Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath confirmed to the State Board of Education (SBOE) Wednesday that more than one-third of new teachers in 2024 were hired “off the street” without any training or certification. 

The datapoint came as part of the commissioner’s comments to the SBOE during a conversation focused on teacher employment, attrition, and hiring.  

For the 2023-24 school year, Texas enrolled 5,517,464 million students and employed 384,408 classroom teachers. The statewide student-teacher ratio—derived from the total number of students divided by the total number of teachers—sits at 14.7, which is roughly the same as it was 20 years ago. 

Teacher attrition peaked at 13.4% during the 2022-23 school year and dropped slightly to 12.2% in the 2023-24 school year, both of which are above the historical average of around 10%.  

Texas added 51,000 teachers in 2023 and 49,200 teachers in 2024, both of which represent increases from the annual average of roughly 40,000 new hires. Of newly hired teachers in 2024, 12% came from traditional four-year programs, 14% came from alternative certification programs, and 6% were educators certified in other states.  

The largest categories of new hires were the 35% who reentered the educator workforce after not working the previous year and the 34% who are uncertified teachers hired without any training or qualification. The latter represents a massive increase over the past three years. 

Morath presented data confirming that students with uncertified first-year teachers achieve worse academic outcomes than those with certified teachers. Novice teachers also leave the classroom at far higher rates than certified teachers. Roughly a quarter of uncertified first-year teachers do not return after their first year. 

The commissioner said most of these uncertified teachers have been assigned to Title I campuses serving primarily African American and Hispanic student populations. 

Morath explained that this phenomenon of hiring uncertified teachers is a short-term solution that does not provide long-term stability for students. The commissioner proposed the state improve and incentivize other educator preparation routes, such as alternative certification. 

One facet the commissioner did not shed light on is the impact of the Districts of Innovation (DOI) law. The Texas Legislature, with the blessing of the governor and lieutenant governor, enabled the explosion of uncertified educators by creating the DOI exemption process, which allows participating districts to exempt themselves from portions of the Texas Education Code and which the agency has promoted as a means to free districts of regulatory burdens. Teacher certification is one of the most common exemptions adopted by school districts that elect to take the DOI route.  

The commissioner’s presentation included a pitch to approve problematic changes to the educator preparation framework proposed by the appointed State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) that are up for SBOE approval this week. Be on the lookout for a follow-up post from ATPE lobbyist Tricia Cave on statements made by the commissioner in an attempt to sell the SBOE on changes the agency has pushed through SBEC. The Coalition for Educator Preparation, of which ATPE is a founding member, opposes those rules, which will be discussed in Thursday’s meeting of the SBOE Committee on School Initiatives.  

Morath defended the rules, which remove the pilot status of the controversial edTPA portfolio assessment program, by saying the change is needed to hold educator preparation programs (EPP) accountable for edTPA performance. The Coalition for Educator Preparation has contended this change is unnecessary and an inappropriate use of a portfolio assessment. 

Member LJ Francis (R–Corpus Christi) suggested there could be better communication regarding the certification and educator preparation rules SBEC proposes for SBOE approval. The commissioner responded that a member of the SBOE should volunteer to attend SBEC meetings and warned that by exercising its veto authority, the SBOE would jeopardize years of SBEC work. 

Member Staci Childs (D–Houston) asked what the agency is doing to make teaching “sexy” and attract new educator candidates. The commissioner suggested that “grow-your-own” strategies are important and highlighted the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) created by the Legislature to allow districts to receive additional funding for implementing performance pay programs. 

CTE Programs of Study refresh 

Morath separately presented the SBOE with a review of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs of Study refresh, through which the agency is seeking to update and streamline current CTE offerings.  

The list of programs, Industry-Based Certifications (IBC), and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-based CTE courses, as well as the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process, will move to a five-year cycle. Instructional materials review and approval would also continue on an annual basis. 

Member Will Hickman (R–Houston) asked the commissioner about relevant IBCs and how the agency selects which programs will improve a student’s employability. The commissioner responded that employer feedback is taken into consideration. 

The next IBC review will open later this year and will apply to the 2025-26 school year. Responding to a question from SBOE member Keven Ellis (R–Lufkin), the commissioner said the agency could develop an expedited process to approve “one-off” IBCs based on new courses created by the SBOE. 

Member Aicha Davis (D–Dallas) pressed the commissioner over the exemption from certification requirements for CTE teachers. The commissioner noted that the Legislature set the CTE certification exemptions in statute and the agency is obliged to implement the law. 

Additional questions from SBOE members 

• Childs asked Morath what efforts are being taken to offer courses instructing students in the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The commissioner responded that such courses could be developed locally. 

Separately, SBOE member Pam Little (R–Fairview) asked the commissioner how the board can ensure districts comply with the school library collection development standards approved by the SBOE under House Bill (HB) 900 passed by the 88th Legislature. Little noted that some parents have expressed frustration with the appeals process.  

• The commissioner responded that parents should address those concerns first with their districts. HB 900 required districts to adopt a process for reviewing and challenging library materials. The commissioner said most of the authority belongs to locally elected school boards.