Texas lawmakers want to stop schools from hiring uncertified teachers

Texas schools fill vacancies from the teacher shortage by hiring uncertified teachers. Now, state lawmakers want to put an end to that.

The bill, HB 2, would ban unprepared or uncertified teachers from instructing core classes like reading and math in public schools.

However, the state plans to assist teachers and school districts with financial costs to become properly credentialed.

"We've seen what has happened when uncertified teachers have been in the classroom and we've seen how students have experienced learning loss simply because they don't have someone who is trained to work with them," said Norma De La Rosa, President of El Paso Teachers Association.

De La Rosa, is a retired teacher of 40 years. 

She says teachers today are burnt out, and not paid fairly — causing a shortage, where schools rely on uncertified teachers.

"We also want to have experienced teachers or teachers who are content area experts," said State Representative Mary González of District 75. "It is one part of the conversation."

Gonzalez said HB 2 includes an act that would incentivize school districts to hire certified teachers to improve students' education quality.

But De La Rosa says hiring certified teachers could improve classroom teaching, but not fix the root problem of a loss of teachers. 

"We do know that certified teachers have been given the tools to have best, classroom management styles to understand the pedagogy that needs to be used in order for students to reach the educational outcomes they need to reach," said the state representative.

Gonzalez says they're putting $9.1 billion into public schools, and that districts could receive more money per student enrolled if the bill passes — with 40% going towards a pay raise for teachers.

There's also incentives for getting teachers certified. School districts could receive from $9,000 to $27,000 per teacher candidate that completes the certification program.

Which her office says would fund the costs for teachers to get certified.

Gustavo Reveles, communications director of Canutillo ISD, said they only have a quote handful of uncertified teachers, but not for core subjects.

"We rely on certification as an assurance to the public, to our parents, that our teachers are highly qualified, that our teachers are ready to impart lesson plans in a way that meet the state standards," said Reveles. "You know, so the only way we have a teacher that is not certified is through our current technical education and high need areas."

De La Rosa also says that teachers aren't given the opportunity to prepare students for the real world or a career, due to the focus on testing.