Carthage ISD has received confirmation that the district’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) data has been validated, clearing the way for 22 Carthage ISD teachers to receive state-funded compensation awards tied to the Texas teacher designation system.
This will be the first group of teachers designated in Carthage ISD, and based on the district’s data submission, 22 of 66 eligible teachers (33%) were proposed for a new designation: 10 Recognized, 9 Exemplary and 3 Master.
“This is a celebration of great teaching,” said Superintendent Jarrod Bitter. “TIA is designed to recognize outstanding instruction and student growth, and we’re proud of the work our teachers and campuses have done to reach this milestone.”
What Does Data Validation Mean?
To award designations, districts must pass a state review process that verifies the local system produces reliable, accurate results. In Step 2 of the process, districts’ data is examined to confirm the system is valid and that there is a consistent, positive correlation between teacher observation scores and measures of student growth. Carthage ISD has passed this validation step.
Reaching data validation reflects sustained effort across classrooms and campuses, including strong instruction, student growth, careful observation practices, and the behind-the-scenes work of teachers, principals, appraisers and district teams who built and implemented the local designation system.
“This didn’t happen overnight,” said Superintendent Jarrod Bitter. “Our teachers have done the work, our administrators have supported the work, and now our educators will directly benefit from it.”
About the Teacher Incentive Allotment
Created by the Texas Legislature through House Bill 3, the Teacher Incentive Allotment is a statewide program that allows highly effective teachers to earn a designation of Recognized, Exemplary or Master with funding generated annually based on that designation.
TIA allotments range from $3,000 to $32,000 per designated teacher per year across the state, with higher amounts often tied to rural and/or high-needs campuses.
What Designated Teachers Can Expect
Carthage ISD will follow state and local timelines to finalize eligibility and compensation distribution. Once processed, designated teachers can expect annual compensation awards aligned to their designation level (Recognized, Exemplary or Master) and applicable campus factors.
Teachers will be notified later this spring directly from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) if they earn a designation.
For more information on the Teacher Incentive Allotment program, visit tiatexas.org.