News from TEA AUSTIN, Texas – November 6, 2023 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released final financial accountability ratings for Texas public school systems. 88 percent received an ‘A’ or Superior Achievement rating for 2022-2023, exemplifying high-quality financial management practices. Established in 2001 by the 77th Texas Legislature, the School Financial Integrity Rating … Read More
Calculating Charter FIRST
Charter FIRST is the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), which is detailed in Texas Education Code 39.082. The purpose and goal of having a financial accountability rating system is to ensure that open enrollment charter schools continually strive to improve the management of their financial resources and provide transparency and openly report results to … Read More
ESSA Basic Program Requirements: Fiscal and Program
Federal funds don’t just provide money to your schools. They create programs. By focusing on solid programs, you can add to your school’s repertoire and improve your ability to serve students. But programs funded by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are regulated by many rules that can seem confusing at times. As a savvy … Read More
Implementing the New EDGAR: Travel Costs
For any program to be successful, having well-trained teachers to implement it is a must. For this reason, travel is often necessary in federal programs. However, there are many rules and regulations about paying travel expenses using grant funds. The LEA must have written travel procedures and detailed documentation of travel expenses. Travel can be … Read More
Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant
Are you in need of more funding to meet the school safety standards? A new grant opportunity was released last week that is the third in a series of recent state grants aimed at enhancing school facilities to protect students from violence. You may have previously received the SPAT (Silent Panic Alert Technology), and the … Read More
Indirect Cost Rate Utilization Survey Due Sept. 15, 2023
This must be the year for unexpected surveys from TEA! In July, CSS told you about the Survey on Reporting Real Property, and on Aug 22, TEA Grant Compliance announced another new survey requirement called the “Indirect Cost Utilization Survey.” All LEAs that were issued indirect cost rates (IDCR) in the last 3 years (2020, … Read More
Assets, Liabilities and Revenue Coding
Do you know the difference between an asset and revenue? Would you like to know where to code a monthly rent payment? What about the large donation you received at the end of the year, do you know where to code that? By far, the largest variety of codes in your Chart of Accounts will … Read More
IDEA-B Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Compliance
TEA has calculated IDEA-B LEA maintenance of effort (MOE) compliance reviews for school year 2020-2021. What is IDEA-B Maintenance of Effort (MOE)? MOE is a federal requirement that affects how an LEA (i.e. Charters) budgets and spends their state and local funds on special education students. Charter School Success helps our charter school clients in both the … Read More
Program Intent Code Allotments
Program Intent codes (PICs) are used to account for the cost of teaching and other services that are directed toward a particular need of a specific set of students. It is important to remember that it is the intent that determines the PIC, and not the demographic makeup of the students served. When using PICs … Read More
EDGAR: Staffing, Time & Effort
One of the best benefits of federal grant dollars is the ability to add extra staffing; however, there is much to consider about compliance and documentation for federally-funded staff. The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) must be followed when hiring and documenting the time of federally-funded staff. This article and our accompanying EDGAR Staff … Read More