What is TIA?

Specific information about the PfISD Teacher Incentive Allotment program is available to PfISD teachers in the PfISD TIA Guidebook at this link.

 

House Bill 3 (HB3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019, established an initiative named the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) with a stated goal of a six-figure salary for teachers. TIA funds help Texas school systems reward, retain, and recruit highly effective teachers. The funding formula prioritizes high needs and rural campuses.

TIA was established to recognize effective teachers at three designation levels: Recognized, Exemplary, and Master. These teacher designations generate additional teacher-focused allotment funding for districts to reward their top performers.

This is not a merit-pay approach to teacher performance-based compensation and it will not replace the district’s current pay structure. For those who earn a designation based on teacher observation and student growth, the compensation will be an additional state stipend completely separate from the current PfISD pay structure. However, this stipend is credited in the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and will be used in retirement benefit calculations.

The amount of funding a teacher can receive is determined by a formula that considers the level of socioeconomic need at the campus where they serve and whether the campus is rural. These amounts are subject to change each year based on the school's level of socioeconomic need.

TEA understands that it’s especially challenging to recruit highly effective teachers to some schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged students. This incentive model is intended to attract AND retain teachers to areas with the greatest need by providing increased compensation. 

There are two paths for teachers to obtain the Recognized designation: 

1. National Board Certification
2. Local Designation System (PfISD TIA Designation System)

 

The Exemplary and Master designations can be earned through a local designation system only, which must show validity and reliability in the data verification process.

Districts participating in TIA must create a local designation system that incorporates teacher observation, student growth measures, and may opt to have other locally selected measures to determine the qualifying teachers in the district. These eligible teachers can then earn a designation as a Recognized, Exemplary, or Master teacher. Once a teacher earns a designation, the designation is valid for five years and is transferable if the teacher moves to teach a different subject or grade or moves districts within the state. During those five years, a teacher’s performance can be submitted for a higher designation based on the criteria of the local designation system, but cannot have their designation level decreased.

To be able to designate teachers, the district’s system must be fully approved through a rigorous two-step application and validation process. This process includes 1.) data validation conducted by Texas Tech University (TTU), and 2.) a full holistic system review by TEA. In February 2023, PfISD received full 5-year system approval starting with the first Data Capture Year 2021-2022 through 2025-2026 with application for system renewal due in April 2026 to continue system implementation.