Authorizing a special education pilot program that provides provisional accreditation to a private entity for the purpose of operating a special education teacher training program, allowing such entity to collect data from such program and providing requirements for full accreditation of such program.

Session of 2026
SENATE BILL No. 440
By Committee on Education
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AN ACT concerning education; relating to teacher training programs;
authorizing a special education training pilot program that provides
provisional accreditation to a private entity for the purpose of operating
a special education teacher training program; authorizing such entity to
collect data from such program; providing requirements for full
accreditation of such program; amending K.S.A. 72-2151 and repealing
the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. Notwithstanding K.S.A. 72-2151, and amendments
thereto, there is hereby authorized a special education teacher training pilot
program. The state board shall provisionally accredit a private entity to
operate such special education training pilot program for a period of two
years. As part of such pilot program, the private entity shall provide high-
quality instruction to teacher candidates who hold a bachelor's degree and
are seeking licensure as a special education teacher. The private entity may
collect data while operating such program. Upon completion of the pilot
program, the private entity may seek full accreditation pursuant to K.S.A.
72-2151(b), and amendments thereto.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 72-2151 is hereby amended to read as follows: 72-
2151. (a) Upon application of any college or , university , or other
postsecondary educational institution of like standing, incorporated under
the general laws of the state of Kansas, and requiring a four-year high-
school high school course or its equivalent thereof , as a condition of
admission, the state board of education shall have the power to examine
the course of study prescribed and the character of the work done by it;
and such institution. If, in the judgment of the state board, the course of
study and the character of the work done shall be of such standing as to
prepare prepares the graduates of such institution to teach successfully in
the public schools of this state, and if said such institution maintains a
department of education and in which the course of study prescribed
includes work in said department satisfactory to the state board, the state
board shall place such institution on the accredited list.
(b) Upon application of a private entity that was provisionally
accredited by the state board to operate a special education teacher
training pilot program as provided in section 1, and amendments thereto,
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SB 440 2
if, in the judgment of the state board, the course of study and character of
work in such pilot program prepares the participants in the pilot program
to teach special education successfully in the schools of this state, the state
board shall place such entity on the accredited list.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 72-2151 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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