In June, the College of Education’s Longhorns in Residence program launched its first cohort into elementary schools across Austin. The program is intended to prepare qualified, certified professionals to address Texas’ growing teacher shortage. Students who participate in the program will end with both a teacher certification and graduate certification, and a paid residency with a local school for the duration of their participation.
We have seen a rapid increase in hiring uncertified teachers in Texas, with around half of new teachers hired for the 2024-2025 school year having no certification. 30% of these teachers leave after their first year, which undermines student learning and outcomes and exacerbates teacher shortages. Alternatively, one study found that certified teachers who graduated from an approved teacher education program were more effective at garnering students’ achievement gains in reading and math.
The program is looking to grow. However, the current issue facing the program is that residencies are the most expensive way to prepare teachers, since partner districts must financially support the program.
“We’re partnering with districts that serve students of color and students who often are economically disadvantaged,” said Melissa Wetzel, the department chair of curriculum and instruction who helped design Longhorns in Residence. “That’s our commitment, both in our college and also in this particular program, to really contribute to where we see the greatest needs in our community.”
This may not be an issue for Austin Independent School District, but if the program expands, we must face the reality that many schools won’t be able to pay for the program themselves.
“It’s something districts will have to grapple with because it leads to teachers who are better trained or well developed on the first day of class, when they are teachers of record,” Ericka Jones, a learning and talent professional at AISD, said.“It is an investment.”
Not all school districts will be able to afford that investment. According to a study done by Rice University, 73% of Texas school districts are underfunded, which correlates to lower Texas Education Agency student achievement ratings. These are the schools that are most in need of qualified, certified teachers, which programs like Longhorns in Residence should prioritize expanding to. To do so, though, they need help.
As Longhorns in Residence grows, students should advocate for increased funding to the program.
“($15,000) to $18,000 is pretty typical across the state for teacher residents, but we’re hoping that that will go up to closer to $20,000 next year,” Wetzel said. “Under HB 2 … there’s actually funding for residencies that the state is going to be funneling to districts that choose to participate in PREP (Program) Allotment.”
According to Wetzel, the College of Education has utilized dean’s funds for scholarships for current residents. Furthermore, residents only pay the minimum tuition required to achieve the graduate certificate, which is the pathway for them to get their coursework and residency.
A funding increase should go towards partially paying residency student stipends, decreasing the burden on participating schools. If done on a sliding basis, districts that have less funding would have more costs covered, while higher-income schools could still pay for themselves. This would alleviate costs for schools that need it most, further reduce the teacher shortage and create more teachers for the future of education.
The program is a massive benefit to our surrounding school districts, and the university should invest in its potential.
Gray is an anthropology, government and economics junior from Baytown, Texas.
