Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Education Agency is distributing more than $750 million in funding through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program for the 2025-26 school year.
According to a June 12 news release from the Governor’s Office, the record-setting allocation will reward over 30,000 designated top-performing educators across 582 public school districts.
The initiative, established by the Texas Legislature in 2019, aims to recruit, support, and retain highly effective teachers by providing a pathway to earn six-figure salaries. Under the program, teachers earn designations of Recognized, Exemplary, or Master based on measurable student growth and robust classroom observations.
The state attaches funding to these designations, ranging from $3,000 to over $32,000 per teacher annually, with higher award amounts prioritized for educators serving in rural and economically disadvantaged campuses.
Abbott said the program has successfully elevated the teaching profession in Texas by ensuring that exceptional educators are compensated for their direct impact on student achievement.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath praised the dedication of local school systems, noting that more than 60% of all public school districts statewide are now actively participating in the TIA framework to cultivate and reward top-tier instructional talent.