The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has awarded more than $290 million in Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) funds. The funding was received by nearly 25,000 designated Texas teachers during the 2023-24 school year.

According to a TEA press release, a total of 481 school systems participated in the TIA program during the previous school year. Statewide, 306 school systems are currently approved to award teacher designations, and 542 school systems employ a designated teacher who is eligible for TIA funding. School districts must go through a rigorous application process to award teacher designations. The process involves collecting data from classroom observations and on student academic growth. Once approved, the program helps school districts retain quality teachers and offers a pathway for teachers to earn six-figure salaries.

"Teachers have been working together. The things our designated teachers are doing in their classes, non-designated teachers are modeling. It's been a great benefit for our teachers and our kids," Martinsville Independent School District Principal Keith Martin stated in the press release.

"TIA has completely changed the game for high-quality teachers. We no longer have to leave the classroom and become an administrator to enhance our retirement. It allows us to do what we love and make an impact on our students' lives for our entire career," James Fernandez, a master designated teacher in Longview Independent School District, said in the press release.

According to the press release, school districts are allowed to include all teachers in the first year of their local designation system. They may also opt to begin with a smaller number and then later expand. In the 2024-25 school year, about 600 districts will participate in the TIA program.