A spike in uncertified teacher hiring that spurred state legislation last year is finally leveling off.
Texas public schools hired uncertified teachers at a slightly lower rate in 2024-25 — about 30% of educators, down from 32.5% the prior school year — for the first time since a sudden burst that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, state data shows.
The small dip marks a reversal of recent trends that worried state lawmakers and education leaders, though hiring rates of uncertified teachers are still triple pre-pandemic levels. Teachers must obtain a bachelor’s degree, complete a preparation program and pass a licensing exam to earn certification.
Researchers at the University of Texas have found students across grade levels and subjects learn less from uncertified teachers compared to educators certified through traditional university programs. Texas Education Agency data also shows about 60% of uncertified teachers leave the public education workforce within five years, compared to about 40% of teachers certified through universities or alternative programs.
In response to the recent rise, Texas lawmakers last year enacted legislation that requires traditional independent school districts to employ certified teachers in core subjects — math, reading, science and social studies — no later than the 2027-28 school year, though districts can get a two-year extension on the deadline. Legislators also set aside money — potentially totaling about $150 million, according to the Texas Education Agency — for districts that develop teacher preparation and certification programs.
The legislation builds on various state, district and nonprofit initiatives that aim to encourage more people to enter the profession and ease the path to certification. Investments in those programs have increased in recent years, though not enough to undo the spike in uncertified teacher hiring.
“It’s going to be regional coordination and, really, local work that needs to happen across each one of the districts to reimagine how they show up into this new space,” said Houston Endowment Education Program Officer Carlos Villagrana, whose organization works with many of the region’s largest districts and colleges on teacher preparation initiatives. “I think we’re starting to see glimpses of that.”
A rapid rise
For the first half of the 2010s, uncertified teachers were a last resort for many school districts, accounting for roughly 5% of new hires.
Since then, though, several factors have contributed to the surge in uncertified teacher hiring.
Texas lawmakers in 2015 allowed independent school districts to opt out of certain state education laws, including most teacher certification requirements, via the “District of Innovation” designation. In 2023, the Houston Chronicle reported about 90% of Texas independent school districts had exempted themselves from certification laws.
Across the state, Texas education leaders also reported a shrinking pool of certified teacher candidates, as fewer people entered the profession and completed the required training programs.
Several of Houston’s largest districts have held steady on employing certified teachers, with more than 90% of new hires holding the credential.
But several other districts, most of which primarily serve economically disadvantaged students, have struggled to compete. Certified educators accounted for only 40% to 60% of new hires in those districts in 2024-25.
Tackling the challenge
The lack of certified teachers has unnerved educators, policymakers and advocates alike.
In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott’s Teacher Vacancy Task Force issued several recommendations aimed to increase the pool of certified teachers. They included waiving certification exam fees, increasing minimum pay for certified educators in hard-to-staff subjects, and providing funding for programs that help recent graduates and paraprofessionals get certified.
State lawmakers responded in 2025 by passing the core subject requirements and offering funding to districts that employ one of five state-approved strategies for boosting teacher preparation and certification. Large districts can earn up to $1.6 million in state support for their programs.
In addition, state legislators are offering a $1,000 bonus to uncertified teachers already in the classroom who get certified by the end of the 2026-27 school year.
In Houston, many of the region’s largest districts have partnered with the Houston Endowment and other organizations to launch their own initiatives combatting the trend. Several districts operate an alternative certification program or “Grow Your Own” initiatives, which encourage alumni and staff members to complete the certification process.
Villagrana said the combination of increased state financial investment and more local attention should help Texas turn the corner.
“I don’t think the right answer is you have to have zero uncertified (teachers), just because of the way our structures are set up, but I do think you need to get it to a more manageable rate,” Villagrana said.
“There are promising things happening in some districts specifically. I wouldn’t say it’s wholesale set. We’ll probably learn more going into next year, especially once some of these mandates come into place.”
