A state law signed last year by Gov. Greg Abbott requires uncertified teachers to be phased out of core subject classrooms by the 2027–28 school year. Because of ongoing staffing challenges, the state has granted waivers that push that deadline to 2029 for several East Texas districts, including Tyler, Longview and Nacogdoches.
According to Texas Education Agency data, the number of uncertified teachers in Texas has more than tripled since 2019, when nearly 4% of teachers lacked certification. The total reached more than 42,000 in the 2024–25 school year.
Robert DeHaas, dean of the School of Education at UT Tyler, said the region has shortages of bilingual, special education, math and science teachers. He said universities and districts need to work together to fill those roles and to expand access to higher education and paid district internships.
Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has said higher pay is the key factor in keeping certified teachers in classrooms. She has called for more funding and raises and has pledged to replace the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.