The Lewisville Education Foundation (LEF) has created a fund to reimburse Lewisville Independent School District employees for out-of-pocket certification exam and application costs.

The foundation's board approved funding for the Certification Exam Reimbursement Program in July 2026, according to the LEF's program page. The program covers Pearson certification exam fees and State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) application fees that LISD employees pay when obtaining new credentials, according to the district's certification reimbursement page.

Those costs add up. Certification exam fees typically range from $116 to $178 per test, and some certifications require multiple exams, according to the LEF's Oct. 28 announcement. An additional $78 application fee applies to add a certification to an existing Texas teaching certificate. All told, educators can face expenses of roughly $200 to $680 or more, the LEF announcement said.

LISD is home to nearly 4,000 credentialed educators. During the 2025–2026 school year, several hundred teachers pursued certification opportunities, according to the foundation.

How to apply

The program is first-come, first-served, and funding is limited. Employees must have already obtained the certification they tested for before applying for reimbursement.

The LISD certification page lists a two-step process: complete a reimbursement form, then submit it through an online application. Both links are posted on the district's page. The LEF announcement, however, said the district "is preparing to launch the application process." All reimbursements are subject to verification by LISD Human Resources, and submitting a claim does not guarantee reimbursement, according to the LEF program page.

The deadline to submit documentation is June 1, 2027, if funding has not run out before then.

Courtney Hart in LISD Human Resources handles questions about the program at 469-948-8086 or [email protected].

Where the money came from

Initial funding came through LEF's "Fund a Dream" campaign, launched at the foundation's annual gala in February 2026, according to the LEF announcement. The program is administered in partnership with LISD's Human Resources Certification Team.

LEF, founded in 1990, has invested more than $7 million in LISD initiatives over its history. In September 2025, the foundation awarded 45 teacher grants totaling $75,000 for classroom projects across the district, including grants to five Flower Mound High School educators.