Teacher-Prep Accrediting Groups to Merge

Move Could Lead to a More Rigorous Bar

The two national accreditation bodies for teacher education have approved plans to merge into a single organization, in what might mean a more rigorous bar for teacher preparation in the future.

Under the terms of the agreement , the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the much smaller Teacher Education Accreditation Council, both based in Washington, would initially continue to operate their activities separately as they flesh out a new body incorporated recently to serve as the sole accreditor for the field.

“A lot of people thought the time had come to present a more unified structure to the field—that it was a distraction to have two organizations viewed as antagonistic,” said Frank B. Murray, the president...