Senate passes teacher certification bill

On April 29, the Texas Senate passed SB 2253 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe). The bill makes significant changes to certification requirements to address the growing number of uncertified teachers in Texas schools.

Many Districts of Innovation have exemptions that allow them to hire uncertified teachers with no requirement that those teachers become certified within a certain period of time. With more veteran teachers leaving the profession, their positions have quickly been filled with uncertified teachers as school districts struggle to find qualified replacements. 

The bill would address the issue by incentivizing school districts to encourage uncertified teachers to become certified, preventing future hiring of uncertified teachers in foundation subjects, and revamping the types of certification available to teacher candidates, among other things. 

Read more about SB 2253 here.

On the Senate floor, Creighton offered a few amendments to SB 2253, many of which were suggested by TCTA during testimony and in meetings with his staff. He added language to clarify that only districts with DOI plans are temporarily allowed to continue employing uncertified teachers for certain foundation subjects and grade levels; the filed bill opened the possibility for any district to do so. Creighton also removed a lengthy section that would allow the commissioner of education to adopt rules for the new certificate classes. TCTA argued that the task is best left to the State Board for Educator Certification. TCTA was the only organization to bring up concerns with the commissioner gaining such significant authority. 

SB 2253 passed 31-0 and was sent to the House, where a hearing is expected in the House Public Education Committee at a later date.