With new teacher certification requirements under House Bill 2 taking effect in August 2026, the Midland-based Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) announced June 20 it is investing $5.1 million to help West Texas schools retain educators, expand certification opportunities, and build a stronger local teacher pipeline.
The investment will support Falcon Fast Track and Registered Teacher Apprenticeship programs, a fully online alternative teacher certification program administered by UTPB. The programs provide a flexible certification pathway that allows educators to remain in the classroom while earning Texas teacher certification.
The PSP investment will provide full scholarships and comprehensive academic support to up to 400 participants across 18 counties in the Texas Permian Basin, helping school districts meet new state certification requirements while strengthening the region’s educator workforce.
Falcon Fast Track supports educators who already hold a bachelor’s degree but have not yet earned Texas teacher certification to remain in the classroom while completing certification requirements. The investment also supports the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, a model that allows aspiring educators—particularly those already working in schools—to earn their degree and certification while continuing to contribute in the classroom.
“Strong schools build strong communities,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the PSP. “As Texas raises the bar for teacher certification, we have an opportunity to invest in the talented people who are already serving students in our classrooms. Falcon Fast Track and Registered Teacher Apprenticeships both help remove financial and logistical barriers so educators can earn their certification, school districts can retain experienced employees, and students continue learning from committed, high-quality teachers.”
Sandra Woodley, UTPB President, said, “At UTPB, we’re committed to preparing the educators our region needs. Falcon Fast Track and our Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program were designed to meet working professionals where they are, allowing them to earn certification without stepping away from the students who depend on them. We are grateful to the Permian Strategic Partnership for investing in solutions that will strengthen schools and create lasting opportunities for communities across West Texas.”
Outside of Midland ISD, which is already supported through a separate teacher certification scholarship initiative funded by the Scharbauer Foundation, nearly 950 teachers across the Permian Basin are currently uncertified, and in many rural districts nearly one in four teachers lacks certification. Enrollment is expected to begin later this year.
About the Permian Strategic Partnership
The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) is a coalition of 25 leading Permian Basin energy companies and two university systems that have joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges to the responsible development of the vast oil and natural gas resources of the Permian Basin in the states of New Mexico and Texas.
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