Teacher Incentive Allotment to benefit GISD educators News Staff Fri, 04/12/2024 - 4:36 pm
- (THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) With an approved budget amendment the Graham ISD Board of Trustees will provide an additional $326,165 in funds for teachers locally through the Teacher Incentive Allotment program.
Thomas Wallner editor@grahamleader.com
With an approved budget amendment the Graham ISD Board of Trustees will provide an additional $326,165 in funds for teachers locally through the Teacher Incentive Allotment program.
The program was part of state law with House Bill 3 during the 86th Texas Legislature, with districts being required to spend 90% or more of the allotment funding on teacher compensation on the campuses where the designated teachers work.
“The good news for staff, when you look at this amount they're going to get on an annual basis, is they'll get these in one lump sum is the way we'll pay it... (and it's) guaranteed for five years as long as the state of Texas keeps funding it for five or more years,” Superintendent Sonny Cruse said. “It makes a huge difference on what I always call people's forever money, it goes into their retirement.”
TIA is used by districts to reward high-performing teachers, with teachers being able to earn one of three levels of designation – Recognized, Exemplary or Master. Districts will receive an annual state allotment for eligible teachers which can be used to incentivize teachers to remain in the classroom and at needed campuses.
Districts within the program identify teachers based on the growth of their students in the course of a school year measured by the individual student level, rather than through achievement data. TIA allows teachers to earn a higher income while staying in the classroom.
The board of trustees met Wednesday, April 10 and approved the designated 30 teachers in the program to receive payments by the end of August.
“The reason why we're doing a budget amendment this time... is the state's also odd that the rules are we must pay this to them by August, but we won't get our money until September,” Cruse said. “I would rather pay them in May before we leave for the school year.”
A total of 25 teachers are eligible at the three elementary schools combined, with 11 Recognized, 12 Exemplary and two at the Master level for a total of $281,861 in additional compensation spread across those eligible educators.
Two teachers are eligible at Graham Junior High School for a total of $13,082 in additional compensation spread across those eligible educators. Three teachers are eligible at Graham High School for a total of $31,222 in total additional compensation spread across those eligible educators.
“You see different amounts at the different campuses for those different levels and the reason why is each campus is geocoded and you're geocoded by the population that is on the campus,” Cruse said. “It's based on the population in that geographic area of your town.”
Graham elementary is all three elementary schools – Pioneer Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School and Crestview Elementary School – combined with the Crestview as the geocode.
A total of $145,208,362 was awarded in 2023 to 346 districts with the TIA program.
The state and district intend to use the program to reward teachers doing exemplary work making a difference in the lives of students. Cruse said the program will also help to keep effective teachers.
“A few of these teachers (in the program) are experienced (and) I believe it will cause them to work a few more years, which is good for us because they do an amazing job with kids,” he said.
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