Texas teacher certification requirements are being strengthened as Texas legislators take bold steps to address the teacher shortage. As part of House Bill 2—a key component of the $7.6 billion school finance package—lawmakers aim to phase out uncertified teachers in core subjects. Under this bill, K-5 reading and math teachers must be certified by fall 2026, while all other academic teachers must meet certification standards by fall 2027.
This renewed focus on Texas teacher certification follows studies showing that uncertified teachers negatively impact student performance, leading to months of lost learning in reading and math. Lawmakers believe raising certification standards is essential to improve classroom quality and student outcomes statewide.
Financial Incentives to Ease the Transition
Understanding the financial burden of certification, HB 2 includes incentives to help teachers become qualified. Those who complete in-school training and mentoring programs can receive a one-time $10,000 payment, while others in university or alternative certification tracks can get $3,000. Certification fees will also be waived for special education and emergent bilingual teachers.
Educator training experts applaud this move as the state’s most significant investment in teacher preparation. Still, the timeline to comply—just two years—has sparked concern among district leaders.
Schools Warn: The Clock is Ticking
District leaders say they’re worried about the logistics while they support the bill’s intent. With over 35,000 uncertified teachers in classrooms, phasing them out without a sufficient replacement plan could disrupt the fragile system.
“Class sizes will go up, and programs will disappear,” warned David Vroonland, former superintendent of Mesquite ISD. “There will be negative consequences if we don’t put in place serious recruitment efforts.”
Many schools, especially rural ones, have relied on uncertified teachers for years due to ongoing shortages. Last year, uncertified hires made up 38% of new teachers in Texas. Recruiting events often end without enough qualified applicants, and with Texas teachers earning $9,000 less than the national average, the talent pool continues to shrink.
Unintended Consequences for Rural Districts
Rural superintendents, like Gilbert Trevino of Floydada Collegiate ISD, say they’ve relied on local, uncertified talent—often professionals with relevant degrees but no teaching license. For districts like his, HB 2 could feel like a straitjacket.
“The restrictions handcuff us,” Trevino said. His district has programs to “grow their own” teachers, but these take years to yield results. HB 2’s 2026 deadline doesn’t provide enough time for such long-term solutions.
Wylie ISD, located in rapidly growing Collin County, shares similar concerns. School board trustee Cameron Wiley said, “We’re not addressing the root cause [recruitment]. We’re just putting a Band-Aid on it right now.” A Call for Comprehensive Reform
While lawmakers see HB 2 as a way to restore quality in education, school leaders argue it only addresses part of the problem. Without raising teacher salaries or investing more in retention strategies, they fear the state is setting districts up to fail.
Kate Greer of the Commit Partnership agrees: “The state should act urgently to address the number of uncertified teachers. This bill rights a wrong that we’ve had in the state for a long time.”
As Texas progresses with these reforms, balancing quality education with practical staffing solutions will be critical. Without addressing the root causes—pay, support, and training—the law may fix one problem while worsening another.