The University of Houston’s annual Texas Teacher Workforce report provides a longitudinal look at educator salaries, retention and classroom trends. (Credit Getty Images)
Texas public school classrooms are at a critical turning point, according to new research from the University of Houston’s Education Research Center.
The latest Texas Teacher Workforce report reveals that the share of uncertified teachers has reached a historic high, while student enrollment and teacher employment numbers decline. The annual report, which integrates 2024-25 data, provides a longitudinal look at educator salaries, retention and classroom trends.
“The findings of this report reinforce a sense of urgency for all who care about the educational outcomes of our more than 5 million K-12 students in Texas,” said Cathy Horn, dean of the UH College of Education. “Every future teacher needs access to a high-quality preparatory pathway to the classroom. Teachers deserve that support, the state benefits from that investment, and most importantly, kids and their families are the real winners.”
Uptick of Uncertified Educators
To address teacher vacancy gaps, Texas lawmakers relaxed teacher certification and preparation requirements about a decade ago. This shift resulted in more than half (52.3%) of first-year teachers in 2024-25 entering the workforce without certification.
Overall, uncertified teachers now make up 8% of the total workforce — a significant surge from less than 1% prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Research indicates these teachers are more likely to leave the profession early, and that teacher preparation quality remains a primary driver of student outcomes.
However, House Bill 2, passed by the 2025 Legislature, aims to tighten standards and rebuild certification pipelines.
“The Legislature gave schools until 2030 to adjust to new certification requirements, so this report serves as a baseline,” said Toni Templeton, senior research scientist at the ERC. “What we see now should be the pinnacle of the problem; we expect the percentage of uncertified teachers to decline annually moving forward.”
Evaluating Stagnant Pay
Despite state efforts like the Teacher Incentive Allotment, stagnant pay remains a primary challenge to the profession. When adjusted for inflation, base teacher salaries have failed to keep pace with the economy.
The average base salary for teachers for the 2024-25 school year was $62,715, though it varies by region. When adjusted to 2024 constant dollars, an equivalent salary a decade ago was worth $67,775, representing a loss in purchasing power.
“The Legislature has repeatedly said they've put money into the education system for teacher salaries,” Templeton said. “However, when we examine base teacher salaries over time, we do not find a meaningful increase when we adjust for inflation.”
This lack of competitive pay impacts a district’s ability to attract and retain talent, raising long-term concerns for the stability of the workforce.
Analyzing Classroom Shifts
Meanwhile, the state’s educator pool shrunk by more than 5,000 public school teachers between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, mirroring a continued decline in student enrollment.
Templeton said recent state policy changes — such as the establishment of Education Savings Accounts, also known as private school vouchers — may accelerate enrollment declines that have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
To stabilize the system, researchers recommend reinvesting in teacher preparation, strengthening certification standards and increasing statewide pay.
“To support future generations of educators, we have to maintain prestige in the field by upholding our certification standards and paying a comparable wage,” Templeton said.