Alternative certification enrollment growth in Texas did not increase teacher supply because completion rates were low¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? In 2022–23, nearly 85,000 candidates were enrolled in Texas alternative certification programs but fewer than 8,500 completed them, and overall EPP completion fell 19% from 2012–13 to 2022–23. → Wojcikiewicz 2025

Evidence¶

Wojcikiewicz 2025¶

Wojcikiewicz, S. K., Ralph, K., Snyder, J., Bland, J. A., & Wechsler, M. E. (2025). Teacher residencies in Texas: Supporting successful implementation. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/630.675

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Learning Policy Institute analysis of federal Title II data on Texas teacher preparation enrollment and completion by route, 2012–13 through 2022–23 (Figure 2). The report notes "nearly 85,000 candidates were enrolled" but "fewer than 8,500 completed them"; no effect size is printed.

"In 2022–23, for example, nearly 85,000 candidates were enrolled in such programs but fewer than 8,500 completed them. Consequently, overall EPP completion fell by 19% during this period"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• For-profit alternative certification pathways account for over 70% of Texas educator preparation enrollment while overall completion fell 14% over a decade — related
• Alternative-route teacher certification enrollment has grown rapidly nationally and in Michigan, where just over 40% of candidates were in alternative programs by 2023 — related
• Candidates of color complete Michigan teacher preparation programs at lower rates than they enroll: nearly 20% of enrollees but only 12% of completers in 2022-23 were people of color — related
• For-profit alternative certification pathways in Texas increased enrollment by more than 500% over 5 years without increasing program completers — related
• Students of university-prepared Texas teachers gained 2.2 additional months of 9th-grade ELA learning and 1.8 additional months of 9th-grade math learning versus students of alternatively prepared teachers — related
• Teachers prepared through traditional certification pathways are retained at higher rates over 5 years than alternatively certified or noncertified Texas teachers — related
• Teacher education enrollments dropped 35% between 2009 and 2014, from 691,000 to 451,000 — related