Texas T-TESS Walkthrough Guide
A practical guide to T-TESS walkthroughs and observations, the four domains and all 16 dimensions, and what appraisers look for, built into software aligned to the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System.
The walkthrough is the entry point, not the whole story. In EX in Education, T-TESS observation evidence connects to coaching, goals, PD, and retention, so every educator moves from hired to thriving.
Looking for T-TESS software instead of the guide? See how EX runs T-TESS evaluations.
T-TESS Classroom Walkthrough
T-TESS Walkthroughs and Observations
The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System is the state framework for evaluating and supporting teachers, developed by the Texas Education Agency to replace PDAS. It is built around growth, not just compliance, which is why walkthrough and observation evidence matters most when it does not sit alone. In EX in Education, that evidence is the doorway into a connected system for coaching, PD, and retention.
4 Domains, 16 Dimensions
T-TESS organizes teacher effectiveness into four domains and 16 dimensions. All four come pre-configured in EX, so appraisers can walk in, script evidence, and score against the dimensions without rebuilding forms.
- Domain 1: Planning (4 dimensions)
- Domain 2: Instruction (5 dimensions)
- Domain 3: Learning Environment (3 dimensions)
- Domain 4: Professional Practices and Responsibilities (4 dimensions)
The T-TESS Annual Cycle
T-TESS follows a structured annual cycle designed to keep the focus on growth. EX schedules and tracks every step alongside the walkthrough evidence.
- Goal-Setting and Professional Development Plan (GSPDP)
- Pre-conference before formal observations
- Formal observation and informal walkthroughs
- Post-conference and end-of-year conference
The Four T-TESS Domains and 16 Dimensions
All four T-TESS domains and their 16 dimensions are pre-built in EX in Education, so Texas appraisers can observe, script evidence, and provide targeted feedback from day one. Domains 1 through 3 are primarily observed in the classroom, while Domain 4 is evaluated through documentation and conferences across the year.
Planning
Four dimensions covering how teachers prepare instruction before a lesson begins.
- 1.1 Standards and Alignment
- 1.2 Data and Assessment
- 1.3 Knowledge of Students
- 1.4 Activities
Instruction
Five dimensions covering instruction as it happens in the classroom.
- 2.1 Achieving Expectations
- 2.2 Content Knowledge and Expertise
- 2.3 Communication
- 2.4 Differentiation
- 2.5 Monitor and Adjust
Learning Environment
Three dimensions covering classroom culture, routines, and management.
- 3.1 Classroom Environment, Routines and Procedures
- 3.2 Managing Student Behavior
- 3.3 Classroom Culture
Professional Practices and Responsibilities
Four dimensions covering ethics, goals, growth, and community, evaluated across the year.
- 4.1 Professional Demeanor and Ethics
- 4.2 Goal Setting
- 4.3 Professional Development
- 4.4 School Community Involvement
The T-TESS Rating Scale
- Distinguished (5): consistently exceeds expectations
- Accomplished (4): frequently exceeds expectations
- Proficient (3): meets expectations, effective practice
- Developing (2): approaching expectations
- Improvement Needed (1): does not meet expectations
Appraiser Certification
- Complete TEA-approved T-TESS appraiser training
- Pass the T-TESS certification assessment
- Maintain certification through ongoing calibration
- Serve in an administrative or supervisory role
Local appraisal systems: T-TESS is the state-recommended appraisal system, and districts using it must maintain fidelity to the core framework and rubric. Texas districts may instead adopt a locally developed appraisal system through their process, so the exact cycle, observation counts, and forms can vary by district. EX supports the T-TESS rubric and observation structure, and adapts to the appraisal process your district uses.
What Appraisers Look For, and How Often
Effective walkthroughs mean knowing what evidence to collect and how the observation cycle runs. EX gives appraisers the look-fors and the cadence in one connected place, so a quick visit becomes usable evidence.
Observable in the Classroom
- Learning objectives posted, communicated, and referenced (2.1)
- Clear academic vocabulary and checks for understanding (2.3)
- Varied strategies, flexible grouping, and scaffolds (2.4)
- Teacher circulates and adjusts in real time (2.5)
- Organized environment and smooth transitions (3.1)
- Positive culture where students take academic risks (3.3)
Formal vs. Informal
- Formal observations are scheduled and at least 45 minutes
- Formal observations include pre and post-conferences
- Informal walkthroughs are shorter, often 10 to 20 minutes
- Walkthroughs can be unannounced and require no conference
- Walkthrough data can inform ratings as supplemental evidence
- Exact counts follow district policy and prior performance
Observation frequency in Texas varies by experience and prior ratings. Beginning teachers typically receive at least one 45-minute formal observation plus multiple informal walkthroughs, while experienced teachers at Proficient or higher often receive one or more formal observations set by district policy, and teachers on a growth plan receive more frequent visits. EX keeps each teacher's walkthroughs, formal observations, GSPDP goals, and improvement plans in one record, and routes the ones who need support into coaching cycles so a rating leads to next steps, not just a score.
Built for the T-TESS Walkthrough Process
EX in Education gives Texas districts what they need to run T-TESS walkthroughs and observations aligned to the framework, then connects that evidence to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every campus.
T-TESS-Aligned Forms
Walkthrough and observation forms pre-built for all four domains and 16 dimensions, on the T-TESS rating scale.
- All 16 dimensions included
- 5-point rating scale
- Evidence collection tools
Observation Cycles
Manage formal observations, pre and post-conferences, and quick walkthroughs in one connected system with scheduling and reminders.
- Formal and informal visits
- Pre and post-conferences
- Cycle reminders
GSPDP Goal Tracking
Set and track Goal-Setting and Professional Development Plan goals aligned to T-TESS dimensions alongside observation results.
- Goal setting tools
- Dimension alignment
- Evidence in one record
Coaching Handoff
Turn what a walkthrough surfaces into a coaching cycle, so feedback leads to real support instead of a filed form.
- Evidence to coaching
- Structured feedback
- Follow-up visits
Growth Plan Management
Create and monitor growth plans for teachers scoring below Proficient, with structured support and documentation.
- Structured growth plans
- Milestones and check-ins
- Linked to coaching
Patterns Over Time
See trends across multiple walkthroughs and campuses, so ratings reflect patterns rather than a single lesson.
- Trends across visits
- Campus and district views
- Calibration support
Why Texas Districts Run T-TESS Inside EX in Education
Run T-TESS walkthroughs with fidelity, then use what the observation surfaces to actually grow and keep your teachers. The walkthrough is the doorway. Educator growth and retention is the product.
Less admin, more coaching
Structured walkthrough forms and feedback tools free appraisers to spend more of their time in coaching conversations, not paperwork.
Consistent across campuses
A shared T-TESS rubric and calibration support help appraisers score consistently, whether it is one campus or the whole district.
Growth you can see
Walkthrough evidence, GSPDP goals, and coaching history sit together, so progress is visible over time instead of scattered across files.
Retention, not just ratings
When feedback connects to PD, goals, and support, teachers keep developing, and districts keep the ones they worked hard to hire.
How AI Supports T-TESS Walkthroughs
AI in EX in Education helps appraisers work through walkthroughs faster while keeping every judgment in human hands. It drafts and organizes, appraisers decide.
Draft Feedback From Evidence
Turn scripted walkthrough notes into clear, dimension-aligned feedback that the appraiser reviews and edits before it is shared.
Organize Evidence by Dimension
Sort notes and artifacts against the 16 T-TESS dimensions, so nothing is missed when it is time to score.
Suggest Growth Next Steps
Surface coaching moves and PD ideas tied to what a walkthrough revealed, ready for the appraiser to assign.
Bring T-TESS Walkthroughs Into the Bigger Picture
See how EX in Education runs T-TESS walkthroughs and observations aligned to the framework, then connects that evidence to coaching, PD, goals, and retention across every campus.
Built for T-TESS walkthroughs. Bring your own rubric, or start from ours. Connected to coaching, PD, and goals.
Get the T-TESS cheat sheet.
A printable 2-page reference: all four domains and 16 dimensions, the rating scale, the annual cycle, and what strong evidence looks like.
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Part of EX in Education
One piece of the educator experience.
Texas T-TESS walkthroughs are one part of how districts support educators. In EX in Education, they connect to the bigger picture: walkthroughs, coaching, evaluations, goals, PD, recognition, surveys, and retention. Bring your own process, or start from a template, then run it across every campus so every educator moves from hired to thriving.