Educator Preparation Information

Highlights 

  • Educator Preparation Literacy Initiatives – the Educator Preparation Section of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Educator Preparation Providers (EPP) across the state have worked to ensure that Educator Preparation in Missouri is aligned with DESE’s Read, Lead, Exceed Project.
  • DEWEY Award Winners Announced - The DEWEY Awards provide 15 EPPs with $70,000 and 5 2-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) with $45,000 each. The selected winners’ proposals look to increase the number of teacher candidates in teacher preparation programs and/or strengthen support for current candidates in order to increase retention in teacher preparation programs
  • 2024 First-Year Educator Survey Results – Each spring first-year teachers, counselors, and principals are asked to complete a survey assessing how well their preparation programs prepared them for their first year in the new job. In addition, the supervisors of those educators are asked similar questions. Learn more about the surveys and the Spring 2024 results by following the link.
General Information 
Expectations of Missouri Educator Preparation Providers and Certification Candidates
  • Statutes - Legislation related to educator preparation
    • Statute 116.097 - Evaluation of Teacher Education Program - Rulemaking Authority
    • Code of State Regulations - 5 CSR 20-400.– Regulations related to EPP approval and accreditation, as well as candidate certification requirements
    • Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators (MoSPE) – Expectations of Missouri EPPs. Document is incorporated by reference in 5 CSR 20-400.440.
    • Missouri Teacher Standards. Expectations of Missouri teachers. Document includes a continuum with different levels. Teacher candidates are expected to meet the “Emerging”-level competencies by completion of their preparation program. The student teaching performance assessment (MEES), the First-Year Teacher Surveys, and the APR-EPP are all aligned with these standards.
    • Missouri School Counselor Standards. Expectations of Missouri school counselors. Document includes a continuum with different levels. School counselor candidates are expected to meet the “Pre-Service Counselor”- level competencies by completion of their preparation program. The performance assessment, the First-Year Counselor Surveys, and the APR-EPP are all aligned with these standards.
    • Missouri Principal Standards. Expectations of Missouri school principals. Document includes a continuum with different levels. Principal candidates are expected to meet the “Aspiring”- level competencies by completion of their preparation program. The performance assessment, the First-Year Principal Surveys, and the APR-EPP are all aligned with these standards.
    • Missouri Superintendent Standards. Expectations of Missouri superintendents. Document includes a continuum with different levels. Superintendent candidates are expected to meet the “Aspiring”- level competencies by completion of their preparation program. The performance assessment, the First-Year Superintendent Surveys, and the APR-EPP are all aligned with these standards.
Proposed Rule Changes
Grants and Awards

Missouri DEWEY Awards
The Missouri DEWEY Awards were part of the Grow Your Own initiative that will not be funded for the 2025-26 year. 

EPP Quality Assurance
  • Annual Performance Report and Fall Data Collection - Comprehensive Guides, submission templates, and data Resources
  • Title II - Title II Homepage, Timeline, Instruction Manual, and Sample Data Collection Worksheet
  • First-Year Educator Surveys. Surveys completed by first-year educators (teachers, administrators, counselors, etc.) and their supervisors
  • National Accreditation - Information related to Missouri's relationship with national accreditors, the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
Educator Candidate Assessment
Literacy Initiatives 
State Advisory Groups Related to Educator Preparation
  • Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP)
    • The Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) advises the State Board of Education and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and foster meaningful and substantial collaboration and transparency among all stakeholders in the interest of improving the quality of teacher preparation in Missouri.
  • Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators (MACCE)
    • The Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators is composed of 25 members to be appointed by the State Board of Education upon recommendation of the commissioner of education.  Of the 25 members, at least 15 must be active public school classroom teachers.
  • Missouri Technical Advisory Committee (MoTAC)
    • The Missouri Technical Advisory Committee (MoTAC) advises DESE in regard to the technical aspects of assessment processes and instruments related to Educator Preparation in Missouri, including but not limited to validity, reliability, and fairness.
Educator Preparation Certification Program Changes
Teacher Workforce