Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS)
T-TESS is the Commissioner-recommended default teacher evaluation system in Texas, used by the vast majority of Texas school districts. Designed to support teacher growth through ongoing feedback and professional development, T-TESS covers planning, instruction, learning environment, and professional practices across a five-point rating scale.
The T-TESS is organized into 4 domains, 16 criteria, and a 5-level rating scale.
The Commissioner-recommended default evaluation system in Texas, used by the vast majority of public school districts. Districts may adopt a locally developed system under TEC §21.352.
Domains and Criteria
The T-TESS domains and criteria
Planning
Standards and alignment, data and assessment, knowledge of students, and activities - evaluating how teachers design instruction to meet student needs.
1.1: Standards and Alignment
The teacher designs clear, well-organized, sequential lessons that reflect best practice, align with standards and are appropriate for diverse learners.
1.2: Data and Assessment
The teacher uses formal and informal methods to measure student progress, then manages and analyzes student data to inform instruction.
1.3: Knowledge of Students
Through knowledge of students and proven practices, the teacher ensures high levels of learning, social-emotional development and achievement for all students.
1.4: Activities
The teacher plans engaging, flexible lessons that encourage higher-order thinking, persistence and achievement.
Instruction
Achieving expectations, content knowledge and expertise, communication, differentiation, and monitor and adjust - the core of classroom teaching practice.
2.1: Achieving Expectations
The teacher supports all learners in their pursuit of high levels of academic and social-emotional success.
2.2: Content Knowledge and Expertise
The teacher uses content and pedagogical expertise to design and execute lessons aligned with state standards, related content and student needs.
2.3: Communication
The teacher clearly and accurately communicates to support persistence, deeper learning and effective effort.
2.4: Differentiation
The teacher differentiates instruction, aligning methods and techniques to diverse student needs.
2.5: Monitor and Adjust
The teacher formally and informally collects, analyzes and uses student progress data and makes needed lesson adjustments.
Learning Environment
Classroom environment, routines and procedures, managing student behavior, and classroom culture - how teachers create conditions for learning.
3.1: Classroom Environment, Routines and Procedures
The teacher organizes a safe, accessible and efficient classroom.
3.2: Managing Student Behavior
The teacher establishes, communicates and maintains clear expectations for student behavior.
3.3: Classroom Culture
The teacher leads a mutually respectful and collaborative class of actively engaged learners.
Professional Practices and Responsibilities
Professional demeanor and ethics, goal setting, professional development, and school community involvement.
4.1: Professional Demeanor and Ethics
The teacher meets district expectations for attendance, professional appearance, decorum, procedural, ethical, legal and statutory responsibilities.
4.2: Goal Setting
The teacher reflects on his/her practice.
4.3: Professional Development
The teacher enhances the professional community.
4.4: School Community Involvement
The teacher demonstrates leadership with students, colleagues, and community members in the school, district and community through effective communication and outreach.
Rating Levels
T-TESS rating levels
Source
Official T-TESS source
Source: Texas Education Agency, T-TESS Rubric (4/22/2024). Verified 2026-06-01. View the official rubric
Rubric facts verified 2026-06-01 against the official source.
Giving feedback on the T-TESS
The slow part is the write-up
Aligning observation evidence to every T-TESS 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 T-TESS feedback in seconds
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to the right T-TESS 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.
- Organizes your observation notes by T-TESS domains and dimensions
- Generates feedback aligned to the T-TESS five-point rubric
- Maps evidence from your notes to specific T-TESS indicators
- Suggests research-backed next steps for each domain
- Trusted by principals and assistant principals across Texas districts, including San Antonio ISD and Stockdale ISD
Frequently Asked Questions
T-TESS FAQ
- What is the T-TESS?
- Statewide teacher evaluation rubric used in Texas, assessing instructional practice across 4 domains and 16 dimensions on a 5-level scale from Improvement Needed to Distinguished.
- What are the domains of the T-TESS?
- The T-TESS is organized into 4 domains: Planning, Instruction, Learning Environment, and Professional Practices and Responsibilities.
- How is the T-TESS scored?
- Performance is rated on a 5-level scale: Distinguished, Accomplished, Proficient, Developing, and Improvement Needed.
- What does T-TESS stand for?
- T-TESS stands for the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System.
- Which version of the T-TESS rubric is current?
- The current rubric is the Texas Education Agency T-TESS Rubric (revised April 22, 2024), in use for the 2025-2026 school year and verified against the official source on June 1, 2026.
Used In
States Using T-TESS
Related Reading
T-TESS Resources for Principals
50 Teacher Observation Feedback Examples (Organized by Framework Domain)
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FFT, T-TESS, Marzano, or Your Own: How Observation Copilot Aligns to Any Framework
Whether you use Danielson FFT, T-TESS, Marzano, or a custom rubric, Observation Copilot aligns feedback to your framework.
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Walkthroughs vs. Formal Observations: When Each One Helps and When It Hurts
Walkthroughs and formal observations serve different purposes. Here's how principals balance both in a coaching cycle that actually grows teachers.
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Writing Better Observation Notes: Tips for Getting the Most Out of AI-Powered Feedback
AI-generated feedback is only as good as your observation notes. Practical tips for writing notes that produce better, more specific results.
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The Post-Observation Conversation: How to Make the 15 Minutes After Feedback Count
Delivering feedback is only half the job. Here's how to structure the post-observation conversation so teachers grow from it.
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