Introducing the Texas Certification Resource Toolkit

‍A centralized resource to help district and EPP leaders support teacher candidates through certification on time, and with confidence.

Why certification matters — and why it's hard

Teacher certification is more than a checkbox. It's a gateway that connects qualified educators to classrooms and ensures every student has access to a teacher prepared to help them succeed.

Yet the process is often complex or fragmented, leaving candidates uncertain about next steps and leaders without the tools to intervene effectively. Amid real staffing pressures-budget constraints, teacher vacancies, scheduling challenges- certification can fall through the cracks.

Research shows that students taught by uncertified teachers lose months of learning each year — and the effects compound when students have multiple uncertified teachers over time. (Kirksey, 2026) ↗

What changed with House Bill 2

In June 2025, Texas signed HouseBill 2 into law, setting a 2029–30 deadline to phase out the hiring of uncertified teachers in foundational subject areas. Per TEC §21.003 ↗, a person may no longer be employed as a teacher, intern, or teacher trainee by a school district unless they hold a valid certificate or permit (intern, probationary, standard, or enhanced standard) or an emergency permit for the relevant subject and grade level.

This requirement is in response to a growing body of evidence that certified teachers produce stronger student outcomes and are more likely to stay in the classroom long-term. (Patrick et al., 2026) ↗. It also sets a new bar for how districts must staff and support their teacher pipelines.

What the Toolkit does

The Texas Certification Resource Toolkit centralizes everything school district and Educator Preparation Program (EPP) leaders need to support their teacher candidates through the certification process:  

Track progress clearly
‍A consistent process formonitoring where candidates stand, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Coach candidates effectively
Tools and guidance to help leaders intervene early, using data to support teachers before issues escalate.

Fit into existing practices
‍Designed to integrate with how leaders already work, not add a parallel system to manage.

The goal: make certification part of strong teacher development, not just a compliance hurdle; so that every classroom has a well-prepared, highly effective, certified teacher.

Ready to get started? Access the toolkit here!