Austin, Texas – Texas is putting another large round of money behind its push to keep strong teachers in classrooms, with Gov. Greg Abbott announcing more than $750 million in Teacher Incentive Allotment awards for the 2025–26 school year.
The funding, administered by the Texas Education Agency, will reach more than 65,000 teachers across more than 800 school systems. With this latest round, total awards through the program have now topped $1.8 billion since the Teacher Incentive Allotment began.
“Texas is blessed with teachers who have educated and inspired students for generations,” Abbott said. “These incentive funds ensure that the best teachers are recognized for their efforts to improve the lives of their students. As we empower teachers to succeed, Texas will remain on the path to be the number one state for education in the country.”
The program was created with a clear purpose: reward high-performing educators, help districts hold on to them, and make strong teaching more available to students who need it most. It also gives teachers a route to much higher pay, including the possibility of six-figure salaries, while staying in the classroom rather than leaving for other roles.
State officials say the results are beginning to show. Research from Texas Tech University found that teacher retention improves after districts put TIA systems in place. By the third and fourth years, school systems are keeping their top-performing teachers at noticeably higher rates, with about a 20% increase in retention for the most effective educators. The same research also found gains in student growth, including about one-third of a year of progress in math and reading as local systems mature.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the program links teacher support directly to student success.
“Teachers are the single most important in-school factor that affects student outcomes,” Morath said. “By rewarding our most effective teachers with pathways to stay where they’re needed most, students ultimately reap the reward. I’m grateful for the strategic investments made by the legislature to support TIA and for the commitment districts are making to support their staff.”
In Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Superintendent Dr. Wendy Eldredge said TIA helped the district retain 91% of its top teachers during the 2024–25 school year. She also pointed to the district’s 2025 accountability rating, which rose from a C to a B.
Teachers have described the program as more than a paycheck. Allison Martin, a TIA Master designated teacher in Aspermont ISD, said it helps her measure student growth and reflect on her own classroom practice.
Participation is still growing. A total of 809 school systems took part in TIA during the 2025–26 school year, and that number is expected to pass 1,000 in fall 2026. A full list of participating and aspiring districts is available through the state’s TIA district information page.
