Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Joins Teacher Incentive Allotment to Reward Top Educators
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (CFISD) has been officially approved as a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) district by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), marking a major milestone in the district’s efforts to recognize and reward exceptional educators. The TIA program, established to provide a sustainable pathway for outstanding teachers to earn six-figure salaries, will bring more than $7 million in estimated funding to CFISD based on the 2023-2024 school year.
CFISD first submitted its data in October 2023, evaluating teachers based on performance standards, classroom observations, and student growth metrics. After a thorough review, TEA granted the district full approval as a TIA-designated district for the 2024-2025 school year.
“This is a significant step in our district’s journey down The Path to Amazing as we recognize, reward and retain our most effective teachers,” said Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD superintendent of schools. “We commend our dedicated educators who have demonstrated their excellence in the classroom.”
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How the Teacher Incentive Allotment Works
The TIA program, introduced under House Bill 3 during the 86th Texas Legislature, was designed to create a long-term funding solution for teacher compensation. Unlike traditional grants, TIA funds are built into the state’s Foundation School Program (FSP), the primary source of state funding for Texas school districts, ensuring a sustainable funding stream without caps on the number of designated teachers or total funds allocated.
Through TIA, teachers can earn one of three designation levels—Recognized, Exemplary, or Master—based on student growth and classroom performance. Teachers with National Board Certification automatically qualify for the Recognized designation. Each designation brings additional funding to the district, which must allocate at least 90% of the funds directly to teacher compensation at the designated teacher’s campus. The remaining 10% can be used to support the local designation system or help teachers earn their designations.
CFISD submitted 3,588 teachers for evaluation, with 1,075 ultimately recommended for designation. These teachers, spanning various grade levels and subject areas, will receive annual allotments for five years beginning in June 2025.
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CFISD Teaching Assignments Eligible for TIA
The CFISD TIA plan includes a range of teaching assignments, prioritizing subjects critical to student success:
- K-8th grade reading and math teachers
- 3rd-5th grade science teachers
- Algebra I teachers
- English I and English II teachers
- Special Education resource and in-class support teachers
- 4th-12th grade LIFE Skills teachers
TIA funding is adjusted annually by TEA based on student demographics and the campus’s rural status. With these allotments, CFISD aims to incentivize highly effective teachers to remain in the classroom, particularly at high-needs campuses.
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Investing in Teacher Excellence and Student Success
By joining the Teacher Incentive Allotment, CFISD aims to strengthen its commitment to recruiting, rewarding, and retaining top educators. As Texas continues to emphasize the importance of high-quality instruction, this initiative provides a long-term strategy to elevate the teaching profession while improving student outcomes.
For more information about the TIA program and CFISD’s implementation, visit the Texas Education Agency’s website or CFISD’s official page.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
