The State Board of Education has voted 9-2 yesterday in favor of changing the teacher licensing requirements to allow college graduates to obtain a teaching license without completing many teacher training programs.

The rule changes were supported by outgoing Republican state schools superintendent Tony Bennett.

Incoming superintendent Glenda Ritz had asked the board to delay action until after she takes office next month. Supporters disagreed with claims the changes would hurt teacher quality and say local school districts would still control whom they hire as teachers.