Austin ISD is working to certify 464 teachers—about 9% of its workforce—who don't hold a state teaching certification, according to district documents.
Statewide, 12% of teachers were uncertified in the 2024-25 school year, up from 3.8% in 2019-20, according to Texas Education Agency data.
Diving in deeper
Like most Texas school districts, AISD operates under a District of Innovation plan—a designation 976 Texas school districts currently hold, per TEA's list. Since passed in 2015, the designation has allowed traditional public school districts to opt out of certain state education rules, according to TEA.
One of the exemptions districts can claim is from the state law that otherwise bars a district from employing a teacher, teacher intern, librarian, educational aide, administrator, educational diagnostician or counselor without an appropriate state-issued certificate or permit, per AISD's summary of the statute.
AISD's current DOI plan uses that exemption to allow the district to hire math, science, English language arts/reading and social studies teachers for grades 7-12, as well as early childhood teachers through grade 6, who don't meet the state's certification requirement.
The flexibility offered by a DOI plan has been available to charter schools since 1995 with the passing of the state's original charter school law, per TEA's history of Texas public education. Charter schools, however, have never been subject to the same certification requirements.
Established in 1881, AISD is the eighth-largest school district in Texas. The district enrolls nearly 70,000 students and more than 5,000 teachers across 114 schools, per the district website.
The latest update
House Bill 2, passed in 2025, narrows the exemption on a phased schedule, according to the Texas Association of School Boards:
- 2026-27: No longer usable for K-5 reading and math teachers
- 2027-28: No longer usable for any remaining foundation-subject teachers
- 2029-30: Full certification compliance required district-wide
Districts can apply to delay full compliance until the 2029-30 deadline. AISD is one of the districts approved for that delay, according to TEA’s public dashboard of approved districts.
Under its delay application, AISD has set a target of certifying an average of 85 to 90 core-subject teachers per year to reach full compliance by fall 2029, and plans to shrink the share of uncertified new hires from 16% this year to zero by 2029-30. The plan also leans on two state incentives to retain staff during the transition: a retention allotment worth up to $5,000 for experienced teachers, and a one-time $1,000 state payment for uncertified teachers who complete certification, as stated in the district’s compliance roadmap.
Put in perspective
District officials reported 18 total vacancies, including 14 teaching positions, at the recently closed Paredes Middle School during AISD’s July 30 board meeting. But AISD's official "vacancy" counts track only certified teacher openings.
A position filled by an uncertified teacher isn't counted as vacant, officials said at the Aug. 13 board meeting. District data shown at the meeting described 12 of 82 teacher positions at Bailey Middle School as vacant, although 13 long-term substitute positions have allowed the campus to reach 101% classroom coverage, district officials said. Those figures don't indicate whether those substitutes, or any other staff in filled positions, hold certification, per the district.
What's next
Under its TEA-approved timeline, AISD's goal is to move uncertified foundation-subject teachers through certification ahead of the 2029-30 deadline.
Readers with questions about staffing at a specific school can contact AISD's Office of Talent Strategy, or file a request through the district's Texas Public Information Act page.
The Innovation District Advisory Council, which reviews changes to the DOI plan, posts its meeting agendas and materials here ahead of future votes.
