Ongoing Designation Submissions Processing New and Higher Teacher Designations
Fully approved districts may submit new or higher designations annually. However, they must continue to provide evidence that the designation system continues to be valid and reliable through annual data submission and validation.
TEA continues to review data validation results and approves the district to issue new or higher designations annually. If data validation indicates the system is no longer valid and reliable, new designations are not processed, and the district may submit data again the following year.
Teacher Celebratory Materials
Teacher Communication Templates
Requirements Designation Policies
Teachers may not be submitted for an equal or lower designation. Once a teacher’s designation expires, an approved district may submit them for a new or higher designation if they meet the local performance criteria.
Teachers may only have one active designation at a time. Recognized and Exemplary teachers who meet an approved district’s performance criteria may be submitted for a higher level of designation. In these cases, the five-year clock restarts, and the lower designation becomes inactive.
National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) who qualify for designation through their district’s local designation system may be put forth for any level of designation. TEA defaults to the higher designation, and the NBCT designation becomes inactive. In the case of NBCTs with two Recognized designations, the later expiry date applies.
Awarding Designations FAQsAwarding Designations FAQs
Will districts have to submit data every year?
Districts submit data for all teachers in eligible teaching assignments each year that they put forth new teachers for designation.
What if a designated teacher moves to a non-teaching role, such as instructional coach, counselor, or administrator?
Designated teachers who move to a Role ID other than 087 will maintain their designation. However they will not generate annual allotment funding if they are not in a 087 teaching role. Teachers who move to a non-teaching position prior to formally earning a designation relinquish eligibility.
Are designations attached to a particular grade level or subject area?
Unlike certificates, designations are general. The designation is placed on the teacher’s SBEC certificate and does not specify a certification area, subject, or grade level. A teacher may change teaching assignments and will still generate allotment funding. The same applies to National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs).
What if a designated teacher’s performance level changes within the five-year period? Can their designation level change?
Teacher designations are valid for five years. Within the five-year period, teachers may be put forth for a higher designation if their performance qualifies them, but they cannot be submitted for a lower designation. Some district spending plans may include variability based on continued performance levels.
What happens after the five-year designation expires?
Designated teachers who meet performance standards and district qualifications can be put forth for a new designation in the fall after the designation expires. The new designation will be retroactive to the beginning of the school year. Once the designation expires, it will be removed from the SBEC certificate (if applicable) and allotment funding will no longer be generated.