The share of uncertified teachers among new Texas entrants rose from 16% in 2018–19 to 49% in 2023–24¶

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

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Uncertified teachers rose from 16% of newly entering Texas teachers in 2018–19 to nearly 27% in 2021–22 and 49% in 2023–24; uncertified plus substandard-certified teachers made up nearly 68% of first-time new hires in 2023–24. → Bland 2025

Evidence¶

Bland 2025¶

Bland, J. A., Ralph, K., Wei, W., Wang, V., Wojcikiewicz, S. K., & Wechsler, M. E. (2025). Investing in a high-quality teacher workforce: Lessons from Texas teacher preparation programs. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/871.327

q2 · i? · qualitative · r?

Descriptive analysis of Texas workforce data in the report's policy-context section. It reports the rise "from 16% in the 2018–19 school year to nearly 27% in 2021–22 before jumping to 49% in 2023–24", and that uncertified and substandard-certified teachers together made up nearly 68% of first-time new hires in 2023–24.

"The percentage of uncertified teachers statewide among teachers newly entering the profession rose from 16% in the 2018–19 school year to nearly 27% in 2021–22 before jumping to 49% in 2023–24."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Newly hired Texas teachers with standard or intern certificates declined sharply over the past decade while uncertified new hires became the largest category — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• More than 8,500 uncertified FTE teachers were in K–5 English language arts and math positions in 2024–25, and roughly 23,000 uncertified FTE were in foundational subjects that must be certified by 2027–28 — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• U.S. teacher shortages are nationwide and worsening, with over 300,000 positions unfilled or filled by uncertified teachers in 2023 — a broader claim this one bears on
• In Texas in 2023–24, 68% of newly hired teachers were underqualified or unqualified, teaching on intern certificates, emergency permits, or no certification — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• In 2021–22, only 28% of Texas first-time teacher hires held a standard certificate; 57% held a substandard intern certificate, emergency permit, or no certification at all — related
• The share of uncertified teachers in the Texas teacher workforce more than tripled between 2019–20 and 2024–25, reaching 12% — related