Dallas ISD TEI Teacher Excellence Initiative
Developed by Dallas Independent School District and launched for the 2014-2015 school year, the Teacher Excellence Initiative (TEI) replaced the state-mandated PDAS system with a performance-based evaluation model that links teacher compensation directly to effectiveness ratings. Now in its 2025-2026 edition (Rulebook v10.0), TEI evaluates teachers across four domains using a four-level rating scale (Unsatisfactory, Progressing, Proficient, Exemplary), and has served as the blueprint for the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) - a statewide program now adopted by over 800 Texas school systems.
The Dallas ISD TEI is organized into 4 domains, 17 criteria, and a 4-level rating scale.
Used by Dallas ISD for its nearly 10,000 teachers, and served as the foundational model for the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), which is now active in over 800 Texas school systems - representing approximately two-thirds of all districts and charter schools in the state.
Domains and Criteria
The Dallas ISD TEI domains and criteria
Domain 1: Planning and Preparation
Demonstrating content expertise, planning with a student-focused lens, designing assessments, and structuring lesson activities and lesson flow for effective learning.
1.1: Content Expertise
Demonstrates knowledge of content, concepts, and skills
1.2: Student Focused
Uses formal and informal student data to align instructional practices
1.3: Assessment Design
Plans and selects varied, aligned formative and summative assessments
1.4: Lesson Activities
Selects and plans for use of appropriate resources and activities to support
1.5: Lesson Structure
Plans appropriate standards-based lessons that address prerequisites and
Domain 2: Instructional Delivery
Ensuring alignment between instruction and learning goals, building student mastery, delivering instruction skillfully, and maintaining appropriate levels of cognitive demand.
2.1: Alignment
Structures well-organized, objective-driven lessons and content appropriate to standards
2.2: Mastery
Ensures student mastery of learning objective appropriate to standards for subject and
2.3: Delivery
Facilitates clear, cohesive, and purposeful learning experiences
2.4: Cognitive Demand
Engages students in rigorous content that elicits a productive struggle
Domain 3: Learning Environment
Establishing and maintaining efficient classroom procedures and systems, setting clear behavioral expectations, and cultivating a positive climate and culture for learning.
3.1: Procedures & Systems
Organizes classroom procedures, physical space, and resources to allow
3.2: Behavioral Expectations
Establishes, communicates, and reinforces clear expectations for student
3.3: Climate & Culture
Establishes a culture of academic accountability steeped in mutual respect and
Domain 4: Professionalism and Collaboration
Demonstrating professional attendance and compliance, engaging in ongoing professional learning, building effective professional partnerships, and maintaining clear communication with colleagues and families.
4.1: Attendance
Models a commitment to attendance that ensures fidelity of continuous rigorous
4.2: Compliance
Follows policies and procedures and maintains accurate student records
4.3: Professional Learning
Exhibits a commitment to professional growth by pursuing, implementing,
4.4: Professional Partnerships
Engages in collaborative, productive relationships with colleagues to
4.5: Communication
Establishes culturally appropriate relationships with families and communities
Rating Levels
Dallas ISD TEI rating levels
Source
Official Dallas ISD TEI source
Source: Dallas Independent School District (Teacher Excellence Initiative), Teacher Performance Rubric (July 2024 Revision). Verified 2026-06-01. View the official rubric
Rubric facts verified 2026-06-01 against the official source.
Giving feedback on the Dallas ISD TEI
The slow part is the write-up
Aligning observation evidence to every Dallas ISD TEI domain and standard by hand, for every teacher and every visit, is what eats a principal's week. Observation Copilot does that mapping for you.
How Observation Copilot Helps
AI-powered Dallas ISD TEI feedback in seconds
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to the right Dallas ISD TEI domains and drafts structured, rubric-aligned feedback - ready to review and share. Walkthrough notes return a focused single-indicator debrief; full lesson observations return a multi-domain rubric-aligned report.
- Maps observation notes to Dallas ISD TEI domains automatically
- Generates evidence-based summaries for each TEI domain
- Suggests ratings aligned to the four-level TEI scale from Unsatisfactory to Exemplary
- Creates targeted next steps tied to specific TEI indicators
- Reduces post-observation write-up time for Dallas ISD principals from hours to minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas ISD TEI FAQ
- What is the TEI?
- District teacher evaluation rubric used in Dallas ISD's Teacher Excellence Initiative, rating classroom practice across 4 domains and 17 indicators on a 4-level scale (Exemplary, Proficient, Progressing, Unsatisfactory) scored 3 to 0 points.
- What are the domains of the TEI?
- The TEI is organized into 4 domains: Planning and Preparation, Instructional Delivery, Learning Environment, and Professionalism and Collaboration.
- What are the TEI ratings?
- Teachers are rated on a 4-level scale - Unsatisfactory, Progressing, Proficient, and Exemplary - with each level scored from 0 to 3 points.
- What does TEI stand for?
- TEI stands for the Teacher Excellence Initiative, Dallas ISD's performance-based teacher evaluation system.
- Which version of the Dallas ISD TEI rubric is current?
- The current rubric is the Dallas ISD Teacher Performance Rubric (July 2024 Revision), used for the 2025-2026 school year, verified against the Dallas ISD source on June 1, 2026.
Used In
States Using Dallas ISD TEI
Related Reading
Dallas ISD TEI Resources for Principals
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