The Show-Me Institute finds some good news coming out of the Missouri Legislature: A bill likely to become law would make it easier for working professionals to become public school teachers.

The new law will allow people who pass an exam administered by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence to teach in public schools. This route still takes up to a year, but at least it's an alternative to the schools of education.

States that currently accept the "Passport to Teaching" program as a qualification include Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Utah. Grade levels and subject matter vary by state.