Conference committee restores "accredited and nonaccredited" language to teacher-certification bill, adopts enrollment language

A conference committee for the 2025 General Session unanimously approved an amendment to a teacher-certification bill to restore language specifying that both accredited and nonaccredited alternative-certification providers may be considered, and added language that an applicant may qualify "if the applicant is enrolled in or has completed" an alternative certification program or pathway.

The change, advanced by a motion in committee and approved without recorded opposition, clarifies how the bill would treat providers under the so-called Option 7 exception authorization and mirrors language committee members said appears in the existing Option 7 policy. Committee members said the amendment is intended to preserve local board discretion while ensuring the committee's intent is explicit in the conference report.

Committee members debated whether restoring the accredited/nonaccredited language would lower standards for teacher candidates. Senator Olson, a member of the conference committee, said the panel must ensure a "level playing field" but stressed caution about "lower[ing] the bar" for students, saying, "I want to do right by our kids. I don't wanna lower the bar." Other members said the amendment simply clarifies language that already gives the state board discretion to accept different pathways.

Members discussed background policy context: the committee referenced an EA exception program created in 2023 and put into effect in 2024, and noted Option 7 as an existing pathway for certification. Committee members said they had identified several national providers that operate in multiple states; one member said three providers had been identified and another said she had found "7 or 8 different companies" used in other states, and that some operate in "at least 10 other states." Those figures were presented as committee members' observations during debate.

A motion was made and seconded to restore the accredited and nonaccredited language; the committee then voted to adopt that motion and later approved a related cleanup to delete the phrase "after successful completion of" and insert the phrase "if the applicant is enrolled in or has completed an alternative certification program or pathway" at the bill's page 2, line 18. Committee members said the enrolled/has-completed wording was taken directly from existing Option 7 language and was intended to allow districts to hire applicants who are still enrolled in a pathway as well as those who have finished it.

Committee members also discussed whether the amendment would be in order in a conference committee and asked Legislative Service Office staff (LSO) for guidance; the committee proceeded after members concluded the change was within the two positions being negotiated. Committee members said attorneys would draft a conference report and the paperwork would be circulated for signatures before sending the file on for final processing; committee staff characterized the measure as a senate file.

The committee did not adopt any language expanding state accreditation requirements or create a new state accreditation process; members noted that many private providers are not tied to a university and that some providers told committee members accreditation through a university process would be difficult or impossible. Committee members emphasized that the bill leaves the Wyoming Teacher Certification Board discretion to accept or decline particular pathways.

The committee recorded the motion and unanimous approval and directed staff to have attorneys draft the conference report for signatures and transmission.