According to the Texas Education Agency, the TIA program provides a pathway for teachers to earn a six-figure salary based on performance standards in teacher evaluation and student progress.
House Bill 3 established the TIA program in 2019, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed during the 86th Texas legislative session.
What it means
TIA-recognized districts receive an annual allotment for each designated teacher they employ, according to the TEA website. The districts may use the funds to encourage teachers to remain in the classroom and prioritize high-need campuses.
“This is a significant step in our district’s journey down 'The Path to Amazing' as we recognize, reward and retain our most effective teachers,” Killian said in a Feb. 10 news release. “We commend our dedicated educators who have demonstrated their excellence in the classroom.”
According to the TEA, the school of a teacher who earned a designation through the TIA program receives additional funding from the state based on their designation level.
TIA programs include:
- Three designation levels based on teaching effectiveness: Master, Exemplary or Recognized
- Funds for districts to receive $3,000-$32,000 for each designated teacher
- Prioritization for high-need and rural campuses
- A requirement that 90% of state funding from the program must be spent on teacher compensation on the designated teacher’s campus
CFISD submitted its first data set for eligible teachers in October 2023. Of the 3,588 CFISD teachers submitted for evaluation, 1,075 were recommended for designation, according to the news release. Based on 2023-24 campus allotments, the districtwide estimated funding amount is more than $7 million.
“It’s an additional pot of money the Legislature has set aside to reward teachers,” Killian said at the meeting. “We know we’re going to continue to get more teachers designated, and it’s just going to mean more money, keep them in the profession and make this profession even more beneficial.”
The TIA plan for CFISD includes the following teaching assignments:
- K-8th grade reading and math teachers
- 3rd-5th grade science teachers
- Algebra I teachers
- English I and II teachers
- Special education resource and in-class support teachers
- 4th-12th grade LIFE Skills teachers
Designated teachers will receive allotments annually for five years beginning this June. TIA campus allotments are updated annually in April and are determined by the TEA based on student demographics and the campus’s rural status.
“If you serve on an economically disadvantaged campus that has a high percentage of poverty, and you’re able to move student performance, you’re going to make more money in our district,” Killian said at the meeting. “Once you’re designated, you continue to get that money year over year.”
