November 29, 2023

Posted by Business Center on 11/29/2023

1. AFR Deadlines

 

  • For those districts that have a June 30th year end, November 27, 2023 was the last day to submit the AFR to TEA.
  • For those districts that have an August 31st year end, you will need to submit your audit report no later than January 28, 2024.

 

There is a 30 day grace period that begins on the due date for purposes of fiscal compliance with TEA reporting for those districts that have difficulty reporting all documents their respective date. Additional information can be found on TEA’s website.

 

 

2. Debt Transparency

 

  • For those districts that have a June 30th year end, you will need to submit or post your annual local debt report no later than December 27, 2023.
  • For those districts that have an August 31st year end, you will need to submit or post your annual local debt report no later than February 27, 2024.

 

Additional information on this process can be found on the Comptroller’s website.

 

 

3. Final FIRST Ratings and Meeting Requirements

 

Final 2022–2023 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) ratings based on fiscal year 2022 are now publicly available on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website: 

 

 

A previous “To the Administrator Addressed” letter dated August 7, 2023, instructed your school district or charter school (local educational agency or LEA) to view its preliminary FIRST rating. The letter also provided information about the data the TEA analyzes to produce the rating and described the appeal process available to your LEA. This appeals process is now complete, and the FIRST ratings are final. 

 

Within two months of the release of its final FIRST rating, your LEA must announce and hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report that explains the LEA’s rating and its performance under each indicator for the current and previous year’s ratings. The report also must provide the financial information described in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §109.1001(q)(3). 

 

The required newspaper notice to inform taxpayers of the meeting must be published no more than 30 days and no fewer than 10 days before the public meeting. Your LEA may combine the meeting with a scheduled regular meeting of the board of trustees. 

 

For full requirements related to the report and meeting, see 19 TAC §109.1001(q). For a template that your LEA can use in developing its financial management report, see the TEA School FIRST web page. 

 

 

4. Year 4 ESSER Annual Reporting

 

The official data collection tool for Year Four ESSER Annual Performance Reporting is now live. The online system for LEAs to complete this reporting requirement will close Friday, February 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

 

LEAs and ESCs can access the USDE ESSER Reporting WorkApp using this link.

 

In addition, TEA staff will be hosting the following office hours sessions to provide technical assistance for Year Four USDE ESSER Annual Performance Reporting (these are open to LEAs and ESCs):

 

  • Tuesdays, from 10am to 11am (October 31, 2023, to December 19, 2023) – Register Here
  • Thursdays, from 2pm to 3pm (November 2, 2023, to December 19, 2023) – Register Here
  • Tuesdays, from 10am to 11am (January 9, 2024, to February 13, 2024) – Register Here
  • Thursdays, from 2pm to 3pm (January 11, 2024, to February 15, 2024) – Register Here

 

More information for this process can be found in the TEA ESSER Annual Performance Reporting FAQs.

 

 

5. 2024-2025 Indirect Cost Requests – ISDs

 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is providing two training opportunities via Zoom for independent school districts (districts) interested in learning more about completing the request for indirect cost rates for 2024–2025.

 

Next Zoom Training Date/Time: December 13, 2023, from 1:00–2:30 PM – Register

 

The PowerPoint, forms, and other resources will be available on TEA’s Indirect Cost Rates webpage. For any questions, contact TEA’s Federal Fiscal Compliance and Reporting Division at Compliance@tea.texas.gov.

 

 

6. Transportation Report: Operations

 

The Operations Report is an annual report that asks for information on transportation costs and mileage for the school year, as well as for information on vehicles used to transport students. The report must be submitted to the TEA by December 1, 2023.

 

Additional information on this process can be found on TEA’s website.

 

 

7. Updated Grant Compliance Risk Scores

 

LEA administrators with current, active SmartSheet access to other TEA WorkApps (EDGAR Connect, FPC Random Validation, ESSER Reporting, etc.) will be able to view the Risk Assessment WorkApp. Email Frank Baca, the Department's System Automation Team Lead (Frank.Baca@tea.texas.gov), to request to add or remove users.

 

Active users can access their 2023-2024 Risk Assessment Status Designation Report by following these steps: 

 

  • Access the TEA Smartsheet WorkApps site:
  • Select Risk Assessment WorkApps.
  • Select LEA Name and CDN when the 2023-2024 GCA Risk Assessment page displays.
  • Click on the Attachments link and click on the LEA RA Report.pdf title.
  • The report will download to your computer's download folder.
  • Click on the downloaded report to view your 2023-2024 LEA Risk Assessment Status Designation Report.
  • Each LEA report includes points assigned by indicator, total risk assessment score, and risk status designation for 2023-2024.

 

For more information on the risk assessment see our GCA Risk Assessment webpage. For questions regarding 2023-2024 Risk Assessment scores or status, contact Cal Lopez, TEA Federal Compliance Officer, at noncompresolution@tea.texas.gov or 512-463-9017.

 

 

8. Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act (JETI)

 

JETI was created with the passage of House Bill 5 (88th Legislature, Regular Session) and aims to help Texas stay competitive by attracting new jobs and investment to the state. The JETI program enables a company, school district and Governor’s office to enter into an agreement for a 10-year school district maintenance and operations (M&O) tax appraised value limitation pursuant to statutorily mandated job creation and investment minimums.

 

The Comptroller’s office has posted initial information on their new JETI website, which has a link to proposed rules for this program.   

 

If you have further questions, please contact John Villarreal at John.Villarreal@cpa.texas.gov.

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