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Teacher Incentive Allotment

The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) is a state of Texas initiative that allows school districts to recognize and financially reward highly effective teachers based on student growth and teacher performance. Through locally developed designation systems, districts identify outstanding educators and receive additional state funding tied to those designations. This provides an accessible pathway for teachers to earn a six-figure salary. The purpose of TIA is to support teacher retention, strengthen instructional quality, and improve student outcomes across the district.

During the 2024–2025 school year, Lamar CISD completed and submitted a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) system application. In May 2025, the local designation system was approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). During the 2025–2026 school year, Lamar CISD will participate in Data Capture and submit data for validation in October 2026. Upon successful validation, the district will receive full system approval in Spring 2027, with TIA funds awarded to designated teachers by August 2027.

About the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA)

The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), introduced through House Bill 3 (HB 3) by the 86th Texas Legislature in June 2019, aims to allow teachers to earn six-figure salaries. This optional program is specifically designed to encourage and reward educators who dedicate themselves to teaching in high-needs areas and rural district campuses. The state seeks to attract, retain, and recognize outstanding teachers by implementing TIA.

Under TEC Section 21.3521, school districts can receive funding for each classroom teacher who earns a teacher designation. The allotments are based on the campus's designation and compensatory education poverty tiers. The higher the poverty tier (and/or rural definition), the higher the allotment.

 

 

Master Teachers (top 5% of the state): $12,000, potentially increasing up to $36,000

Exemplary Teachers (top 20% of the state): $9,000, potentially increasing up to $25,000

Recognized Teachers (top 30% of the state): $5,000, potentially increasing up to $15,000

Acknowledged Teachers (top 50% of the state): $3,000, potentially increasing up to $9,000

 

 

Teachers can achieve a designation under the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) through two parallel pathways:

  1. A locally developed teacher designation system, or
  2. National Board Certification.

To learn more about statutory requirements for locally designated TIA plans, teacher eligibility requirements, and Statewide minimum performance standards, please visit the TIA website. (insert link: https://tiatexas.org/)

Teacher Incentive Allotment in Lamar CISD

For the 2025-26 school year, the TIA plan for Lamar CISD includes the following teaching assignments:

  • Pre-K Reading & Math
  • Kindergarten Reading & Math
  • 1st-8th Reading & Math
  • English I, English II, & English III
  • Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry
  • Resource/Inclusion Teachers that serve as alternative teachers in courses listed above

Earning a designation is a two-year process. Teacher data is collected the first year, which is referred to as the “data capture” year. The following school year is the “data submission year” when the data is submitted to put forth teachers for an initial or higher designation. Teachers must remain employed with Lamar CISD in a designated position for both the data capture year and the data submission year to earn a TIA designation. Teachers who leave the district before earning a credible year of service during the data submission year will forfeit their eligibility.

Eligible teachers, including designated teachers, must participate in TTESS and the student growth measure component annually and may not opt out.

Lamar CISD is committed to expanding eligibility through the district’s LDS, as outlined in the recommendations below.

Teaching Assignments Eligible in 2026 – 2027

Those eligible in 2025-26, plus;

Remaining STAAR/EOC Areas

AP (Excluding Fine Arts)

Special Education Self-Contained

Teaching Assignments Eligible in 2027-2028

Those eligible from 2025-26 and 2026-27, plus;

Non-STAAR Core Content

CTE

Fine Arts and Electives

Additional Resources

  • Texas TIA Website

    To learn more about the Teacher Incentive Allotment, please visit the TIA Texas website.

  • TIA Introduction Video

    Check out the Texas Education Agency introduction video of the Teacher Incentive Allotment.

  • TIA Funding Map

    The TIA funding map shows the allotment values for each district and campus.