STR Teacher Candidates

Under the STR Requirements

House Bill 3, passed during the 86th Texas Legislature, established the requirement that all teacher candidates who teach students in grades Pre-K-6 demonstrate proficiency in the science of teaching reading on a new, standalone certification exam. This requirement took effect on January 1, 2021.

The STR exam is required for the issuance of five certification fields.

	Early Childhood: EC – Grade 3
	Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Early Childhood–Grade 6
	Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4–8
	English Language Arts and Reading with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4–8​
	English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4–8

Teacher candidates who have finished their educator preparation program and have been issued their standard certification in Core Subjects: EC-6, Core Subjects: 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading: 4-8, or English Language Arts and Social Studies: 4-8 prior to December 31, 2020 will not be required to take the STR certification exam. 

STR Exam Timelines and Requirements 

STR Exam Timelines and Requirements Overview [Updated Feb. 2021] 

Overview: A short informational overview of the STR exam requirement and the timelines associated with the STR exam. This overview is designed as a tool to support educator preparation programs and teacher candidates understand critical requirements and deadlines related to the January 1, 2021 STR exam mandate.  

Important Information for  All Impacted Teacher Candidates

All teacher candidates who are pursuing standard certification in one of the impacted certification fields should review the important information and action steps linked below.  

Important information for teacher candidates who will have finished a preparation program prior to December 31, 2020 

	Teachers with one-year probationary certificates issued under the Governor's waiver of certification exam requirements in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19
	Teacher candidates who will have finished an educator preparation program by December 2020

Important information for teacher candidates who will finish a preparation program after January 1, 2021 

	Core Subjects:Grades 4-8
	Core Subjects: Early Childhood - Grade 6
	English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 4-8
	English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies: Grades 4-8