Critical Deadlines & Required Reporting
New Facility Usage Reporting
Texas districts are now required to submit annual facility usage data to the TEA. The reporting window is currently open but closes soon.
Submission Details:
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Deadline: May 15, 2026
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Requirements: Mandatory annual reporting for all districts.
Data Points Required:
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Property Specs: Total square footage & land size
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Occupancy: Student capacity vs. current enrollment
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Classification: Facility usage type & ownership status (owned vs. leased)
Click here to read more on the TEA webpage.
Certification of 2026-27 Indirect Cost Rates (ISDs Only)
Completed Indirect Cost Rate Proposals (ICRPs) for the 2026–2027 cycle are now available via GFFC Reports and Data Collections in TEAL.
‼️Required Actions:
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Review & Certify: ISDs must review, approve, a certify their ICRP to receive rates for 2026-2027 grant applications
📅Important Dates:
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Certification Deadline: May 15, 2026
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TEA will post final notification letters: July 1, 2026
Note: Failure to certify by the deadline will result in the district not receiving an indirect cost rate for the upcoming grant year.
Click here for more information.
HB 1522 Reminders
When posting a notice for any board meeting where a budget will be discussed or adopted, you must now include two additional items to remain compliant:
1. Access to the Proposed Budget
You must provide one of the following:
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Physical Copy: Attached directly to the meeting notice.
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Website Link: A clear, direct link to the budget on the district’s home page.
2. Taxpayer Impact Statement
Using your new certified estimates from the appraisal district, you must include a statement that compares the property tax bill for a median-valued homestead under two scenarios:
⚠️ Important Reminders:
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Not Just for the Newspaper: This is required for the standard meeting notice posted before every board meeting, not just the annual "Notice of Public Meeting" published in the paper.
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Posting Timeline: Under HB 1522, notices must now be posted at least three business days before the meeting date (replacing the old 72-hour rule).
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Resources: TASBO has updated their Budget and Tax Rate Resources page with a Sample Taxpayer Impact Statement and an FAQ (see Q.5) to help you draft these documents.
Grants & Funding Updates
Updated 2026-27 ESSA Planning Amounts Available
The TEA has released updated planning amounts for the 2026–2027 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application. These figures now reflect the most recent enrollment data.
Important Reminders:
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Estimates Only: These amounts are based on current USDE budget tables and are subject to change.
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Where to Access: View your specific district's numbers on the TEA Grant Allocations webpage.
Timeline for Other Grants:
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IDEA-B (Special Education): Expected by May 13, 2026.
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Perkins V (CTE): Expected by May 13, 2026.
Contact the Federal Fiscal Compliance & Reporting Division at entitlements@tea.texas.gov.
Click here for more details on your released planning amounts.
Local Accountability Plan Grant (2026–2028)
The TEA has announced a new competitive grant opportunity to support districts in developing their own Local Accountability Systems (LAS). This allows your district to create a "custom" version of an A–F rating for campuses based on local priorities that aren't measured by the state.
What the Grant Provides:
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Funding: Financial support for data systems, professional development, and stakeholder engagement.
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Technical Assistance: Access to expert advisors to help design and implement your local framework.
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Regional Focus: The goal is to fund at least one district in every ESC region.
Key Deadlines & Links:
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Application Deadline: June 26, 2026.
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Where to Apply: Available on the TEA Grant Opportunities Page.
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Eligibility: School districts and open-enrollment charter schools.
Why Consider This?
A Local Accountability Plan allows you to:
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Showcase unique campus strengths (e.g., fine arts, extracurriculars, or school culture).
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Communicate local goals directly to parents and the community.
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Combine your local rating with the state accountability rating (for campuses with a state rating of 'C' or higher).
Key Tips: Managing TIA Fund Balances
Since TIA payments must be made to teachers by August 31st, districts often face temporary negative fund balances. To prevent this and ensure your year-end financial statements are accurate, follow these steps:
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Categorize the Funds: Mark the allotment as "Due from the State" or Guaranteed State Reimbursement."
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Align with FSP: Handle these funds exactly as you would other anticipated Foundation School Program (FSP) settle-up funds.
For a deeper dive, refer to the TIA Spending Guidance for District Business Offices.
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Compliance & Audit Alerts
2026 Truth-in-Taxation Calculation Forms
The Comptroller has released the 2026 Tax Rate Calculation Worksheets (Forms 50-859 and 50-884). While most of the form remains the same, there are critical changes mandated by SB 1023 and SB 1453.
🚨 Big Change: Mandatory Hyperlinks (SB 1023)
The most significant update is a new field on the first page. Districts must now:
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Insert a Hyperlink: You must link to a document that provides evidence for every entry on the worksheet (except for automatic math calculations).
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Source Material: This linked documentation must contain the raw data used for all worksheets.
Form & Definition Updates (SB 1453)
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Section 2 Renamed: Now titled "Maximum Compressed, Enrichment and Debt Tax Rate Worksheet."
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Updated "Debt Rate" Definition: It now specifically includes the minimum dollar amount required for the district’s debt service for the current year.
Where to find them: Comptroller’s Tax Rate Calculation Page
TDA Audits: 2026-2027 Review List Published
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has released the list of school food program operations scheduled for Administrative and Procurement Reviews in the 2026–2027 school year.
🔍Scope of the Audit:
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Financial Records: Review of procurement and financial data from the 2025-2026 school year.
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Compliance Check: Evaluation of the district's Wellness Policy and the triennial assessment.
‼️Action Item:
- Check the TDA published list immediately to see if your district is scheduled for a review.
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Safety & Security:
New Proposal for Extracurricular Events
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has proposed Rule §103.1217, which sets strict safety requirements for large extracurricular activities (e.g., graduation, prom, and rivalry games).
The "Must Know" Requirements:
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Security Rations: Events with over 500 attendees require at least one uniformed peace officer per 750 attendees.
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Safety Plans: Districts must adopt multi-hazard emergency operations plans for these events.
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Host Responsibility: The host district is responsible for all security costs and planning, regardless of who is playing/participant.
‼️Budget & Action Items:
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Superintendents &CFOs: Review your 2026-2027 budgets now. These rules will possibly increase costs for staffing, security contracts, and operational planning.
📅Deadline for Feedback:
- Public comments on this proposal are open until May 18, 2026.
Click here for more information.
HB 103 Bond Database Updates
The Comptroller’s office has initiated Phase 2 of the Local Government Bond, Tax, and Project Transparency Database. While this doesn’t create immediate new tasks for most districts, there is a window for feedback and a new tool opening soon.
Key Takeaways:
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Resource Guide Feedback: A new draft Resource Guide is available for review. If you have questions or concerns about the reporting process, submit feedback to the Comptroller by May 15, 2026.
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May Election Results: If your district held a bond election this May, the Bond Reporting Tool will open on June 1, 2026, for entering those results.
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Current Obligations: If you are already up to date, no additional reporting is required at this time.
‼️Action Items:
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Legal Coordination: Note that bond counsel is currently seeking clarification on several points in the new guide. We recommend reviewing the guide and coordinating with your legal team before the May 15th feedback deadline.
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