District Reflection The TIA Renewal Process
TIA offers five-year system approvals for local designation systems. If districts would like to continue issuing new designations, then they will need to submit a renewal application with enough time to meet the data submission and system approval timelines before the expiration date of their current system.
The renewal process is a streamlined opportunity for districts to
- Meet current statutory requirements
- Holistically review the existing system to identify strengths and areas for continuous improvement, and
- Expand or modify a local designation system to include additional eligible teaching assignments.
Key Components of System Renewal
District goals and needs may change significantly over five years. To ensure their local designation system is still set up to provide the best value to their teachers, and still follows the requirements set by TIA, districts take the following actions through the system renewal process:
- Check that the district’s local designation system aligns with current TIA requirements, which may have been updated since their initial System Application
- Update their local designation system and spending plan to reflect the district’s current goals and needs
- Reflect holistically on the district’s system using data validation information and local district data to continuously improve the district system
- Work to include more teaching assignments in the local designation system to expand opportunities for teachers to earn designations
- Submit updated teacher observation and student growth data that demonstrates the positive impact the local designation system has had on the district
Planning Ahead When Districts Need to Apply for Renewal
Districts are required to submit a Renewal Application in the spring of their Renewal Application Year if they want to continue to designate teachers after their initial five-year system approval. In the summer prior to a district’s Renewal Application Year, they will be notified by TEA of their need to begin the renewal process.
Submitting an Expansion and Modification Application during the four-year period does not restart the district’s renewal timeline. The district’s Renewal Application Year is only tied to the initial System Application acceptance year, regardless of any expansions and/or modifications made to the System of Record during that period. Districts with an expired system will need to reapply with a new TIA System Application to continue designating teachers.
System Renewal ChronologySystem Renewal Chronology
- Initial System Application
The initial System Application is accepted, and the district has an accepted System of Record. - Initial Data Capture Year
This is the first school year after the application is accepted. District collects data for all teachers in eligible categories on their System of Record. Note: no teacher appraisal waivers are allowed for teachers in eligible teaching assignments during this school year. - Data Submission and Validation
District submits the previous year’s data and data is validated by Texas Tech and TEA. If district passes data validation, they become Fully Approved, and allotments are generated. If the district data is not validated, they are not Fully Approved and would need to submit data again until the district data is validated. - Continue to Implement the System
Fully Approved Districts continue to implement their System of Record and each year prior to the Renewal Application Year may submit additional teachers for designation based on the previous school year’s data. Districts also may submit an Expansion & Modification Application each year, as needed, prior to the Renewal Application Year. - Renewal Application Year
The summer before the district’s Renewal Application Year, district is notified of the upcoming renewal process. District is expected to renew to avoid a gap year in designating teachers after system expiry. District continues to implement their current System of Record and may submit teachers for designation from the previous school year’s data. - Renewal Data Capture Year
District collects data for all teachers in eligible categories on the accepted renewed system. The district may submit teachers for designation from the previous school year’s data. Initial System of Record expires.
System Renewal FAQs
Does a district’s plan to expand or modify the local designation system at the time of renewal require a separate, additional Expansion and Modification Application?
No. The completion of the Renewal Application supplants the need for a separate Expansion and Modification Application in the same year.
If a district has submitted an Expansion and Modification Application since their initial System Application, do they still need to apply for renewal?
Yes. All districts that received initial system approval must submit a renewal application to continue to operate an approved TIA system. Districts are encouraged to access and complete the renewal application as early as possible in the required renewal year to ensure the application deadline can be met.
Can districts with an approved system submit an early Renewal Application?
No. Districts will be notified directly when renewal applications are required and should plan on renewing in the fourth year after the approved system application.
What happens if a district does not apply, or is not approved, for renewal?
Districts can designate teachers in the last school year of their five-year system approval period based on the previously approved system. However, the district’s prior approved system would expire and would not be eligible to designate teachers in the following school year.