Amarillo Independent School District

Graphic of a pencil, a globe, a book and apple, a teacher with kindergarten kids, and the words "AISD Teacher Incentive Allotment"

Teacher Incentive Allotment: How TIA Was Created
HB 3, 86th Legislature, included a massive increase in teacher pay. The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was established with a stated goal of a six-figure salary for teachers. TIA allotment funds help Texas school systems reward, retain and recruit highly effective teachers. The funding formula prioritizes high needs and rural campuses.

Districts can now create compensation plans based on teacher effectiveness and student equity. This new model creates a path for outstanding teachers to earn a six-figure salary–thus, reducing the desire for highly effective teachers to leave the classroom.

TIA builds upon the success of past national incentive programs while removing previous barriers to success. TIA is available to all Texas teachers through their district or National Board.

Learn more about the Teacher Incentive Allotment (Opens in new window).

Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Newsletter
Find out what’s next, key dates on the calendar, links to resources and more!

View the TIA Newsletter 1-28-2022 (PDF opens in new window).

Teacher Incentive Allotment Cohort E Readiness Checklist
Please view the Teacher Incentive Allotment Cohort E Readiness Checklist (PDF opens in new window).

For districts planning to create a Teacher Incentive Allotment local designation system with a data capture year of 2022-2023 (Cohort E) and beyond, the Readiness Checklist includes best practices beyond what is required in statute and what is required for “full readiness” on the application. Reviewing this document provides districts the insight needed to receive “full readiness” in each component of the TIA application. “Full readiness” is the score a district receives on their TIA system application when all the criteria are met.

Teacher Incentive Allotment FAQs

1) What are the teacher designation levels?
The teacher designation levels are:

Recognized

Exemplary

Master
2) What are the yearly eligibility groups of teachers?
The yearly eligibility groups of teachers are:

Year 1: 4-8 RLA/Math, English I, Algebra I and SPED teachers who directly support them

Year 2: All other CORE teachers (RLA, Math, Sci, and SS)

Year 3: All other AISD Teachers
3) Are any other staff included?

No, the TIA is only for teachers who are coded as 087 in the PEIMS description. Basically–only teachers.
4) Are part time teachers included?

Yes. However, a part time teacher must work for at least 90 days at 100% of the day or 180 days at 50-90% of the day.
5) Will data be beginning, middle and end of the school year on the same students? Or end of year data from year to year?

This is To Be Determined. The Student Growth sub-committee will make those determinations.
6) Could teachers be reminded of who the hard-to-fill campuses are?

Hard to fill campuses are not part of the TIA.
7) Will teachers have to be evaluated every year once receiving their designation? Or just once every 5 years since the designation is for 5 years?

Once a designation is earned, they would fall back into the 1 formal observation (based on campus/teacher input) every 5 years, unless they wanted to move up a designation level.
8) Is the decision for the percentages going to be set in stone? Or can it be adjusted?

Once we get input from all staff, we'll use the AISD Teacher survey’s most chosen percentage. We can always make changes, but some (like changing the percentages) would require approval by TEA.
9) Are first year teachers eligible?

Absolutely. All teachers who are in the current eligibility group are eligible (see FAQ #2 in this section, which is titled “What are the teacher designation levels?”).
10) Will this incentive be considered a stipend or part of a teacher’s salary?

TIA funds are considered direct compensation and will count toward TRS retirement calculations.
11) How do teachers apply for National Board Certification?

Teachers interested may receive more information by visiting https://tiatexas.org/national-board-certification-and-tia/ (Opens in new window). This link is on slide 8 of 11 in the Teacher introduction PPT.
12) If the designation earned is good for 5 years, are we required to continue to submit data for review during that 5 years for that particular teacher?

After the initial data submission, unless a teacher wants to move up in designation level, there will be no more data collection submitted to TTU in the remaining years.
13) Will this money affect future pay raises?

No, this money is not tied to AISD expenditures. This is solely an over and above incentive program from TEA.
14) What does student growth mean?

The Student Growth sub-committee is working now to make the decisions. In other exemplar plans across the state, student growth is measured by an ealy year measure and a late year measure.
15) For teachers who serve special education students, will growth be for the students they serve, or will it be a broader group they are measured on?

This is a question that the Student Growth sub-committee will address in the coming weeks.
16) What about students who move in/out? How will growth be measured for them?

This is a question that the Student Growth sub-committee will address in the coming weeks.
17) Does the District have any plans to support teachers in obtaining their National Board Certification, such as reimbursement or stipend?

At this time, there is no plan to financially support teachers in obtaining his/her National Board Certification. Once this has been achieved, the teacher is automatically eligible for a Recognized Designation that comes with a fund disbursement from TEA.
18) When will the decision be made as to how the funds will be paid?

The Compensation sub-committee is working now to make this decision.
19) If you are in the eligibility group for that year, can you opt out of TIA or the formal observation?

If a teacher is in the eligibility group, he/she is required to go through the Formal Observation process. However, the teacher may choose not to put his/her name up for designation.
20) How was the Steering Committee chosen?

Members from most areas of AISD were asked to be part of the Steering Committee (i.e. teachers, maintenance, administration, CAS, teacher organization representatives).
21) Does this only apply to classroom teachers? Does it include intervention teachers, Reading Recovery?

This is only for teachers who are coded as an 087. Not all staff will be eligible.
22) What additional work will there be required from teachers?

There should be no additional work for teachers, except for gaining an understanding of the TIA and its components.
23) Would ACC/specialized classroom teachers be eligible for the first cohort?

Any teacher who gives direct instruction to students in the eligibility group qualifies for the TIA.
24) Can assistant music directors qualify when electives are added?

Any teacher who gives direct instruction to students in the eligibility group qualifies for the TIA.

Old Teacher Incentive Allotment

Teacher Incentive Allotment FAQs

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