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Texas is requiring the National Board Certification to remove the emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in its teacher training materials for it to continue to be recognized as a path for Texas teachers to receive Teacher Incentive Allotment designation.
Districts with Teacher Incentive Allotment designated educators receive additional funds toward increasing teacher salaries. Funding is provided to the district for teachers who achieve a recognized, exemplary, and master designation. At least 90 percent of this funding is required to be used for teacher compensation for the campus where the designated teacher works.
The decision came as members of the State Board for Educator Certification discussed a report analyzing whether the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards complies with Texas law, specifically statutes prohibiting DEI.
The report stems from legislation passed by state lawmakers in 2025 who were concerned that materials provided by the national board included DEI instruction.
Following the review, SBEC commissioners voted for the national board to “make updates to materials to come into compliance with Texas state law” and “provide evidence of compliance to TEA staff by November 2, 2026.”
If the national board does not come into compliance, teachers will no longer be able to use this particular pathway to be qualified to receive funding from the TIA.
The review of the national board’s standards was created by SBEC-approved “contracted experts,” who were tasked with reviewing the materials from the national board to ensure compliance with state law.
In December 2025, a subcommittee was created to analyze the contracted reviewers’ findings to make a recommendation “to the full board to either reauthorize or revoke the authorization for the designation” of the national board with the TIA.
Addie Hovland is a journalist for Texas Scorecard. She hails from South Dakota and is passionate about spreading truth.