Clear Creek ISD's board of trustees approved a strategic plan at its Feb. 2 meeting to reduce the amount of uncertified teachers in the district and align with state requirements.
The overview
The plan outlines how the district will transition from the use of District of Innovation waivers to hire uncertified teachers in core subjects, as required by House Bill 2, which passed in the 2025 Texas Legislature.
Over the past three years, the district has averaged around 30 uncertified teacher hires annually, district officials said. For the 2025-26 school year, nearly 2% of district teachers are expected to be uncertified and pursuing certification.
All uncertified teachers hold bachelor’s degrees and are enrolled in or actively working towards certification, said district officials.
The details
The plan focuses first on supporting uncertified teachers already in the district. All new uncertified hires are required to enroll in an educator preparation program, or EPP, within 30 days of hire and are provided with individualized support plans.
The district monitors their progress, offers exam preparation resources and connects teachers with mentorship and EPP partnerships.
In a partnership with the University of Houston, the plan implements internship and teacher residency programs, where residents teach alongside certified mentors for a full academic year.
The district will also focus on retention of certified teachers. The plan offers two-year mentorship programs with training and stipends for certified mentor teachers, professional learning opportunities and additional stipends for critical staffing areas.
What’s next
Following board approval, CCISD will submit the transition plan to the Texas Education Agency and continue implementing the plan, with the goal of full compliance by the 2029-30 school year.
