETA.gov.

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www.FLETA.gov

• Check for updates/news

• Download the Standards and Procedures Manual

• Download any appropriate forms/publications

• Stay up-to-date on meetings, events, and news

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Questions?The FLETA Office of Accreditation is

available to answer any questions, provide briefings and orientations to the process, and

provide training for training staff, accreditation managers and assessors.

http://www.fleta.govFLETA@dhs.gov