Office of the Superintendent of Schools
Office of Human Resources
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Approval Of Certification Waiver For Teachers, Counselors, And Assistant Principals For The 2025-2026 School Year
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The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Houston Independent School District (HISD) School Board approves the district’s application to the commissioner of education for a certification waiver for teachers, counselors, and assistant principals for the 2025-2026 school year. The waiver is required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to hire educators without a teacher, counselor, or assistant principal certification.
The TEA allows school districts to employ educators and other public-school personnel without certification by submitting a request to waive such requirement. Waivers are typically requested 31 days before the time frame when the district seeks to use the waivers. HISD may need to hire and employ qualified but uncertified teachers, counselors, and assistant principals for the 2025-2026 school year when certified candidates are not available. The continuing shortage of certified educators has resulted in the need for school districts to leverage these allowable TEA certification waiver options.
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STAFFING IMPLICATIONS: |
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THIS ITEM DOES NOT ESTABLISH, MODIFY, OR DELETE BOARD POLICY.
recommendation
RECOMMENDED: That the School Board approves the district’s application to the commissioner of education for a waiver of the certification requirement for teachers, counselors, and assistant principals, effective September 12, 2025.