Teacher Qualifications

✳️Pre-K teaching assignments require state certification!✳️
ALL Pre-K teachers must have an appropriate SBEC-issued certification, such as Intern, Probationary, Standard, or Emergency Permit.
This applies to all districts - even Districts of Innovation.

Teacher Qualifications for Teachers in an LEA

Statute:
Per TEC Section 29.167(b): Each teacher for a Pre-K program class MUST be certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21 ("Certification of Educators").

Rule:
Per 19 TAC §102.1003 (i) (4): In a format prescribed by TEA, a school district or open-enrollment charter shall:
(4) Report additional teacher qualifications as described.

19 TAC §102.1003 (d): Each teacher of record in a high-quality Pre-K program class must be certified under TEC, Chapter 21, Subchapter B, AND have one of the following additional qualifications:

Certification offered through a training center accredited by Association Montessori Internationale or through the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
Be employed as a prekindergarten teacher in a school district that has ensured that:

(A) prior to assignment in a prekindergarten class, the teacher who provides prekindergarten instruction has completed at least 150 cumulative hours* of documented professional development addressing the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines in addition to other relevant topics related to high-quality prekindergarten over a consecutive five-year period; OR

(B) a teacher who has NOT completed training required in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph prior to assignment in a prekindergarten class completes the first 30 hours* of 150 cumulative hours of documented professional development before the beginning of the next school year. The professional development shall address topics relevant to high-quality prekindergarten and other ECE related topics, such as:

(I) the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines;

(II) the use of student progress monitoring results to inform classroom instruction;

(III) improving the prekindergarten classroom environment to enhance student outcomes; and

(IV) improving the effectiveness of teacher interaction with students as determined by an evaluation tool; and

(ii) the additional hours in the subsequent four years in order to continue providing instruction in a high-quality prekindergarten classroom; and

(C) at least half of the hours* required by subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph include experiential learning, practical application, and direct interaction with specialists in early childhood education, mentors, or instructional coaches.

Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
Documented completion of the Texas School Ready Training Program (TSR Comprehensive)
*Associate or baccalaureate degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, or a non-early childhood education degree with a documented minimum of 15 units of coursework in early childhood education
at least eight years' experience teaching in a nationally accredited child care program or a *Texas Rising Star Program

*Updated by House Bill 2729 in the 88th Texas Legislature Effective September 1, 2023.

Remember:
Pre-K teachers REQUIRE state certification.

Teacher Qualifications for Pre-K Teachers in a Contracted Classroom (PK4 only):

Contract Entity - At least two years’ experience of teaching in a nationally accredited child care program or Texas Rising Star Program and a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or another early childhood education credential approved by the Texas Education Agency
Contract Entity - At least two years’ experience of teaching in a nationally accredited child care program or Texas Rising Star Program and a certification offered through a training center accredited by Association Montessori Internationale or through the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
Contract Entity - be employed as a prekindergarten teacher in a partnership program that has ensured that:

A. prior to assignment in a prekindergarten class, the teacher has completed at least 150 cumulative hours of documented professional development addressing the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines in addition to other relevant topics related to high-quality prekindergarten over a consecutive five-year period; OR

B. a teacher who has not completed the training required in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph prior to assignment in a prekindergarten class completes: the first 30 hours of 150 cumulative hours of documented ECE-specific professional development with 15 of the 30 hours being in a coaching/mentoring relationship before the beginning of the next school year.

Contract Entity - An associate or baccalaureate degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, or a non-early childhood education degree with a documented minimum of 15 units of coursework in early childhood education
Contract Entity - At least eight years’ experience of teaching in a nationally accredited child care program or Texas Rising Star Program

ECDS Coding for High Quality Teacher Requirements

If your Pre-K Program is part of your LEA, please refer to the section of the Code Table highlighted in blue.
The majority of Pre-K teachers will qualify under Code 03 (which aligns with bullet #2 in the TAC above) or Code 07 (which aligns with bullet #5 above).
If your Pre-K teacher does NOT meet any of the above additional qualifications, you will enter CODE 98.

If your LEA is in a partnership with a contracted entity, please refer to the section of the Code Table highlighted in orange.
If your Pre-K teacher does NOT meet any of the above additional qualifications, you will enter CODE 99.

Page updated

Report abuse