TEA's Do Not Hire registry growing each year

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Education Agency's (TEA) Do Not Hire registry is growing each year.

On Wednesday, the State Board of Education spent the afternoon discussing the list and what can be done to improve it.

The registry is a public searchable database, warning school district's who not to hire.

"In fiscal year 2024, 536 individuals were subject to formal enforcement and placed on the do not hire list," said TEA Commissioner Mike Morath.

The Do Not Hire registry started in 2020 and had about 1,500 people on the registry, but over the years has continued to see more people added.

In FY 2020, there were 288 people added, but one year later, that number increased to 375 people.

The TEA places both certified and uncertified educators on the registry for crimes like engaging in abuse of a child, engaging in solicitation of a romantic relationship with a student, or committing a crime with a student.

Cracking down on these bad apples is top of mind for some lawmakers at the Texas Capitol.

At a Senate committee meeting on Tuesday, lawmakers showed bipartisan support for legislation that would increase penalties for school leaders who fail to report suspected sexual abuse, and a bill sparked by a KXAN investigation, which would increase the Texas Education Agency's authority to investigate school contractors accused of unlawful acts.

During the public hearing, where multiple witnesses detailed their personal experiences with sexual misconduct on a school campus, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said he planned to introduce a newer version of Senate Bill 571, which is aimed at increasing the number of personnel TEA can investigate for misconduct, including contractors and uncertified personnel.