January TIA updates

Two years ago, HISD announced its plan to apply for the Texas’ Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). Since then, we’ve engaged HISD teachers, administrators, and staff in technical and design committees, administered stakeholder surveys, and held feedback groups to inform the details of HISD’s TIA design and implementation. This April, we will submit our TIA Application to begin in Fall 2023. 

TIA is a state-run program that supports the recruitment, retention, and placement of teachers through performance-based bonuses, particularly in high needs districts and schools. TIA will increase the total funds available in HISD for teacher compensation, support staff in schools where ongoing collaboration translates to student learning, and help us collectively ensure every child is served with excellence and equity. 

HISD plans a phased approach to TIA implementation over several years with the goal of having all teachers eventually eligible to be able to earn designation. In SY 2023-24, teachers across HISD with select assessments will be eligible to earn designation. In future years, TIA will expand to teachers across additional subjects and grade levels. Given feedback from teachers that showed strong support for sharing TIA funds, non-designated teachers and teacher assistants at designated teachers’ campuses will also have the opportunity to benefit from TIA in Year 1 and beyond.

Student Feedback Surveys

In HISD, beginning in SY 2023-2024, teacher evaluation ratings and TIA designations will be determined by three components: Teacher Observations (T-TESS), Student Growth Measures (SGMs), and Student Feedback Surveys (SFS). HISD believes high performing teachers are defined by a combination of their instructional practices, contributions to student growth, and the relationships they foster with students. HISD is partnering with Panorama to administer its research-based Student Feedback Surveys with the goal of providing teachers with student feedback to enhance their instructional practices. 

Between Oct. 31-Nov. 11, eligible students in grades 3-12 took feedback surveys, with translations available in 23 languages. The overall response rate was 83%. Scores from this year will not be factored into teacher evaluations, but will be used to inform individual teacher reflections and coaching conversations. Beginning in SY 2023-24, results will be considered as part of teachers’ summative evaluation ratings and will be factored into TIA designation decisions in SY 2024-25. We collected initial feedback on Student Feedback Surveys and other TIA design features from HISD teachers and administrators during sessions in November. 

Mid-Year Conferences

Between Jan. 9-27, teachers may participate in a mid-year conference. The T-TESS Mid-Year Conference is an optional component of the evaluation process designed to be a coaching opportunity, and does not include the rating of the T-TESS dimensions. Each teacher’s primary appraiser will determine whether to schedule and hold a Mid-Year Conference. During the conference appraisers and teachers will engage in a reflective conversation focused on: 

• current practice in Domain 1 
  • Teachers may bring rubric-based evidence to support their instructional planning and the impact planning has on student outcomes. 
• overall performance in Domains 2 and 3
  • including areas of refinement and reinforcement 
• progress made on goals set in the Goal Setting and Professional Development (GSPD) plan  

Quarterly Data Meetings

A requirement of the Teacher Incentive Allotment application is to complete quarterly data analysis sessions to ensure principals and other appraisers are aligned on the work ahead. During these sessions, principals review teacher evaluation data to determine the extent to which appraisers are rating teachers accurately according to the T-TESS rubric. 

These data sessions are an opportunity for root-cause analysis and action planning, ensuring that schools have the next steps needed for teacher growth and student learning.

Thank you for all of your work and engagement. Please reach out to TIA@houstonisd.org with any questions or concerns.