Denison Independent School District disclosed a new Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) plan that could provide its most effective teachers with annual state‑funded raises ranging from $6,271 to $25,085, according to Denison Weekly. The proposal will be discussed at the board’s regular meeting on Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m., where trustees will receive an update but will not vote on the measure.
The TIA, created by the Texas Legislature in House Bill 3, awards extra state money to districts for teachers who achieve one of four performance designations. As outlined in a presentation prepared by Superintendent Dr. David Kirkbride, special programs director Jacki Woolford, and CTE director Dr. Dustin Anderson, a Denison teacher could earn up to $6,271 per year as “Acknowledged,” $10,452 as “Recognized,” $17,723 as “Exemplary,” or $25,085 as “Master.” Each designation would remain in effect for five years.
To qualify, teachers must meet two criteria: an average score on the state’s T‑TESS classroom observation rubric and a specified share of their students reaching growth targets. The presentation cites the state’s guide points, requiring a 3.5 average and 50 % student growth for the Acknowledged level, scaling up to a 4.5 average and 70 % growth for the Master level. Denison’s approved plan will set the final standards for each tier.
The rollout will occur in three waves based on subject area. The first wave, using classroom data collected in the 2027‑28 school year, targets math and reading (pre‑K 3 through eighth grade), Algebra I, English I, fifth‑ and eighth‑grade science, biology, eighth‑grade social studies, U.S. History, and PE classes that employ Fitnessgram. Teachers in this group could receive their earliest payout on Aug. 31, 2029. A second wave covering sixth‑ and seventh‑grade science and social studies, AP courses, other high‑school core classes, and CTE will rely on 2028‑29 data. The final wave—fine arts, languages other than English, and PE without Fitnessgram—will use 2029‑30 data, with possible payouts by Aug. 31, 2031.
The district is designing the system during the current school year and must submit its application by April 2027. Year‑one data will be sent to Texas Tech for validation in October 2028, and the presentation notes that “nothing counts this year.”
What’s next: The board will review the TIA update at its Nov. 17 meeting, after which the district will continue refining the plan and preparing the April 2027 application. Residents can follow the board’s website for meeting minutes and future updates on the incentive program’s implementation.
Sources: denisonweekly.news
