Bill Caption

Relating to the assignment of a public school student to an uncertified teacher.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

HB 972 amends the Education Code to prohibit (with some exceptions) a student in first through sixth grade who attends an elementary school in a public school district with an enrollment of 5,000 or more students from being assigned for two consecutive school years to a teacher who has less than one year of teaching experience and who does not hold the appropriate teaching certificate. 

The bill would allow the commissioner of education to waive these provisions in extreme circumstances and adopt necessary rules.

Vote Recommendation Notes

The purpose of this bill is to prevent young students in formative years from being taught two consecutive years by underqualified teachers. An allowance for waivers is provided in recognition of the fact that Texas has a teacher shortage and it is not always possible to get an experienced teacher with the appropriate certificate in every classroom. This legislation does not appear to have a direct connection to our liberty principles but it also does not seem to be an unreasonable way to balance the need for quality education with the reality of too few classroom teachers. We have no objection to this bill.