Resources

1. Official Program Sites

• Texas Education Agency (TEA) TIA Site: Link to tiatexas.org
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: www.nbpts.org.

2. Key Documentation for Download

• Local TIA Handbook: A downloadable PDF of the "Katy ISD Teacher Incentive Allotment Handbook" for the current school year.
• The "Summer 2026 TIA Annual Evaluation Survey Report Summary": A specific resource to share survey findings and district-wide actions taken in response to teacher feedback.
• Comprehensive FAQ: A living document addressing common concerns like "designation fairness, observation accuracy, and student growth measures".
• Spending Plan One-Pager: A clear breakdown of the 90/10 funding split and the lump-sum payment timeline.

3. Teacher-Specific Tools

Based on Katy ISD's local designation system requirements, here is a teacher eligibility checklist to help you determine if you qualify for a TIA designation during a Data Capture Year.

Katy ISD TIA Eligibility Checklist:

Alternative Pathway: National Board Certification

If you do not meet the criteria for the local designation system, you may still earn a designation through this pathway:

• NBPTS Certificate Areas: Check if your teaching area is one of the 25 eligible for National Board Certification.

Visual Considerations

1. Strategic & Purpose Visuals

• Three Pillars Graphic: Create a clean, three-part icon or infographic representing the "Recruit, Retain, and Reward" pillars to visually ground the program's purpose.

• Mission Venn Diagram: A simple overlapping diagram showing the intersection of "Unparalleled Learning Experiences," "Personalized Learning," and "TIA" to demonstrate mission alignment. 
• 360-Degree Holistic Icon: Use a circular graphic to represent the "Holistic System" that balances T-TESS observations and student growth data, illustrating a complete view of performance.

2. Financial & Designation Aids

• Allotment Comparison Table: Use a clean, branded table to display the Base vs. Maximum Allotment amounts for each designation level (Master, Exemplary, Recognized, Acknowledged).
• 90/10 Funding Pie Chart: A simple pie chart can clearly communicate the "Maximized Take-Home Pay" by showing 90% going to teacher compensation and 10% to district administration.
• Designation Hierarchy Graphic: A tiered graphic (like a pyramid or staircase) showing the state performance standards, such as Master at the top 5% down to Acknowledged at the top 50% .

3. Process & Eligibility Aids

• Eligibility Checklist: A styled, bulleted checklist (similar to the one in the resource section) allows teachers to quickly self-verify their PEIMS Role ID and service requirements .
• Growth Model Summary Table: A summary table (as requested in previous sections) comparing TEA Transition Tables, Portfolios, and Pre/Post-tests helps teachers understand which model applies to their specific course .

• Expansion Timeline: A linear timeline or roadmap showing the Planning, Review, Pilot, and Data Capture phases for internal personnel and teachers awaiting eligibility expansion.

4. Navigation & Support Visuals

• Step-by-Step "Next Steps" Icons: Use numbered icons (1, 2, 3) to guide teachers who already have National Board Certification on how to contact HR and provide documentation.
• Resource Call-out Boxes: Use distinctively colored boxes to highlight key downloadable resources like the TIA Handbook or the TEA Allotment Map link.

Other/Alternative visual Considerations:

1. The "Weights & Measures" Balance Graphic

Since designations are determined by a specific weighted combination of two factors, a visual representation of this balance is critical.

• Visual Concept: A balanced scale or a split-circle graphic showing the two primary components:
  • Teacher Observation (T-TESS): Summative scores across domains.
  • Student Growth: Individual student-level progress linked to the teacher.
• Purpose: To reinforce that the system is a "holistic" 360-degree view and not based on a single measure.

2. The "Data Capture Year" Visual Calendar

The document references a visual calendar of the "Data Capture Year" as a resource.

• Visual Concept: A linear timeline of a single school year highlighting key milestones:
  • Beginning of Year: Collection of baseline student data.
  • Throughout Year: Minimum 45 minutes of T-TESS observation time.
  • End of Year: Collection of post-test data to calculate the Student Growth Score.
• Purpose: To help teachers understand exactly when their performance is being tracked for TIA purposes.

3. Student Growth Methodology "How-To"

For teachers in eligible courses using TEA Transition Tables, a visual example of how growth is calculated would reduce confusion.

• Visual Concept: A simple flowchart or "before and after" graphic showing:
  • Step 1: Student's score on a previous state assessment (e.g., Grade 3 Math).
  • Step 2: Student's score on the current year's assessment (e.g., Grade 4 Math).
  • Step 3: The "Growth Target" result (Met, Exceeded, or Did Not Meet).
• Purpose: To demystify the statistical calculation of the "Student Growth Score".

4. "Portability" Flowchart

A common question for teachers is what happens to their designation if they change roles or districts.

• Visual Concept: A simple "If/Then" graphic:
  • If you move to a different Katy ISD campus - Your designation stays with you, but the allotment amount may change based on the new campus's needs.
  • If you change subjects/grades - You maintain your designation for the full five-year term.
  • If you move to another Texas district - Your designation is portable and moves with you.
• Purpose: To emphasize the long-term professional value and financial stability of earning a designation.