How it Works
The Benefits of TIA for Teachers
The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) gives teachers an accessible pathway to earning a higher income while remaining in the classroom, allowing them to make a greater difference in the lives of Texas students. TIA elevates the teaching profession and allows districts to celebrate their top performing teachers with compensation and recognition through teacher designations.
Not Achievement Based
Prioritizing Student Growth
Unlike previous incentive programs based on achievement data, TIA requires districts to identify effective teachers based on the growth of their students over the course of a school year. Districts are not required to use STAAR data or other standardized assessments for the local designation system.Rather than using the magnitude of growth, effectiveness is measured by the impact teachers have on all students by setting growth at the individual student level.
Funding for Teachers
Helping Keep Effective Teachers in the Classroom
TIA is funding for classroom teachers. Teachers with designations generate funding for their districts. At minimum, 90% of funds must be spent on teacher compensation at the campus where the designated teacher works. Funds are not limited to designated teacher pay, but may be divided among other teachers. The amount of funding the designated teacher earns varies by campus based on their designation level, the socioeconomic needs at a campus, the rural status of a campus, and the spending plan created by the district.
What it Means
Teacher Designations
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 district with a local designation system may submit teachers for designation to TEA at any level. Teachers with an active National Board certification may be designated as Recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Once a teacher is designated, they generate an annual allotment for their employing school district based on their campus of employment as long as they meet the eligibility requirements by TEA.
Once a teacher is designated, they generate an annual allotment for their employing school district based on their campus of employment as long as they meet the eligibility requirements by TEA.
How it Works Becoming a Designated Teacher
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Earning a Designation
Districts have the option to build a local designation system with evaluation criteria based on teacher observation and student growth data to identify their most effective teachers. Teachers can also earn a designation through achieving National Board certification.
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Funding Eligibility
Once a teacher earns a designation, they must continue to meet TEA eligibility requirements to generate an allotment for their district.
Recognizing Established Excellence
National Board Certification
National Board certification is a voluntary advanced professional certification for PreK–12 educators overseen by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Candidates must demonstrate teaching expertise through content exams and performance-based, peer-reviewed portfolio assessments. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) working as classroom teachers earn a Recognized designation. The designation expires the July following expiration of the teacher’s National Board Certification. NBCT candidates earn a designation the same school year in which they successfully certify.
Participating Districts
Find Out if a District is Participating in TIA
Unlike previous education programs, TIA is not a grant and teachers do not apply for the funds. Teachers can be awarded a designation that results in TIA funding when their school district participates in developing a local designation system. Explore the funding map to see which districts are participating in TIA.