Licensure Loopholes: Texas

Analysis of Texas's policies

Texas allows new teachers who have satisfied all requirements for the initial teacher certification, except the examination requirements, to teach under a nonrenewable permit for no more than one year.

The state also allows teachers who have not met licensure requirements to teach under an emergency permit for up to three years.

Citation

Texas Administrative Code 230.502; 230.506; 230.507

Recommendations for Texas

Ensure that all teachers pass required subject-matter licensing tests before they enter the classroom.
All students are entitled to teachers who know the subject matter they are teaching. Permitting individuals who have not yet passed state licensing tests to teach neglects the needs of students, instead extending personal consideration to adults who may not be able to meet minimal state standards. Texas should ensure that all teachers pass licensing tests—an important minimum benchmark for entering the profession—before entering the classroom.

Limit exceptions to one year.
There might be limited and exceptional circumstances under which conditional or emergency licenses need to be granted. In these instances, it is reasonable for a state to give teachers up to one year to pass required licensing tests. Texas's current policy puts students at risk by allowing teachers to teach on an emergency permit for up to three years without passing required subject-matter licensing tests. 

State response to our analysis

Texas asserted that teachers on temporary permits may teach up to two years, and teachers on emergency permits may teach up to three years. In addition, the state pointed out that teachers on probationary certificates while they are in training to become certified teachers may teach up to three years.  

Texas added that all candidates in educator preparation programs must pass the required licensure tests to receive a "standard certificate." Candidates in alternative programs must pass a licensure test or have 24 coursework hours in the content area prior to receiving a one-year probationary certificate.

Last word

By allowing teachers on any permits or certificates to teach without passing required state licensing tests, Texas puts the instructional needs of students at risk in favor of accommodating adults who may be unable to meet minimum standards. Further, Texas's licensure loopholes are particularly worrisome, as the state has strong subject-matter requirements for elementary teachers that are potentially sabotaged by the fact that teachers who have not passed licensure tests are allowed to be in the classroom for up to three years.