SBEC hears public comment on National Board Certification review

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met Sept. 18. The full SBEC agenda included public comments on the board’s ongoing National Board Certification review, discussion of repeal of language concerning special education teacher placements, approving changes to the Accountability Standards for Educator Preparation (ASEP), and continued discussion of the Continuous Approval Review (CAR).

ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave addressed the board twice during the meeting, once concerning the National Board Certification review and once on the recommended repeal of language that could impact the assignment of some special education teachers.

National Board Certification review

The National Board Certification review was not on September’s agenda, but multiple stakeholders, including ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave, testified in general public comment about the ongoing review.

As previously reported on ATPE’s Teach the Vote, SBEC is currently reviewing the status of National Board Certification as a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designation. This review is required under House Bill (HB) 2 by Chairman Brad Buckley (R–Salado), and the board is required to decide by its December meeting whether National Board Certification will remain a TIA designation. In July, the board received a report, which is still not available to the public, from a group of independent reviewers. According to internal sources, the group did not include any education law attorneys, yet the group examined the materials to find potential conflicts with state law. The report revealed what reviewers claim to be several potential conflicts, and SBEC voted to give the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) until Nov. 2 to bring itself into compliance with Texas law. SBEC is now in a holding period while NBPTS prepares its response.

Cave reminded the board that state law requires SBEC to conduct the review and determine whether National Board Certification complies with Texas law. However, the law does not direct SBEC to revoke the designation. She urged board members to make their own determination based on the statutory requirements and the evidence submitted by NBPTS. She also reminded SBEC members they are not mandated to accept the recommendation of TEA staff in their decision.

Cave also pointed to the impact the decision could have on teachers who have few or no other avenues to participate in TIA, noting that TIA is not fully equitable for Texas educators. Some teachers work in districts that do not participate in the program, while others teach subjects not included in their district’s TIA system. For those educators, National Board Certification is the only pathway available to TIA designation.

Other public commenters made similar points, including National Board CEO Peggy Brookins, who outlined the changes NBPTS is making for Texas educators. Those changes include:

• Texas-specific guidance
• Compliance statements reminding National Board candidates the National Board framework relies on the underlying standards adopted by each individual candidate’s state and that National Board “curriculum standards” do not exist
• Additional Texas-specific video cases given to candidates at no charge
• Changes to the registration process to require candidate attestation they will follow the TEKS when teaching their students.

In addition to Cave’s oral comments, ATPE also submitted written input on this topic. SBEC is expected to vote on the National Board designation at its December meeting.

ATPE asks SBEC to preserve flexibility in Chapter 231

Cave provided additional testimony on ATPE’s behalf addressing a proposed amendment to 19 TAC Ch. 231, which governs the assignment of public school personnel.

The proposal would repeal 231.1(c), a provision that currently allows an educator holding an elementary certificate to teach certain students at the high school level when the instruction is comparable to instruction at the elementary level.

ATPE does not oppose the board’s effort to ensure teachers have the appropriate credentials and content knowledge for the students they serve. In fact, Cave served on the workgroup tasked with developing the new Texas Content Competency Worksheet for Special Education. ATPE is simply urging SBEC to consider alternate language that would preserve the flexibility in 231.1(c) for educators with EC-6 and supplemental special education certificates who have been assigned to provide special education services to high school students outside of a setting using the regular program high school curriculum, such as a life skills class. Repeal of the provision would require these educators to attain either a high school or new EC-12 special education certificate.

Cave’s testimony specifically raised concerns about this small subset of educators in an already difficult-to-staff area. She asked the board to preserve every possible certification avenue available for assigning these teachers.

The board ultimately voted to advance the Ch. 231 amendment for publication in the Texas Register. The proposal will undergo the formal public comment process before SBEC considers final adoption.

Other SBEC business

The board also approved changes to the Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP) and heard an update on the Educator Misconduct Reporting Dashboard.

The misconduct dashboard showed a significant increase in reports to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) during fiscal year 2026. The agency received 19,766 reports compared with 6,476 in fiscal year 2025. TEA Inspector General Levi Fuller admitted to the board the increase reflects changes in the law that require mandatory reporting by school districts and superintendents within 24 hours, regardless of whether they believe an allegation has merit. He acknowledged that of the 8,610 reports to law enforcement or the Department of Family and Protective Services, more than 6,500 were closed after preliminary review, with 76% closed for lack of evidence.

SBEC members also discussed the possibility of adding more information to the public dashboard, including data related to certification type, teaching level, years of experience, and district.

SBEC will meet again Dec. 3–4. ATPE is actively engaged in working to prevent National Board revocation and will work with the National Board Certified Teachers in our membership to ensure their voices are heard at the December meeting.