This article explains how to set up an evaluation process for the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). A vital component of TIA is ensuring teacher evaluations are accurate and reliable. To achieve this goal, TIA requires districts to use an approved rubric and follow specific procedures for observing teachers in the classroom.
T-TESS is a pre-built system that meets all the requirements for training, updating qualifications, and ensuring consistency among raters (evaluators). Districts can use T-TESS to guarantee that teacher observation data is accurate and reliable.
Other Texas TIA-approved rubrics include Danielson, Marzano, or NIET TAP. If your district uses one of these, a guide in the Teacher Observation section of the TIATexas.org website shows a crosswalk with T-TESS and outlines which indicators will be required for TIA reporting.
If a district creates its own evaluation method, it must align with sections 21.351 or §21.352 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) prior to developing a local designation system or submitting an application to participate in TIA.
Processes
Processes are created based on the job role’s evaluation needs. Some districts use one teacher process, like T-TESS teacher, while others have multiple teacher processes with different evaluation steps and tasks tied to them.
The separate processes guide the evaluator and staff member through the completion requirements. Each process has associated steps, tasks, documents, and due dates as part of its timeline. You only need a new process if the required steps and tasks differ.
Caution: Some reports are generated by process, so having multiple types could mean running the reports multiple times.
Examples of Processes
T-TESS v2 – Uses original T-TESS language but is locked for data integrity.
T-TESS ALT D1 – Uses language for lesson internalization and is locked for data integrity.
T-TESS Teacher Waiver – Meant for teachers who do not receive a formal observation. The district process can include this group, but these teachers will not be eligible for TIA.
Learn more about setting up the evaluation process for T-TESS v2 and T-TESS ALT D1 in Strive.