One of the major areas of change currently affecting planning and policy in teacher education is the preservice and inservice preparation of educators for nonschool settings. Historically, institutional and organizational responses to the diverse educational needs of society have been legitimized in the classroom. However, changes in the educational needs of segments of society have resulted in alternative educational settings and methods. This change in direction and priority has led to the need for a new kind of educator who can perform many of the traditional teaching skills in diverse settings. Instead of adding courses to existing teacher education curricula to meet these needs, a transformation of the preservice education program is needed, with interdepartmental coordination to assure a wide variety of experience. In the future, successful lateral career movements for teachers will depend on: (1) the willingness of planners and policy makers to reassess the entire teacher education curriculum from the perspective of the needs of nonschool educators; (2) increased research on educational settings; (3) establishment of networks of educators in diverse educational specialties; and (4) development and support of admissions and certification criteria by state and national associations and teacher education institutions. (FG)