In Houston classrooms, the state’s teacher shortage is starting to feel very real.
A new report from the University of Houston’s Education Research Center shows that Texas lost more than 5,000 teachers in 2024-25, while the number of students decreased by 252 over the same period.
Who is filling the gap?
Per the study, uncertified teachers now make up 8% of the workforce across Texas (as of 2024-25), up from less than 1% in 2019-20.
Among first-year teachers, more than half entered classrooms without completing a formal training program, i.e., the Educator Preparation Program (EPP).
In a district like Houston ISD, the largest in the state, UH researchers found that the number of uncertified teachers grew by over 1,900% since the state takeover, from just 106 in 2022-23 to 2,122 in 2024-25. Meanwhile, the district lost over 9% of its teachers with standard certification.
In Houston, where the share of economically disadvantaged students grew from 59% in 2016-17 to 60.4% in 2024-25, the impact is noticeable.
A UH report found that over the past decade, campuses serving a student population of more than 75% economically disadvantaged students have had a lower proportion of certified teachers.
At the same time, student needs are growing. More students require bilingual support and special education services.
While the teacher workforce remains majority white, that share has declined over the past decade, dropping to about 54.1% in 2024-25. The proportion of Hispanic teachers has grown to 30.2%, and the proportion of Black teachers has grown to 11.9%. Meanwhile, more than 70% of students are non-White.
Overall, the data show a teacher workforce in transition. While Texas, and Houston in particular, continue to adapt to staffing challenges, shifts in certification and demographics are reshaping how school districts respond.
Nick Cannon and Chilli make headlines again…but for something else this time
Looks like comedian-producer Nick Cannon and singer Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas are trending again…but this time they are not fending off dating rumors.
Cannon recently shared his political opinions during an episode of his web series, Nick Cannon’s Big Drive, in which he voiced support for President Donald Trump.
He was joined by model Amber Rose, who claimed that Democrats “don’t care about Black people, don’t care about people of color, and the Republicans do.”
Cannon replied, “I agree with you 100 percent,” and called the Democratic Party “the party of the KKK.”
“They don’t care about people of color,” Cannon stated, adding Republicans “freed the slaves.”
He immediately positioned himself as politically independent.
“And honestly, I don’t subscribe to either party,” he said. “I rock with W. E. B. Du Bois, when he said there’s no such thing as two parties. It’s just one evil party with two different names.”
This quickly sparked online debates, with many users calling the remarks misinformed and irresponsible. Others applauded him for his candid remarks.
Meanwhile, “Chilli” is clarifying her stance on making donations to campaigns linked to Trump, following a The Independent report that said she made nearly $1,000 in donations to Trump’s campaign in 2024.
Now, the singer says she was misinformed about where her money was going.
“I WANT TO BE CLEAR: I am not MAGA and do not support any of the many policies that are causing great harm to the American people,” she wrote on Instagram. “I made a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print. I thought I was supporting causes against human trafficking and for veterans.”
What started as celebrity chatter has turned into a whirlwind of debates and a snapshot of how fast celebrity moments can turn political.
HISD fast-tracks middle schoolers toward Algebra I by eighth grade
Houston ISD is making a big bet on math and starting earlier than ever.
Beginning this fall, all sixth- and seventh-graders will be placed on an accelerated math track designed to prepare them for Algebra I by eighth grade.
“The sooner students get into Algebra I, the sooner that opens up additional pathways in high school to take advanced math courses and explore more career opportunities,” said Tracy Fox, HISD’s Executive Director of Math and Science.
Per the non-profit, Good Reason Houston, taking Algebra I in eighth grade is linked with a higher likelihood of attaining a postsecondary credential and earning a livable wage in young adulthood.
This finding coincides with an increase in Houston-area eighth-graders enrolled in the subject since 2023, when the state legislature passed Senate Bill 2124, which mandated that districts implement advanced algebra pathways for high-achieving fifth-graders.
