Gov. Mark Dayton says he's reached a compromise with Republican legislative leaders on a bill that would make it easier for prospective teachers to get licensed.

But Education Minnesota, the teachers union, still doesn't like it, saying it may soon lower standards for teachers in Minnesota classrooms.

In a letter to Republican leaders, Dayton says he'll sign the compromise legislation working its way through the Legislature.

While he doesn't like all of it — and says the other side doesn't, either — Dayton said he accepts the differences in order to reach the main objective: "to pass reforms that will close the achievement gap and raise the educational standard for all Minnesota school children."

In particular, Dayton said he wished the bill, SF 40, had "a more direct link to higher education, as the oversight for new programs."

But he said the compromise offers three positive things: It creates "a true alternative pathway program to address projected teacher shortages; it assures well-prepared teacher candidates with content expertise and it should increase teacher diversity."

Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said in a statement that he's disappointed in the compromise:

"The key to better teaching does not lie in making it easier to become a teacher. Our society does not address issues relating to doctors, attorneys, electricians or any other professional in such a manner.

"Education Minnesota believes that alternatively licensed teachers should have a significant, ongoing student teaching experience under the direct supervision of an experienced educator, to make sure they are fully ready to teach children.

"We also believe that it is reasonable and responsible to require that a teacher have a college degree in the field they will teach.

"And we believe that any group training people to be teachers should be required to work in partnership with a higher education institution that specializes in teacher training. None of these things are included in the bill."