FAQs

Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) is a key part of HB3, dedicated to recruiting, supporting and retaining highly effective teachers in all schools, with particular emphasis on high need and rural schools. Districts, if they choose to, can develop a local designation system and designate high-performing teachers (Master, Exemplary or Recognized). Districts will receive additional funding ($3,000-$32,000 per year) for every designated teacher they employ. Districts will receive greater funding for designated teachers who work on rural and/or high needs campuses. At least 90% of TIA funds must be used on teacher compensation on the campus where the designated teacher works. Texas Education Agency (TEA), in partnership with Texas Tech University, will approve the local designation systems.

Increase the retention of higher performing teachers. Improve student outcomes. And close opportunity gaps.

The goal is ALL certified teachers at ALL schools will be eligible for designation over a 3-year phase-in period.
 
All schools and levels will be eligible by subject area.

• Phase 1: 2020-2021 school year – all schools - reading and math  
• Phase 2: 2021-2022 school year – all schools - reading, math, science/social studies specified courses, special education inclusion, and SIT
• Phase 3: 2022-2023 school year – all schools/all subjects - includes fine arts, PE, CTE, etc.

Waco ISD will use the following three measurements for the local designation system:
 
Measure #1 Teacher Observation/T-TESS - Strongly calibrated teacher observation system
which shows a congruence of observation scores to student growth.
 
Measure #2 Student Performance - Accurate and reliable measures of a teacherʼs
impact on student growth, with constant disaggregation and analysis of data to show a
high level of validity and reliability.
 
Measure #3 Core Leadership Practices – Includes collaborative practices, mentorship,
and extension and expansion of school community involvement.

The deadline to submit the expansion application to TEA is April 17, 2023.

Timeline also available here 

Following the data collection year, based on the 3 measures/components and weightings, the district will set the standards for each designation level and submit eligible teachers and data to TEA/Texas Tech for review against state measures.
 
Texas Education Agency (TEA) will have final approval, and it is possible that not all teachers submitted for designation by the district will be approved by TEA. Once a designation is earned by a teacher, it is not tied to a specific subject/content or grade level. Measures/ratings may be adjusted each year by the district and teachers not obtaining a designation one year may be submitted in subsequent years.

T-TESS/Observations are 50%, Student Growth are 40% and Core Leadership Practices are 10%.

Financial Impact available here.

Funding Allotment Map by District

Ninety percent of allotted funds must be used toward teacher compensation on the campus where the designated teacher works. 
 
It is possible for part of the campus funds to be used toward compensating other non-designated, highly effective teachers on that campus that contribute to student and campus growth (with a majority of the allotment paid to the designated teacher and a smaller portion divided amongst other highly effective teachers on the campus who are not yet eligible for designation). These amounts may be adjusted each year as additional teacher groups become eligible for designation.

Designated Teachers:

As long as the designated teacher remains employed by Waco ISD, they will receive a payout by August 31 of each of the five TEA designation years.

If a designated teacher resigns at the end of this school year, they will not receive the designation funds. If they resign and the district receives their allotment, the funds will be redistributed to designated teachers and other high performing teachers from the campus they were assigned for the school year.

If a designated teacher plans to retire at the end of this school year, they must notify the district in writing by May 15 in order to receive that school year’s compensation amount according to the Waco ISD approved spending plan from their designation allotment. 

Non-Designated Teachers (TIA Eligible):

If a TIA eligible teacher resigns or retires at the end of a data collection year, Waco ISD would not recommend them for designation during the fall validation process since they are no longer employed by Waco ISD. TIA is an incentive and retention program, so districts only recommend currently employed teachers for designation. Waco ISD does not forward data to other school districts.