Requires teacher education programs to provide credit hours and licensed teachers to participate in professional development regarding social and emotional learning and in social work

HB 1432 requires Missouri teacher education programs to include at least three credit hours of social and emotional learning (SEL) and three credit hours of social work in education coursework in their curriculum. It also mandates that all licensed public school teachers, principals, and educators complete at least three hours annually of SEL and social work training through in-person or self-directed professional development. Substitute teachers must complete a similar 20-hour online training program containing the same SEL and social work components. The bill directly affects teacher training institutions, current educators, and substitute teachers across Missouri public schools.