Texas Education Agency Says Less Than Half of New Texas Teachers are Certified

May 13, 2025 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has raised concerns over a troubling trend: a significant decline in the number of certified teachers in Texas classrooms. For the 2024–2025 school year, Texas schools hired approximately 43,800 new teachers, but only 45% of them were fully certified. This marks a sharp drop in the proportion of credentialed educators entering the profession, a development that officials say could impact classroom quality and student outcomes.

The remaining 55% of newly hired teachers are working under alternative certifications, emergency permits, or are uncertified entirely. Education experts point to a variety of contributing factors, including high turnover rates, low pay, and increasingly difficult working conditions. Many school districts, particularly in rural or under-resourced areas, are struggling to attract and retain experienced, certified educators.

TEA officials stress that while alternative pathways to teaching help fill urgent staffing gaps, certified teachers have undergone rigorous training that prepares them for the classroom in ways others may not. The trend raises long-term questions about teacher preparation, support, and retention.

State lawmakers are being urged to address the shortage by investing in teacher training programs, raising salaries, and reducing barriers to certification in order to ensure every Texas student has access to a qualified educator.