Texas Delays Teacher Certification Deadline to 2029
State waivers push back the phase-out of uncertified teachers from core subjects in several East Texas districts.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Administration
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Texas school districts received state waivers delaying the phase-out of uncertified teachers from core subjects to 2029. The number of uncertified teachers in Texas classrooms surged to more than 42,000 in the 2024-25 school year.
Why it matters
A state law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott originally required uncertified teachers be removed from core subjects by the 2027-28 school year. Persistent staffing challenges have pushed the state to grant the extensions.
Nearly 4% of Texas teachers lacked certification in 2019, compared with more than 42,000 uncertified teachers in classrooms during the 2024-25 school year. The source does not detail how many districts beyond the named East Texas districts received waivers.
The players
Greg Abbott
Texas governor who signed the state law requiring uncertified teachers be phased out of core subjects.
Gina Hinojosa
Texas Governor-elect who has pledged to replace the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency and push for higher teacher pay.
Robert DeHaas
Dean of the School of Education at UT Tyler, involved in addressing the teacher pipeline with local districts.
The details
Tens of thousands of Texas classrooms are led by uncertified teachers, and the state granted waivers extending the deadline to 2029 for several East Texas districts, including Tyler, Longview, and Nacogdoches. Universities such as UT Tyler are working with local districts to address the teacher pipeline.
Timeline
2019: Nearly 4% of Texas teachers lacked certification.
2024-25 school year: Uncertified teachers surged to more than 42,000.
2027-28 school year: Original deadline to phase out uncertified core-subject teachers.
2029: Waiver-extended deadline for East Texas districts.
Administration Context
The waivers extend the timeline established by the state's 2027-28 certification phase-out law, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. The gap between that deadline and the 2029 extension reflects ongoing difficulty filling core-subject classrooms with certified teachers.
Families in the affected East Texas districts may see uncertified teachers remain in core-subject classrooms until 2029 rather than the earlier 2027-28 deadline. Parents can ask their district how it is recruiting and retaining certified instructors during the waiver period.
The takeaway
Staffing gaps are pushing states to trade certification timelines for classroom coverage. Readers tracking their local schools can check whether their district has requested a waiver and what replacement plan it has filed.
Further reading
For more on how school systems manage staffing and compliance, explore Administration coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kltv.
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