October 16, 2015

Today the State Board for Educator Certification voted to change the criteria for individuals to become school superintendents in Texas. A revised rule adopted today by a vote of six to four will make it easier for some non-traditional candidates to become certified as superintendents by eliminating requirements that they hold credentials as school principals and teachers as a prerequisite. The state’s largest educator association, the Association of Texas Professional Educators, opposed the rule change, which still must be approved by the State Board of Education before it may take effect.

“Texas educators feel strongly that past experience as a teacher and principal is a critical factor in a superintendent’s success,” said ATPE Lobbyist Kate Kuhlmann. “While we’re disappointed that a majority of the board chose to disregard that testimony in favor of business interests’ support for allowing non-educators to lead school districts, we are pleased that some favorable improvements were made to the rule today to continue to require superintendent candidates to hold graduate degrees and ensure transparency whenever school boards decide to hire nontraditional superintendent candidates.”

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The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) has been a strong voice for Texas educators since 1980. It is the leading educators’ association in Texas with more than 100,000 members statewide. With its strong collaborative philosophy, ATPE speaks for classroom teachers, administrators, future, retired and para-educators and works to create better opportunities for 5 million public schoolchildren. ATPE is the ally and the voice of Texas public school education.