By RICK CALLAHAN

Associated Press Writer

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana schools chief Tony Bennett on Tuesday dismissed criticism of his plan to revamp the state's teacher licensing standards, saying some in higher education oppose it because they fear how they eventually could be impacted.

Bennett told members of the Indiana Education Roundtable, an advisory group that includes lawmakers, educators and business leaders, that his proposed changes are needed to help bring more top-notch teachers into Indiana's schools.

"We have to have a newer method of preparing our teachers," he told the gathering.

The roundtable met one day after representatives of several education colleges offered scathing criticism of Bennett's proposals at the last of three public hearings on the matter.

They said the plan had been inadequately researched, would not improve the quality of the state's teachers, was moving along too quickly and urged the state to slow things down.

Bennett rejected that criticism at Tuesday's meeting.