Report on Texas teacher licensing changes
Date postedNovember 2, 2023
A study of teacher licensing in Texas since the 2001 introduction of lower requirements for alternative licensing programs reveals reduced wages for new teachers over the last 20 years. The changes in 2001 resulted in new alternative teacher training programs and an almost doubling of teacher licenses being issued. However, the study found that since 2001, average pay for new teachers has declined annually by 2% to 13%. The study also found that the official state list of teacher shortage areas did not actually change from 1990 to 2018. The article concludes: "Policies that aim to increase the supply of teachers may have the unintended consequence of lowering teacher pay. This may perpetuate cycles of teacher shortages and turnover."