Teacher Incentive Allotment

Lone oak isd wants to Recruit, Retain, and Reward
the best teachers for our rural community,
while encouraging professional and student growth.

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. Lone Oak ISD is proud to participate and provide our teachers with this opportunity. We have been approved for the Cohort F participation and will continue to expand opportunities for teachers.

Teacher designations generate additional teacher-focused allotment funding for districts to reward and retain their most effective teachers. Teachers earn designations through two different routes. First, National Board Certified teachers are eligible to earn a Recognized designation. Second, districts may designate their effective teachers when they are approved for a local teacher designation system. The approval process is multi-step and includes the submission of a system application to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and then a data validation process through Texas Tech University.

Recognized Teacher: Indicates the teacher has achieved an appraisal and student growth performance that places them in a level commensurate with the top 33% of teachers statewide.

Exemplary Teacher: Indicates the teacher has achieved an appraisal and student growth performance that places them in a level commensurate with the top 20% of teachers statewide.

Master Teacher: Indicates the teacher has achieved an appraisal and student growth performance that places them in a level commensurate with the top 5% of teachers statewide.

To learn more about the Teacher Incentive Allotment process, visit Texas Education Agency TIA website.

LOISD TIA Handbook

Local Designation System

TEC §21.3521 authorizes Lone Oak ISD to establish a Local Optional Teacher Designation System (LDS) as part of TIA. The commissioner shall establish performance and validity standards for each LDS that must provide a mathematical possibility that all teachers eligible for designation may earn the designation. The district may designate a certified classroom teacher as a master, exemplary, or recognized teacher for a five-year period based on the results from single year or multiyear appraisals.For each classroom teacher with a teacher designation, the district is entitled to an allotment determined by a base amount multiplied by a high needs and rural factor. The commissioner will annually make available to the public a list of campuses with the project allotment amounts per teacher designation at each campus.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will periodically conduct evaluations of the effectiveness of all local optional teacher designation systems. By implementing its LDS and receiving funds under TIA, Lone Oak ISD has agreed to participate in these evaluations. Notwithstanding performance standards, a classroom teacher that holds a National Board Certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards may be designated as recognized.

Local Weighting System

T-TESS Domain Measure

The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) is the state adopted teacher appraisal instrument. T-TESS strives to capture the holistic nature of teaching – the idea that a constant feedback loop exists between teachers and students, and gauging the effectiveness of teachers requires a consistent focus on how students respond to their teacher’s instructional practices. See T-TESS for more information.

In order to determine teacher eligibility for the TIA, Lone Oak ISD will calculate T-TESS dimension scores, domain scores, and a weighted total T-TESS score. For the purpose of TIA, the following eight dimensions of the T-TESS instrument will be used for scoring:

Instruction (DOMAIN 2)
- Dimension 2.1: Achieving Expectations
- Dimension 2.2: Content Knowledge & Expertise
- Dimension 2.3: Communication
- Dimension 2.4: Differentiation
- Dimension 2.5: Monitor & Adjust

Learning Environment (DOMAIN 3)
- Dimension 3.1: Classroom Environment, Routines, & Procedures
- Dimension 3.2: Managing Student Behavior
- Dimension 3.3: Classroom Culture

TIA Designation Category	Average Score Across Eight Dimensions	Points Earned
MASTER	4.9-5	30
	4.7-4.8	29
	4.5-4.6	28
	4.4	27
	4.2-4.3	26
	4.0-4.1	25
EXEMPLARY	3.9	24
RECOGNIZED	3.8	23
RECOGNIZED	3.7	22
No Designation	<3.7	0

Student Growth Measure

In order to be eligible for TIA designation, teachers must earn a minimum student growth designation percentage. TEA established minimum expectations based on statewide performance standards. This percentage is calculated by dividing the number of students who met or exceeded growth expectations by the total number of students with an expected growth score. More information can be found on TEA's Student Growth Performance Standards document.

Student growth instruments for each content area and grade level are listed below. Student growth will be calculated for all students that have a BOY and EOY assessment. Student growth performance will be associated with teachers based on PEIMS data and student/teacher campus rosters.

The percentage of student growth for each teacher is calculated as follows. This score is then converted to points based on the districts local designation system.

The instrument used to measure student growth depends on the grade level and subject area. The sheet below outlines the assessment and measurement method used. Student growth will be calculated as the percentage of students that meet or exceed their projected growth from Fall to Spring or the Spring to Spring administration in appropriate circumstances. See the district handbook for more details.

TIA Designation Category	Student Growth Percentage	TIA Teacher Student Growth Points Earned
MASTER	90% - 100%	60
	85% - 89%	58
	80% - 84%	56
	75% - 79%	55
	70% - 74%	54
EXEMPLARY	65% - 69%	51
EXEMPLARY	60% - 64%	49
RECOGNIZED	57% - 59%	45
RECOGNIZED	55% - 56%	41
No Designation	< 55%	0

Campus Growth Measure

Campus growth will include all TIA growth assessments of students enrolled on the Fall snapshot and the end of the year roster on the same campus. The same student growth percentage as it relates to designation level for Teacher Student Growth is used for Campus Student Growth.

TIA Designation Category	Student Growth Percentage	TIA Teacher Student Growth Points Earned
MASTER	90% - 100%	10
	80% - 89%	9
	65% - 79%	8
EXEMPLARY	60% - 64%	7
RECOGNIZED	55% - 59%	6
No Designation	< 55%	0

Teacher Eligibility

To be eligible for TIA in Lone Oak ISD, you must be employed in an eligible position with a creditable year of service. This means a teacher must have a PEIMS role ID of 087 and be employed in a position providing instruction to students at 50-99% effort for at least 180 days or 100% effort for at least 90 days. In addition, a teacher must be in one of the eligible teaching assignments in Lone Oak ISD's Local Designation System. Lastly, a teacher must participate in a full T-TESS observation cycle, even if the teacher is eligible for a waiver.

The chart below provides a simple explanation to help you determine whether or not you are eligible. It should be noted that being eligible for TIA does not guarantee that a teacher will qualify for designation. Once eligible, a teacher must also meet the minimum designation standards in Lone Oak ISD's Local Designation System and have their designation submitted to TEA for final review.

Funding

House Bill 3 (HB 3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in June of 2019, established a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) with a stated goal of a six-figure salary for teachers who prioritize teaching in high needs areas and rural district campuses. Texas Education Code (TEC) §48.112 authorizes Lone Oak ISD to participate in TIA. This allotment offers resources to the district to increase teacher compensation and prioritize funding for high needs and rural district campuses. Lone Oak ISD certifies that at least 90% of each allotment received through its participation in TIA is used for the compensation of teachers employed at the campus at which the teacher for whom the district receives the allotment is employed. Any other funds received as part of TIA are used for costs associated with implementing the LDS, including efforts to support teachers in obtaining designation and prioritizing high needs campuses in the district.

Designated Teacher Payments

For any funds received by Lone Oak ISD for a designated teacher under the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), 90%, less the TRS deduction (both employee and district) and any other applicable payroll taxes or deductions, will be paid to the designated teacher.

The remaining 10% will be collected at the district level and used for training, support, expansion, administrative expenses, and professional development.

Frequency of Compensation

TIA compensation is an annual allotment provided by the state and subject to availability of state funding allocations. TIA-designated teachers and other high-performing teachers will receive TIA compensation annually, by August 31st, based on their TIA designation and TIA state funding for their campus assignment in late February.

Compensation Impacts

Actual TIA compensation amounts distributed will include deductions for federal income tax, Medicare tax and TRS contributions (employee and District contribution) as part of an employee’s annual wages reported to the state and federal governments, as well as the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). TIA compensation supplemental pay will be eligible for use when calculating TRS retirement benefits.

Employees who Resign or Retire

Should the district receive funding for a designated teacher who has resigned or retired, the district will forward payment to the retired teacher if the retired teacher notifies the district in writing by May 15. If an employee resigns from education, the funds will be redistributed to designated teachers and other high performing teachers from the campus the employee was assigned.

Teacher Incentive Allotment

Lone oak isd wants to Recruit, Retain, and Reward the best teachers for our rural community, while encouraging professional and student growth.

Lone oak isd wants to Recruit, Retain, and Reward
the best teachers for our rural community,
while encouraging professional and student growth.