SCUC ISD revives plan to pursue Teacher Incentive Allotment; application targeted for spring

Kelly Kovacs briefed trustees on the district’s renewed effort to pursue the Teacher Incentive Allotment established under House Bill 3 and modified by HB 2. The board had considered TIA in 2021–22 but paused; staff now recommended moving forward with a staged approach.

Kovacs explained TIA requires two validated systems: an observation component (T‑TESS calibration across administrators) and a student performance measure using TEA‑approved assessments (such as STAR or MAP). The district plans to begin with assessment areas TEA has already recognized as valid to reduce the risk of data‑validation failure.

The process is two steps: submit a paper application (planned for April), then a data collection year that Texas Tech and TEA will review for validity and reliability. Kovacs said funding flows later—districts should expect an initial multi‑year timeline with funding to teachers beginning after successful validation (she mentioned funding likely to reach teachers by summer 2028 under current timelines).

Kovacs highlighted implementation costs (assessment purchases, data analysis contractors, a $500 submission fee per teacher, and increased TRS contributions tied to designated teachers) and recommended using regional partners and consultants to assist with statistical validation.

Trustees asked about capacity and timing; staff said they will start small, learn from neighboring districts in Region 20, and budget for costs during the upcoming budget cycle.