TIA is based on two sections of the Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.3521 (Local Optional Teacher Designation System) and §48.112 (Teacher Incentive Allotment). Local optional teacher designation systems (local designation systems or systems) allow districts to identify and designate highly effective teachers.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) is a program that provides top-performing teachers an accessible pathway to a six-figure salary without having to leave the classroom. When a teacher earns a designation through their district’s local designation system or holds a National Board Certification, the designated teacher generates extra funding for their district.

Districts may create a local system to designate high-performing teachers as Recognized, Exemplary, or Master for five years based on the results of single or multi-year appraisal data. A local designation system allows districts to identify their top-performing teachers and target areas of improvement for teachers who did not qualify.

Designations are distinctions awarded to highly effective teachers by using data. There are three levels of designation: Recognized, Exemplary, and Master. Designations are awarded to teachers through a district local teacher designation system. Teacher performance data includes teacher observation data, student growth measures data, and data from optional components the district chooses to include in their system.

*All campus-level appraisers are engaging in T-TESS calibration practices. This action will ensure the teacher observations are valid and reliable as part of the data to determine the teacher’s effectiveness.

Staff employed as teachers (087 Role ID in the Public Education Information Management System [PEIMS]) and serving in eligible teaching assignments can be eligible for TIA designation in alignment with the district’s local designation system. The following have been identified as eligible teaching assignments in Cohort 1 of our district’s local designation system.

• Elementary School - Math (K-5), RLA (K-5), Science (3-5)
• Middle School – Math, RLA, Science
• High School - English I & II, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Biology

FBISD has the opportunity to identify additional teaching assignments for TIA eligibility by April 2026.

A teacher will maintain their TIA designation for 5 years as long as they remain in a teaching position. Once 5 years has passed, a teacher must requalify to receive a designation.

FBISD is exploring opportunities to include additional teachers who are not currently eligible for TIA designation as part of cohort 1. Information about additional teacher roles to be included in a future cohort will be made available on the FBISD TIA website as this information is determined. 

Student Learning Objectives (SLO) within the TTESS rubric are not a part of TIA Cohort I. Student growth for a teacher's score is calculated using NWEA MAP assessments.

Any eligible teachers who change grade levels or content areas after the school year will not have any impact on their designation eligibility as long as they continue to serve as an 087 teacher. If an eligible teacher moves grade levels or content areas DURING the school year, they may lose their eligibility if in cohort I, more than 50% of their students at BOY snapshot change by EOY. 

A departmentalized teacher will receive allotment funds if the students they teach show growth and they meet the other eligibility requirements.  

TIA designations are awarded annually. So a teacher designation can change based on the data that is submitted each year. A teacher's designation can be raised, however their designation cannot be lowered within the 5 years. If you are designated Recognized one year and do not qualify the subsequent year, you are still designated Recognized for the 5 years. 

Based upon the Board approved Spending Plan, designated teachers will receive 90% of the allotment funds. The remaining 10% will be retained by the district to support the implementation and support of the local designation system.

Teachers who earn “Recognized” designations will earn between $3,000 to $9,000. Teachers who earn “Exemplary” designations will earn between $6,000 to $18,000. Teachers who earn “Master” designations will earn between $12,000 to $32,000. The Board approved Spending Plan articulates that teachers will receive 90% of the generated allotment.

EXAMPLE(S):

• A teacher who generates $3,000 will receive $2,700 while a teacher who generates $32,000 will receive $28,800.

Allotment amounts are defined by TEA and dependent on teacher designation level, campus socio-economic level, and campus rural status. Please visit TIA Funding Map for more information.

While designations are tied to the teacher and not their employing district or campus, allotment funds are awarded to the district where the teacher was employed as of the last Friday in February. For teachers who meet eligibility criteria, the district employing the teacher as of the last Friday in February will receive funds for that school year and must spend the allotment funds by August 31. The percentage of allotment awarded to the designated teacher varies by district. Districts are not required to forward funds if the teacher resigns or retires before August 31. If a designated teacher moves to a new district or campus between school years, the allotment for the next school year will be recalculated in April based on the new campus’ rural status and level of socioeconomic need.

All TIA teacher compensation is Teacher Retirement System (TRS) eligible. A member can “work out of the limit” – the member will need to contact a TRS Benefit Counselor when they are ready to retire to determine if this limit will impact their retirement annuity calculation.

Compensation will be paid via stipend in one lump sum payment at the end of the fiscal year (August 31) in which the designation was awarded. 

House Bill 2, passed as part of the 89th Legislature, included adjustments to the Teacher Incentive Allotment, such as the addition of a fourth designation level and provides increased funding towards designated teachers. We will provide updates through the district’s TIA website as TEA communicates specificity around the implementation of these changes.