MO HB1949

State Board of Education shall establish standards and procedures to evaluate teacher training institutions and approve teacher education programs, without requiring national or regional accreditation as a prerequisite.

State Board of Education may accept national or regional accreditations in lieu of its own approval if those accreditations meet standards at least as stringent as those set by the board.

Establishes the "Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation" (MABEP) within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to advise the State Board of Education and Coordinating Board for Higher Education on educator preparation program quality.

Graduates from State Board-approved teacher education programs who meet other prescribed requirements shall receive a certificate or license to teach in Missouri public schools, without requiring program accreditation by national or regional accrediting associations.

Any rules created under this section must comply with Chapter 536 procedures and become subject to General Assembly review and approval authority.