For Teachers Teachers Working in a Participating District

If a district has a TIA local designation system, teachers have the opportunity to earn additional compensation for achieving exceptional instruction and student growth.

Introduction
Local Designation Systems

A local designation system allows districts to identify their top-performing teachers based on student growth and classroom observation. Alongside statewide performance standards, districts set their own criteria for qualifications at each level of designation.

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TIA Designations
Identifying Excellent Instruction

Designations are distinctions awarded to highly effective teachers. TIA established three levels of designation: Recognized, Exemplary, and Master. Designations are awarded to teachers either through their district’s local designation system or by achieving National Board Certification. A local designation system can designate teachers at any level. Designated teachers generate funds for their district based on their level of designation, the socioeconomic needs of their campus, and whether the campus is rural. Teachers maintain their designations for five school years, even if they move districts.

Learn About Designations

How to Earn a TIA Designation

Getting Designated How to Earn a TIA Designation

Earning a designation through a district’s local system is a regulated process spanning two or more school years. First is a qualifying year, in which the district gathers teacher performance data. The following fall, the district uses the prior year data to determine teacher designations. Approval for district designation systems and new designations is contingent upon an annual data validation review process. New designations are awarded annually in the spring. Teachers must remain with the same district through both years to earn a designation.

The Qualifying Year

Local Designation Eligibility The Qualifying Year

Districts determine which teaching assignments are eligible under the local designation system. Some districts include all teaching assignments, while other districts start out with a subset of eligible teaching assignments, and expand their system in subsequent years. TEA has no restrictions on which teaching assignments may be included in a local designation system.

Designations are determined by the district based on teacher performance data. Districts must have a valid and reliable teacher observation component and student growth component to determine designations. This includes a valid appraisal rubric for teacher observation and an approved method for scoring and measuring student growth. Districts may also include local components, such as teacher leadership, attendance, or student surveys.

Districts set local cut points for each level of designation. Districts may consider statewide performance standards and local priorities when establishing designation cut points.

The Designation Year

TEA Eligibility Checks The Designation Year

Each fall, implementing districts have the option to submit teachers for new or higher designations based on performance data from the prior year. Teachers who have resigned or retired after the qualifying year, or moved to a non-teaching position, are ineligible for a designation. 

Teachers submitted for designation must meet the following criteria to earn a new or higher designation through their local designation system:

  • Does not hold an active designation, unless being submitted for higher designation or designated through National Board certification
  • Still employed as a teacher by the designating district (087 PEIMS Role ID) as of the last Friday in February
  • Does not have a Texas teaching certificate in revoked, suspended, voluntary surrender, or permanent surrender status
  • Is not listed on the Texas Do Not Hire registry
  • Met or will meet the creditable year of service requirement by the end of the school year

A creditable year of service requires that the teacher was employed and compensated (or will be by the end of the school year) in a teaching role for 50% or more of the day for a minimum of 180 days; or, 100% of the day for a minimum of 90 days, or the equivalent of one semester.

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Funding for Classroom Teachers

Eligibility Funding for Classroom Teachers

Designated teachers generate an annual allotment for their employing school district when they meet the Texas Education Agency’s eligibility requirements: 

  • Employed and compensated by a Texas school system in a teacher role (087 role ID in PEIMS) for at least 90 days at 100% of the day or 180 days at 50–99% of the day
  • Reported by the above Texas school system in a teacher role (087 role ID in PEIMS) during that year’s Class Roster Winter Submission in February

Districts create their own spending plans based on local needs; the percentage awarded to the designated teacher varies by school district. Some districts award TIA compensation through single or multiple stipends, whereas other districts incorporate TIA funds into an elevated salary schedule for teachers.

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Get in Touch with Your District

For Answers Get in Touch with Your District

For questions regarding their district’s local designation system or plan for allotted funds, teachers are encouraged to contact their district directly for answers.

Teachers Working in a Participating District FAQs

Teachers Working in a Participating District FAQs

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).