$32K Per Teacher? Unlocking the Power of the Teacher Incentive Allotment

Overview

Imagine your district unlocking $32,000 in additional funding for each high-performing teacher—without anyone leaving the classroom. That’s not hypothetical. It’s happening right now across Texas, thanks to the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA).

Designed to reward and retain top educators—especially in rural and high-need schools—the TIA is one of the most powerful (and underutilized) funding opportunities available to districts today. But leveraging it effectively takes data, clarity, and a local plan that’s both rigorous and fair.

At Nexus, we help districts simplify that complexity.

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What Is the Teacher Incentive Allotment?

Established under House Bill 3 in 2019, the TIA gives Texas districts a way to access significant state funding by recognizing effective teachers. Districts can earn:

• $3,000–$9,000 per Recognized teacher
• $6,000–$18,000 per Exemplary teacher
• $12,000–$32,000 per Master teacher

The higher the campus’s level of need (based on factors like socioeconomic status and rural designation), the higher the potential funding.

To participate, districts must build a Local Optional Teacher Designation System (LDS) and submit it for approval through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas Tech University. The process is rigorous—by design. This is about building a valid, reliable, and equitable system for accessing these funds.

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How Is TIA Measured?

TIA funding is based on three pillars of teacher effectiveness:

• Teacher Observation – Most districts use T-TESS, focusing on:
   - Domain 2: Instruction
   - Domain 3: Learning Environment
• Student Growth – Measured through:
   - Student Learning Objectives (SLOs)
   - Pre-/post-tests
   - Portfolios or Value-Added Models (VAM)
• Optional Local Factors – Including:
   - Teacher leadership roles
   - Peer collaboration
   - Validated student surveys

Designations are valid for five years and portable across districts, so a strong system doesn’t just bring in more funding—it supports teacher mobility statewide.

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What Does the Process Look Like?

The process isn’t just about identifying top educators—it’s about proving your system with data. Here’s a simplified overview:

1. Design a local designation system and submit it for TEA and Texas Tech review.
2. Annually report teacher effectiveness data (observations, student growth, etc.).
3. TEA & Texas Tech validate the results to ensure fairness and accuracy.
4. Funding is calculated based on teacher designation level and campus characteristics.
5. 90% of the funds must go directly to the designated teacher’s campus or district.

It’s a serious investment of time and effort, but the payoff goes beyond just financial impact. It drives culture, retention, and excellence at the district level.

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Districts Making It Work

Districts across Texas are already proving that TIA funding can be transformative:

• Edgewood ISD expanded eligibility beyond core subjects to fine arts and special education, resulting in over 70 teachers being designated in two years and the district earning more than $30,000 in additional funding per Master teacher.
• Anthony ISD, a small district, partnered with Progress Learning to streamline their system, boosting teacher eligibility from 60% to 85% and increasing available funds.
• Galveston ISD accessed bonuses up to $23,473 per teacher in 2023, with designations across grade levels and content areas.

These districts went beyond compliance—they designed systems that maximized their ability to secure TIA funding and support their educators.

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Where Nexus Comes In

Let’s be honest: navigating TIA can be overwhelming. There’s data to track, evaluations to calibrate, student growth measures to align, and reports to compile.

That’s where we come in.

Nexus helps districts:

• Automate and organize teacher observation data from systems like T-TESS
• Track student growth metrics—across SLOs, pre/post-tests, and portfolios
• Visualize trends across campuses to ensure evaluator consistency
• Prepare for annual TEA submissions with clean, compliant, ready-to-use reports
• Spot gaps and inequities in designation systems before they become funding risks

And because we integrate with your existing SIS, LMS, and assessment tools, there’s no need to overhaul what’s already working.

In short, we help you do the hard work faster and smarter, so your district can secure TIA funding sooner.
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Final Thought: The Time to Act Is Now

Districts that wait risk leaving state funding and educator retention opportunities on the table. With millions available and teacher retention at a critical point, the TIA isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic imperative.

At Nexus, we believe great educators deserve to be seen, supported, and compensated—and we’re here to make that easier for your district.

Let’s build something that works. Let’s unlock the full power of TIA—together.

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