Stabilization Funds Application

Abbreviated SFSF

Here is what we know today:

The Preliminary Summary of Finances for 2009-2010 was updated and now shows the amounts SFSF funds which will be allocated to help pay for the cost of the Foundation School Program under House Bill 3646. The Summary of Finances can be found on TEA’s School District State Aid Reports webpage.

You will notice that there are two amounts: SFSF – Foundation School Fund Grant and SFSF – Available School Fund Grant.

These funds will NOT flow automatically like the state source Foundation School Fund and Available School Fund payments.
We understand that the SFSF amounts are static and will not change. Settle up for actual FSP entitlements at the end of the year will be made from the state source funds.
Districts should use the State Aid template from ESC 13 to calculate actual funding but adjust the actual source of funds to reflect the SFSF allocations.

About the application:

Districts must apply for these funds through the TEA eGrant system. The instructions and contact information are available here: http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx. (Enter SFSF in the Program/Subject Area and click search.)
The TEA letter announcing the grant and outlining the program requirements is available here.
SFSF funds may be used for the pay raise required by HB 3646. TEA suggests that the grant be used for other purposes to avoid the complexity of “split funding” a large proportion of the district staff. We understand that time and effort record keeping will not be required unless the employee is paid from multiple other sources.
SFSF funds must be expended for any activities authorized under the following acts: (Notice that this means activities authorized by these programs, not the grants themselves and to distinguish between ARRA allocations to these programs and the SFSF funds.)
Supplement and not supplant rules do not apply to SFSF funds but do apply to other ARRA grants.