Today, the Texas Education Agency announced the release of final financial ratings for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools under School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas).

After providing notices in a newspaper and electronic media, school districts and open enrollment are to hold a public hearing and provide attendees a copy of a financial management report disclosing performance on each of the School FIRST indicators for the current and prior year in addition to certain financial disclosures, in accordance with Title 19, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 109. Budgeting, Accounting, and Auditing, Subchapter AA. Commissioner's Rules Concerning Financial Accountability at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter109/ch109aa.html. 

To access the TEA announcement for school districts and information on additional requirements for disclosures in the School FIRST financial management report, click on the link below.

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/finauditsb083111.html

To access the TEA announcement for open-enrollment charter schools and significant future expansion of School FIRST indicators for charter schools, click on the link below.

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/finaudits083111.html

To access the School FIRST template at the Region 13 Education Service Center web site, click on the link below.

http://www5.esc13.net/finance/ 

To access TASBO's School FIRST Communications Kit, click on the link below.

http://www.tasbo.org/resources/useful-links/schoolsfirst