DALLAS — Faced with an educator shortage, Texas lawmakers last year made it easier for military veterans to become teachers.
The idea was touted not just as a way to fill vacant classrooms but to expose children to people who fought for their country. The legislation passed easily – at the same time when several other bills aimed at boosting teacher pay and strengthening educator recruitment and training failed.
Data obtained by The Dallas Morning News through an open records request shows fewer than 30 veterans made use of the program that allowed them to earn special teacher certifications, putting only a minuscule dent in the broader effort to fill classrooms.
“What that probably tells us is we need to do a better job of promoting that opportunity for the veteran community,” said Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, who authored the bill. “That tells me they’re not aware of it.”
Texas public schools hired more than 49,000 new teachers last school year.
Only 28 military veterans were granted certifications through HB 621′s new pathway between Sept. 1, 2023, and June 25, according to data provided by the Texas Education Agency.
Veterans seeking to teach through this program can only do so in career and technology education classes, the result of a late amendment that limited the bill’s scope.
“We narrowed it, which is probably causing an issue,” Shaheen said. “Expanding it should be something that we take a serious…
