Commissioner adopts teacher standards

Date Posted: 6/21/2014 | Author: Jennifer Mitchell, CAE
Commissioner of Education Michael Williams has adopted a final version of new professional standards for teachers. The standards are meant to "inform" teachers' training, evaluations and professional development. Earlier this year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) invited public comments on drafts of standards for both teachers and principals. Read ATPE's comments on the proposed teacher standards here. The adopted teacher standards go into effect June 30, 2014, and reflect a few changes from the original draft proposed by Commissioner Williams back in December 2013. Most of the revisions are minor, but in some instances the changes reflect higher expectations for teachers. For instance, Standard 3 now requires teachers to have "expertise in" rather than merely "understand" vertical and horizontal alignment of the content being taught. Standard 1, relating to instructional planning and delivery, includes designing lessons to meet the needs of diverse learners and differentiating instruction; that standard was augmented to hold teachers responsible for "accelerating," "remediating" and "implementing" individual education plans of students. View the adopted teacher standards here; phrases shown in red include language that was changed from the commissioner's original draft. The adopted rule with TEA's background information and rationale behind the changes will be posted in the June 27 edition of the Texas Register. Stay tuned to Teach the Vote for all developments related to educator evaluation using our new Educator Evaluation Reform Resources.
CONVERSATION
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

10/10/2025
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Oct. 10, 2025
Learn what’s on the Nov. 4 ballot relating to education, plus how the government shutdown affects Texas public schools.

10/09/2025
How the government shutdown impacts public education in Texas
Nonessential operations within the U.S. Department of Education have been suspended, and schools are beginning to feel the ripple effects.

10/08/2025
Three constitutional amendments that impact public education on the November 2025 ballot
Texas voters will consider two property tax measures and a parental rights proposal in the Nov. 4 constitutional amendment election.