A: That's a great question, and you're right – House Bill 2 introduced the potential for a fourth TIA designation level! The exact implementation timeline for this new level is still being finalized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

What we know for sure is:

• Teacher data from the 2024-2025 school year will not include a fourth designation level. Designations for this data will continue to be recognized at the current three levels (Recognized, Exemplary, Master).

• Teacher data from the 2026-2027 school year will definitely incorporate the new fourth designation level.

The 2025-2026 school year is currently the transition period with some uncertainty. However, please be assured that our district is proactively collecting all necessary teacher data for the 2025-2026 school year. This means that if the state adjusts the timeline and includes the fourth level for that year's designations (which are submitted in October of 2026), we will be fully prepared to leverage that opportunity for our teachers.

We will share updates as soon as TEA provides clear guidance on the official implementation of the fourth TIA designation level. Your dedication continues to be incredibly valued, and we are committed to ensuring you receive every opportunity available through TIA!

A: We're thrilled to be able to reward your hard work through the TIA program!

TIA incentive payments are made in one lump sum payment in August. This payment is for designations earned based on your performance from the previous school year.

Therefore, if you earn a TIA designation, you can expect to receive your incentive payment in August of the following school year after your designation is approved. We will always communicate the exact payment date as August approaches.

For example:  A teacher whose meets the criteria in 2023-2024 school year will be submitted and approved in the 2024-2025 school year and will be paid in August of 2025

A: We completely understand that this can be a frustrating question, especially when you've worked so hard and met your individual performance goals. Please know that our district's priority is to recognize and reward as many deserving teachers as possible for their excellence in the classroom.

While meeting T-TESS and student growth cut scores are essential components, the TIA designation process involves several layers of state requirements. There can be various reasons why a teacher, even with strong individual scores, may not be eligible for submission for designation. The most common reason is related to the correlation between a teacher's T-TESS observation scores and their students' academic growth performance. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires a statistically significant correlation within a teacher's data to ensure the validity and reliability of the designation system.

Other factors can also sometimes play a role, such as minimum student count requirements, specific course eligibility, or data validation issues.

We are truly committed to helping every teacher understand their individual data and the designation process. We encourage you to schedule an individual meeting with your campus TIA lead. They can review your specific data with you, discuss the criteria in detail, and help you understand all the factors involved.

It's crucial for us to follow all state guidelines and requirements precisely. Our ability to offer TIA designations and provide these well-deserved incentives depends on maintaining the integrity and compliance of our local designation system with TEA's rigorous standards. We assure you that we do everything within our power to submit every eligible teacher, as your success is our success!

A: We understand that career paths can change, and we want you to know how your hard-earned TIA designation is affected if you decide to leave Axtell ISD.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

• Designation Portability (Once Approved by TEA): If your TIA designation (Recognized, Exemplary, or Master) has been officially approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and placed on your SBEC certificate, it is valid for five years! This designation remains with you and is portable to any public or charter school in Texas, as long as you continue to serve in a classroom teaching role (087 Staff Classification in PEIMS). This means that even if you move to a district that does not have its own TIA system, that district will still receive funds from the state to pay you for your designation.
  
  
  

• Impact on Current Year's TIA Pay (If Leaving Mid-Process):

  • Leaving Before Submission: If you leave Axtell ISD before we have submitted your data for designation (typically in the fall following the data collection year), we will not be able to include you in that submission.

  • Leaving Before Winter PEIMS Submission: If you leave Axtell ISD before the Winter PEIMS submission (typically the last Friday in February) in the school year for which you are being considered for designation, we will unfortunately not be able to submit you for a designation for that school year. This is because TEA ties the designation to your employment status at that specific time.

  • Leaving After Winter PEIMS Submission, But Before End of School Year: If you are submitted for designation (meaning you were employed through the Winter PEIMS submission) but leave Axtell ISD before the end of the school year in which your data was collected for designation, you will forfeit the first year's TIA payment associated with that designation. This payment is contingent on your continued employment with the submitting district through the full data-collection year.