HOUSTON, Texas – With all the changes happening in one of the largest districts in our state, we understand that parents want to ensure their children are taught by certified teachers.
Parents have every right to know who is teaching their child and whether or not their teacher is qualified.
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In May, HISD announced that over 400 of its teachers will not be returning to their teaching positions for the 2025-26 school year. Why? Because they did not meet the timeline to become certified.
The district stated that teachers working towards their certification are granted a two-year waiver, requiring them to earn their credentials within that timeframe. Unfortunately, 406 teachers did not meet this requirement.
The teachers were notified that their employment would not continue.
The district said that this lack of eligibility happened “despite regular progress checks and advanced notice of consequences of failure to comply with this requirement for ongoing employment.”
Unfortunately, this does not happen in every district, especially if your child is attending a private school or is located in a smaller district.
But, ahead of the 2025-26 school year, here’s how parents can check if teachers in Texas are certified:
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The official TEA website is your go-to source for verifying a teacher’s certification status. It’s reliable and easy to use, just head over to their online portal to access this important information.
The TEA’s State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) keeps the official records of educator certificates. You can easily check a teacher’s virtual certificate by visiting their website and entering the educator’s first and last name.
The TEA’s Educator, Data, Research, and Strategy (EDRS) section offers a wealth of reports and data on Texas educators. Here, you can find information on certification, highly qualified status, and even salary details.
The Texas Public Education Information Resource (TPEIR) is another great resource that provides reports and data on various educational topics, including teacher certification and production.
The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System website is packed with information about the T-TESS rubric, evaluation process, and teacher standards. It’s a valuable resource for understanding how teachers are evaluated.
Both the TEA and T-TESS offer a range of resources and materials related to T-TESS, including the rubric, FAQs, and information on student growth.