Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Information and Resources
Required Background Checks for Educators
Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and
Pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.
An individual who has been convicted of an offense is potentially ineligible for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP; and
An individual has the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in Chapter 227, Subchapter B, of this title (relating to Preliminary Evaluation of Certification Eligibility).
The current cost of the preliminary criminal history background check is $50.
The following link to TEA provides the steps to follow for requesting a preliminary background check:
The following link provides the complete Texas Administrative Code relating to the preliminary evaluation of certification eligibility:
Supply and Demand for Teachers
Click here for information from TEA about supply and demand for teachers in Texas.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a comprehensive analysis of career fields in its online Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Click on the title of each career choice to read more about it:
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers