DALLAS—Programs that certify more than half the new teachers in Texas each year would adopt stricter standards under a proposal that some school districts fear will deepen its struggle to fill classroom jobs.

The new state requirements would impose tighter rules on who could be accepted to alternative certification programs, which are widely used by those looking to get into teaching from another career.

Under the proposal by the State Board for Educator Certification, so-called "alt-cert" programs could only take students who maintained at least a 2.5 grade-point average in college.

The students then must also achieve a set number of training hours before facing students in the classroom.

The proposal will come before an SBEC meeting July 25, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday.

Those in favor of the plan say stricter state regulation will enhance teacher quality and improve public school student performance.

Among those opposed are rural and high-poverty urban school districts, which worry about dwindling its number of teacher applicants.

"What all of the various requirements are going to do is keep folks from signing up to be teachers," said Kevin O'Hanlon, a lawyer and lobbyist who represents Texas Teachers for Tomorrow.

Sandi Jacobs, vice president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, supports the stricter regulations.

She said alt-cert programs are intended to help talented people enter the classroom and not just anybody.

"It's at least a step toward making sure it's not just a body in a classroom but a teacher that's going to be effective," she said.

The growth of alt-cert teachers has been substantial. In 2004, about one in 10 teachers were products of the programs. This year, it is about one in five.

Traditional university-based programs require a minimum GPA for teacher trainees and at least 12 weeks of closely supervised student teaching before graduation.

The state does not require alt-cert operators to screen applicants for a minimum GPA. And they usually consider the first year of actual teaching as a post-employment internship.

SBEC board member John Shirley, a Dallas school counselor, said he supports the proposed regulations.

"I would like to see us able to hold these programs fully accountable for the quality of training they provide," he said.