Amends existing law to provide for nonpublic teacher preparation programs.

The purpose of teacher preparation programs is to produce individuals who are certified to teach in Idaho public schools. Everythreetofouryears,theStateBoardofEducationthroughtheProfessionalStandardsCommission conducts in-depth reviews of all teacher preparation programs, including those teacher preparation programs offered by private colleges, universities and nonprofit corporations even if the program does not receive any public funds. Though there is almost no guidance in statute, the reviews examine whether a teacher preparation program is fulfilling 178 core specific standards, and additional 64 standards in literacy and technology and up to 79 additional content specific standards for teaching a prospective teacher how to teach pursuant to administrative rule. This legislation puts sideboards around this process in statute, ensuring that the State Board of Education will grantateachingcertificatetoagraduateofanonpublicteacherpreparationprogramthatrequiresitsgraduatesto have a bachelor’s degree, complete a criminal background check, complete subject matter content training; and completetraininginpedagogy. Thecertificatesaretobeconsideredequaltothoseearnedthroughpublichigher education institutions. Reviews of the nonpublic teacher preparation programs will be limited to verification that graduates of the program are meeting the criteria for earning a teaching certificate as provided in this legislation.