Teacher Incentive Allotment
Magnolia ISD is a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) district. The plan submitted to the Texas Education Agency on April 15, 2022, was developed by a stakeholder committee including teachers and staff from across the district and included input opportunities for all district teachers. MISD received approval in February 2024.
The TIA was created by the Texas Legislature as part of House Bill 3 to help recruit, retain, and reward effective educators in the classroom at high-needs campuses. The TIA provides additional funding to eligible teachers who earn local designations through this allotment system. The TIA recognizes effective teachers on three different levels: Recognized, Exemplary, and Master. These teacher designations generate additional teacher-focused allotment funding for districts in order for them to reward their top performers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does MISD want to participate in the TIA?
To recruit, retain, and reward the best teachers at our campuses with the highest needs and encourage the professional growth and development of teachers.
What is the TIA?
HB 3 established the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) to recognize effective teachers on three different levels: Recognized, Exemplary and Master. These teacher designations generate additional teacher-focused allotment funding for districts in order for them to reward their top performers.
What does this mean for Magnolia ISD teachers?
Teachers who qualify for the first year and are interested in participating in the Teacher Incentive Allotment program (TIA) can review the information on the TIA webpage or speak to a TIA committee member to determine elgibility. Teachers also have the option to try to become National Board Certified.
Who can earn a designation?
PHASE 1:
Elementary: K-4 Reading and Math and Interventionist
Intermediate: 5-6 Reading and Math and 5th Science
Junior High: 7-8 Reading and Math and 8th Science and History
High School: English I and II, Algebra I, Biology, US History
*Must teach two periods in eligible groups
Will my campus be a part of this?
Yes, qualifing teachers on all elementary, intermediate, and junior high campuses will be eligible for a designation.
How much money is allotted to each designation?
The 2021-2022 funding amounts:
Master $12,861 - $18,018
Exemplary $6,517 - $9,611
Recognized $3,258 - $4,805
https://tiatexas.org/funding/
How are designations determined?
60% Student Growth, 30% Teacher Observation TTESS, 10% Team or content student growth
Why is this good for all teachers?
Opportunities for teachers to earn incentive pay of any type is a huge step for the teaching profession. While this program may not benefit all teachers in the beginning, additional phases are planned.
How has this process been communicated?
Campus overview presentation, surveys, FAQs, handbook, website, video. Include dates of communications.
What is the timeline for teachers at identified campuses?
Magnolia ISD is in Cohort E.
21/22 - Application
22/23 - Capture Data
23/24 - Designate and Compensate
How will TTESS observations be calibrated?
Magnolia ISD requires appraisers to calibrate once per semester at Leadership meetings using state provided videos to ensure all appraisers are calibrated. At any point, if it is determined that appraisers are not calibrated, additional training will be provided by the district.
How will a teacher qualify for the TIA?
National Board Certified teachers currently classified as a classroom teacher automatically qualifes them at Recognized status, regardless of campus assignment. Additionally, Texas school districts have the option to develop their own designation systems for highly effective teachers. The designation system relies upon, at a minimum, teacher observation and student growth measures. Optional components may be defined locally, such as professional growth or parent surveys.
How will the allotment funds work in conjunction with the current district salary schedule?
The allotment funds will not replace the current District salary schedule. TIA compensation will be in addition to the District’s salary schedule. (Get with HR to determine the payout date(s).
How will TIA compensation affect my TRS wages?
TIA compensation will be included in the annual wages reported to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and will be used when calculating retirement benefits. TRS benefits are subject to TRS rules and regulations.
How will TIA funds be distributed?
Current MISD board policy states that 90% of funds are allocated to the designated teacher. The remaining 10% will be used for training and support of the system, expansion of the system, administrative expenses, and professional development.
How often will designated teachers be paid?
Compensation will be paid at the end of the fiscal year in which the designation was awarded.
How do we anticipate implementing TIA?
In order to qualify for the TIA, TEA requires valid and reliable teacher observation systems and student growth measures. In our District, the teacher observation component is T-TESS, which meets the TEA requirement for teacher observation performance standards within TIA. Student growth measures may include a combination of measures such as pre-tests and post-tests and student learning objectives (SLOs) depending on the grade level and subject. For TIA, student growth is the percentage of students who met or exceeded their growth expectations, regardless of the measure used, and this percentage is one of the indicators that identifies a teacher at the recognized, exemplary, or master levels. The other factors in the TIA program have yet to be finalized or determined but include measures related to professional growth, campus culture, or other identified areas.
If I earn a designation and then transfer to another district, what happens?
The designation you earn moves with you; your designation will remain on your Texas Educator Certificate until five years have passed from the date you received it. Depending on the timing of when you transfer to another district, your TIA compensation for that school year may be impacted.
If I earned a designation at another district, do I have to earn a designation in Magnolia ISD?
No. If you earned a designation in another district, your designation will remain on your Texas Educator Certificate until five years have passed from the date you received it. Within the five-year period, teachers may be put forth for a higher designation if their performance qualifies them, but they cannot be submitted for a lower designation. You will receive compensation for your designation, however, the amount of compensation will change based on funding allotment as determined by TEA.
If a designated teacher moves to a non-teaching role, such as an instructional coach, counselor, or administrator, will he or she still receive n allotment they earned as a teacher?
Teachers who have earned a designation and move into a non-teaching role will no longer be eligible to receive the TIA allotment payment.
If a designated teacher transfers to another campus from one school year to the next, will the allotment that teacher generates be recalculated?
Yes. The allotment will be recalculated based on the demographics of a campus and the amount of money allotted to a campus by TEA.
I am an NBCT (National Board Certified teacher). Will the District be promoting this option?
National Board Certification is one of the pathways to earning TIA designations. Teachers with this certification automatically qualify for participation in TIA with a Recognized designation. It is an automatic designation not tied to the District created system. The District is evaluating supporting cohorts to help more teachers obtain their National Board Certification.
Will Magnolia ISD provide scholarship opportunities for teachers to earn an NBCT?
Yes, Magnolia ISD will be offering scholarship opportunities through the Magnolia Education Foundation per section test.
Where can I learn more?
Review the information on this TIA website. Questions not answered on this page can be submitted through the provided form to be answered in a future webinar or TIA FAQ. https://tiatexas.org/
If I'm not eligible for a designation in Phase I, when will I be eligible?
We can answer this once Phase 2 and 3 are determined.