Teacher Performance Data How Designations are Determined
There are several components of teacher performance data that go into a district’s decision around determining designations, including:
- Teacher Observation (required by statute)
- Student Growth (required by statute)
- Optional components, such as survey results, teacher leadership, etc. (not required by statute)
Districts must use data from these components as outlined by their System Application to determine which teachers qualify for each level of designation. This is typically done by using the statewide performance standards that the state established as a guide.
Districts may publish the component weighting and designation cut points before the end of the year or defer until they have analyzed their complete data. Most districts without full system approval choose to determine designations in the early fall following the Data Capture Year.
Designation Determination Webinar 2023
Designation Determination Analysis Tool
Designation Determination Tool 2023 – T – TESS
Designation Determination Tool 2023 Sample Data
Guidelines for Designations Statewide Performance Standards
Designation criteria and cut points for each level of designation are determined by the district; TEA does not select which teachers qualify or reject individual teacher designations. However, TEA established performance standards to serve as guidelines for districts when evaluating teacher effectiveness and setting designation criteria.
The statewide performance standards established teacher observation and student growth ratings for each level of designation using statewide teacher performance data. For teacher observation, the performance standards were determined using statewide T-TESS observation data. Student growth performance standards were determined through a value-added model using STAAR data across five years.
The statewide performance standards serve as a guide and reference when developing a designation system and when making designation decisions. Districts may compare local observation and student growth data with statewide teacher performance to establish local cut points for each level of designation. TEA re-evaluates statewide performance standards regularly using statewide data from both STAAR and T-TESS to ensure consistency with current teacher performance.
TEA requires a minimum score of proficient for all observable dimensions. Outside the observation proficiency requirement, TEA does not require exact alignment with the performance standards.
How to Use Statewide Performance StandardsHow to Use Statewide Performance Standards
As districts design their local designation system, they must consider how to incorporate the statewide performance standards when determining designation criteria. Note that performance standards represent statewide percentages. A district’s top 5% of teachers may align, exceed, or fall below the observation and student growth performance standards.
Before establishing designation cut points, districts may study how their teachers perform in comparison to teachers across the state. Designated teachers may perform above or below the performance standards, and designation levels may not align for each teacher’s observation and student growth data.
Percentages May VaryPercentages May Vary
While designations represent the top performing teachers in the state of Texas, districts that submit teachers for designations through their local designation system may find that they have more or less than the numbers represented. Any teacher that meets a local designation system’s eligibility requirements and the minimum proficiency observation ratings may be submitted for designation.
Determining DesignationsDetermining Designations
A successful designation system ensures only highly effective teachers qualify for designation. This requires careful consideration of the validity and reliability of the collected data points for each eligible teaching assignment.
Prior to data submission, districts review teacher performance data and determine which teachers will qualify for Recognized, Exemplary, and Master designations. TEA provides annual training and guidance related to the designation determination processes.
Verifying Teacher EligibilityDesignation Criteria Verifying Teacher Eligibility
In addition to district designation cut points and optional local designation criteria, districts must confirm teacher eligibility before assigning designations. With the passage of HB1525 in 2021, a valid Texas teaching certificate is no longer required. Uncertified teachers who meet their district’s performance criteria may earn designations.
The following criteria must apply in order for a teacher to be eligible for designation:
| Criteria | Data Capture Year | Designation Year |
|---|---|---|
| Employed by the District | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employed as a Teacher | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employed in an Eligible Teaching Assignment | ✓ | |
| Minimum Score of “Proficient” or Equivalent for All Observable Dimensions | ✓ | |
| Coded with a 087 Role ID in PEIMS | ✓ | |
| Creditable Year of Service in a Teaching Role | ✓ |
Districts may not designate teachers who have resigned, retired, or permanently moved to a full-time non-teaching role prior to data submission. Additionally, teachers may not earn a designation if they separate from the district or move to a non-teaching role after a district submits them for designation but prior to the last Friday in February.
Communicating Designation DecisionsSharing the News Communicating Designation Decisions
When and how the district communicates designations to teachers is a local decision. Some districts publish cut-off points and notify teachers before summer break if their performance data from the current school year qualifies for designation. Some districts determine designations over the summer and notify teachers in the fall before data submission.
It is important for districts to communicate with teachers and ensure they understand the eligibility requirements and timelines for earning a designation. Designations are also contingent upon data validation results. Many districts in their Data Capture Year wait on communicating designations until they are formally approved in the spring following data validation results.
Determining Designations FAQs
Determining Designations FAQs
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.