Cavazos: The Time Is Now: Invest in Teacher Preparation to Strengthen Texas Schools

Texas stands at a critical crossroads: in the final month of the legislative session, lawmakers have the chance to make a transformative investment in our state’s teacher workforce. For too long, teacher preparation has been underfunded and undervalued, despite its proven impact on elevating student outcomes. Now is the moment to act.

We are in the midst of a teacher workforce crisis. More than half (56%), of newly hired, first-time teachers entered the classroom last school year without certification or formal preparation. This contributes to high turnover rates and ineffective classrooms, with 61% of uncertified teachers leaving the classroom within 5 years. This unpreparedness profoundly hinders classroom success. On average, students lose three months of math learning and four months of reading each year with an underprepared teacher.  Our students deserve better.

During my time as superintendent of Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District and as Chair of the State Board for Educator Certification, I saw firsthand how unpreparedness in the classroom undermines student success. But I also saw what works: when school districts and teacher preparation programs come together to build rigorous, supportive pathways into the teaching profession, the results are transformative.

Texas must invest in proven, high-quality educator preparation models to address the widespread unpreparedness in today’s classrooms. Residencies emerge as the optimal approach to prepare teachers. A teacher residency is a full-year, classroom-based experience in which districts in partnership with educator preparation programs (EPPs) pair aspiring educators with an accomplished mentor teacher. This practice facilitates ongoing coaching, feedback, and real-time support to best train the next generation of teachers.

This model provides future teachers with the practical skills they needto educate effectively from day one. The concept isn’t new. Professionals in other high-stakes fields train the same way. Just as we wouldn’t expect a medical student to perform surgery without supervised training and demonstrated skills, we should not expect new teachers to lead classrooms without possessing full confidence and competence in their craft.  

As momentum builds for teacher residencies at the Capitol, some skepticism is understandable, particularly in a legislative session marked by numerous competing priorities in education. However, high-quality teacher residencies are not merely an expense; they stand as a strategic investment with long-term returns for our students and our state. We know that the teacher is the most important in-school factor affecting student learning, but effective teachers can also boost students’ lifetime earnings. Replacing an ineffective teacher with just an average one can lead to an additional $250,000 in lifetime earnings for a classroom of students. That’s the kind of long-term return on investment that benefits not just students, but the entire state economy.

Last week, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 2253, authored by Senator Brandon Creighton, a measure that allocates resources and focuses attention on scaling effective teacher preparation pathways. SB 2253 marks a critical policy breakthrough that directly addresses the long-standing challenges and lays the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable teacher pipeline.

My colleagues and I view this progress as a long-overdue and essential step toward securing a stronger future for Texas students. As the legislative session enters its final days, lawmakers must act decisively to pass legislation that invests in high-quality teacher preparation. These policies are not only a powerful lever for improving student outcomes, but also a smart, evidence-based investment that delivers long-term economic returns for our state. The decisions made in these final days will shape the quality of teaching and learning in Texas for years to come.

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Dr. Art Cavazos, superintendent in residence at Educate Texas. Educate Texas is an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas. Cavazos was previously superintendent of Harlingen CISD.

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