In February 2025, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) adopted rule updates to Ch. 231, Subchapter F, §231.701. These rules require:
All special education teachers to hold a valid special education certificate
Special education teachers of record to hold the appropriate, grade-banded content certification for each area they are assigned as teacher of record
Per 19 TAC §230.1 (24) a teacher serving as teacher of record is “An educator who is employed by a school or district and who teaches in an academic instructional setting or a career and technical instructional setting not less than an average of four hours each day and is responsible for evaluating student achievement and assigning grades.”
Special education teachers of record who do not hold the appropriate grade-banded content certification for each area in which they are assigned as teacher of record to demonstrate content competency and meet requirements as detailed in Figure 19 TAC §231.701(d) (Texas Content Competency Worksheet for Special Education Teachers of Record(Grades EC-12))
