Austin Independent School District (AISD) has been accepted into the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program, providing opportunities for teachers to earn higher salaries based on performance. This initiative is designed to reward top-performing educators and aims to attract and retain talent within the district.
The TIA program designates high-performing teachers as Recognized, Exemplary, or Master based on appraisal and student growth data submitted by AISD. These designations bring additional funding to the district, with 90% of it going directly to the teacher if they remain in a TIA-eligible role. Eligible teachers can earn between $3,000 and $28,000 annually through this program.
AISD is implementing a phased-in approach for the TIA program. In its first year, AISD analyzed appraisal and student growth data from the 2023–24 academic year for general education teachers in various roles including K-3 Reading and Math, STAAR subjects across different grades, and several End-of-Course (EOC) exams such as English I & II and Algebra I.
Over 600 teachers from these positions met the approved standards for appraisal and student growth to be considered for TIA designation. "Eligible teachers will receive notification once final allotments are released by TEA," stated an AISD representative.
For future phases, AISD plans to expand TIA eligibility by capturing data for Special Education teachers and Content/Dyslexia Interventionist roles supporting general education areas implemented in the first year. All participating educators will continue being part of AISD's locally-funded Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) program for additional compensation.
In summary, "Austin ISD is committed to leading Central Texas in teacher recognition, retention, and compensation," according to district officials. The acceptance into the TIA program marks a significant step towards enhancing support for educators within Austin ISD.