§ 21.0032. EMPLOYMENT OF UNCERTIFIED CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

(a) A school district may not employ as a teacher of record for a course in the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002 a person who does not hold an appropriate certificate or permit required by the State Board for Educator Certification under Subchapter B.

(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), on the receipt and approval of a plan submitted by a school district to the commissioner that provides a reasonable timeline and strategy to comply with that subsection before the beginning of the 2029-2030 school year, the commissioner may allow the district to delay implementation of the requirement of that subsection. This subsection expires September 1, 2030.

(a-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and Section 12A.004, a school district that has adopted a local innovation plan under Chapter 12A for the 2026-2027 school year that exempts the district from the applicable teacher certification requirements under Section 21.003 may employ as a teacher of record for a course other than a reading language arts or mathematics course in a grade level above grade five a person who does not hold an appropriate certificate or permit required by the State Board for Educator Certification under Subchapter B. This subsection expires September 1, 2027.

(b) This section does not preclude a school district from:

(1) receiving a waiver under Section 7.056; or

(2) issuing a school district teaching permit under Section 21.055.