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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

UnsatisfactoryProgressingProficientExemplary

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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