Critical Deadlines & Required Reporting
May 15 Deadline: ICRP Certification (ISDs Only)
ISDs that requested an indirect cost rate for 2026–27 grant applications must review and certify their Indirect Cost Rate Proposal (ICRP) data by Friday, May 15, 2026.
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Requirement: Submission of the ICRP Certification is mandatory to receive TEA’s calculated indirect cost rates.
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Reference: See the April 16, 2026, To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) letter on the TEA Correspondence webpage for full details.
How to Complete & Submit the ICRP Certification
To approve your final restricted and unrestricted indirect cost rates for 2026–2027, follow these steps:
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Access: Log into the GFFC Reports and Data Collections application via TEAL.
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Action: Review your data and submit the ICRP Certification within the secure portal.
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Guidance: For step-by-step help, refer to the ICRP Certification Instructions on the TEA Indirect Cost Rates webpage.
Grants & Funding Updates
Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) Planning & Expansion Grants
TEA has announced $2.6 million in grant funding to support the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP). This program incentivizes districts with fewer than 1,600 students to collaborate regionally, offering high-demand career pathways that individual small districts may not be able to sustain alone.
Grant Opportunities:
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Planning Grants: Up to $200,000 for new partnerships (2+ eligible districts) to design and launch an R-PEP.
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Expansion Grants: Up to $80,000 for existing, designated R-PEPs to add new districts or career pathways
Key Deadlines:
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May 15, 2026: Grant application opens on the TEA Grant Opportunities page.
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May 20 & 21, 2026: Informational webinars for prospective applicants.
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June 30, 2026: Applications due.
Why it matters: Participating districts are eligible for a Foundation School Program (FSP) allotment (weighted funding) for students in these pathways, plus CCMR outcome bonuses.
Action Required
- Small districts interested in regional collaboration should visit the R-PEP website to register for webinars and review the application guidelines.
Click here to see this in full on the TEA webpage.
2025–26 HEG Adjustments and SBOE-Approved Instructional Materials Entitlements
TEA has finalized adjustments for instructional materials funding based on actual 2025–26 student enrollment data. These funds will be loaded into EMAT in May 2026.
High-Enrollment Growth (HEG) Adjustment: * Eligibility: Districts with more than 7.51% student growth between fall 2024 and fall 2025.
Entitlement Settle-Up (All Districts):
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TEA is adjusting the SBOE-Approved ($40/student) and OER ($20/student) entitlements.
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Previous funding was based on 90% of last year's numbers; this "settle-up" provides the remaining funds based on actual fall 2025 snapshot data.
Key Reminder:
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SBOE-Approved Funds ($40): These roll over if not used.
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OER Funds ($20): These do not roll over and must be used by August 31, 2026, or they will expire
Action Required:
- Finance and Instructional Materials Coordinators should check EMAT to view their updated balances and plan year-end purchases accordingly.
Special Education Day & Residential Placement: Funding & Standards Updates
Effective for the 2026–27 school year, TEA is implementing changes from HB 2 and SB 568 regarding how school systems contract with and fund day and residential placement programs.
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New Funding Allotment: Qualifying day placement program cooperatives can now receive a $250,000 annual allotment to support students with intensive or complex needs.
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Expanded Standards: Beginning September 1, 2026, the Commissioner will set new minimum standards for all placement programs. These are designed to provide clear, standardized requirements and improve oversight.
Key Deadlines:
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May 15, 2026: Application for day placement cooperative funding opens.
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May 19, 2026: TEA webinar regarding the funding application.
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June 26, 2026: Applications are due by 11:59 p.m.
Action Required:
- Districts should review the new minimum standards document and prepare for updated guidance on data submissions and provider compliance.
Click here to see this in full on the TEA webpage.
2026-2027 Planning Amounts and Applicant Designation and Certification (ADC) Forms for Special Education Consolidated (Federal), and Perkins V Now Available
Estimated 2026-2027 planning amounts for Special Education Consolidated (Federal) and Perkins V grants are now available on TEA's Entitlements and Allocations Dashboards webpage. Amounts are based on the latest available U.S. Department of Education (USDE) funding information.
2026-2027 Applicant Designation and Certification (ADC) forms are now available for:
- ESSA grants for ESCs only (school systems available May 20, 2026)
- Special Education (Federal) grants for all school systems
- Perkins V and Perkins V Institutions grants for all school systems
Before accessing the ADC forms, applicants must complete the 2026-2027 SC5003 – Formula Grants Consolidated Schedule in TEAL/eGrants under the "Special Collections" tab. The ADC must be certified and submitted by a grantee official before grant applications become available.
Grant applications will open in eGrants on these dates:
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): May 20, 2026
- Special Education (Federal): June 3, 2026
- Perkins V: June 12, 2026
All eligible applicants must submit these applications through eGrants by 11:59 p.m. CT on September 3, 2026. Questions about funding amounts can be emailed to entitlements@tea.texas.gov.
For information on the application process, contact your assigned negotiator listed on the Grants Administration Contacts document.
For more information, access TEA's bulletin sent 5/13/2026 here.
Policy & Research Updates
IES to Conduct National Study of Special Education Spending
For the first time since 1999, the federal government is launching a comprehensive $5.6 million study (NSSES) to determine the actual cost of educating students with disabilities.
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Why it matters: Current IDEA funding covers only 12–15% of costs—well below the 40% federal commitment. This study will provide the data needed for future funding formula updates and IDEA reauthorization.
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Timeline: Data collection begins in the 2026-27 school year, involving up to 1,250 districts.
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District Impact: Selected districts will be reimbursed for their time. Participation is critical, as this data will shape federal funding levels for the next decade.
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