🚨Compliance & Deadlines🚨
SHARS FFY 2025 Cost Report:
Deadline Extended to July 3rd
The deadline for the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 School Health and Related Services (SHARS) cost report has been extended to July 3, 2026. Reports must be submitted via the State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS).
Critical Access & Role Requirements
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System Access: You must log in via IAMOnline to access STEPS.
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Maintain Your Account: Users must log in to IAMOnline at least once every 90 days or the account will be disabled.
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Primary Entity Contact (PEC): Ensure your PEC information is current in the Provider Enrollment and Management System (PEMS). HHSC cannot update this for you. Only the PEC can assign Financial Contacts (FCs) in STEPS.
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Mandatory Training: All preparers, FCs, and PECs must complete required training within STEPS before submitting or certifying a cost report.
Need Assistance?
Account & Registration Issues (HHSC Enterprise Service Desk)
- Hours: Mon–Fri, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CDT
- Phone: (512) 438-4720 or (855) 435-7181
STEPS Functionality & General Questions (HHSC)
- Live Support: 1-737-86-STEPS (78377)
- Alternative: Submit a ticket via the STEPS General System Guide or email Provider Finance Cost Information.
PEMS & Enrollment Maintenance (TMHP)
- TMHP Contact Center: (800) 925-9126
- General SHARS Notice Questions: Email HHSC SHARS staff or call (512) 730-7400.
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2025–2026 Attendance-Related Waivers Deadline:
July 31, 2026
School districts must submit all attendance-related waiver applications for the 2025–2026 school year by July 31, 2026.
Applicable Waivers
This firm deadline applies to the following specific waiver types:
- Additional Days School Year (ADSY)
- Low Attendance Day(s)
- Missed School Day(s)
CRITICAL NOTE: This waiver deadline is separate from PEIMS submission deadlines. Districts must obtain formal waiver approval before submitting any related PEIMS waiver data.
Next Steps & Support
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Release of IMRA Cycle 2027 Request for Instructional Materials (RFIM)
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has officially released the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) RFIM for Cycle 2027. Approved materials will be available for school systems to purchase via EMAT starting in the 2028–29 school year.
Critical Deadlines & Steps
To participate, publishers must navigate a multi-step submission process. Mark your calendars for these key dates:
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Form A (Publisher Business Info):
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Opens: June 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CDT
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Closes: September 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT
Note: Requires formal registration first to receive the form link. Only one Form A per publisher.
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Form B (Program Submission):
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Opens: August 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. CDT
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Closes: October 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT
Note: Requires a separate Form B for each individual grade-level program or course.
Final Withdrawal Deadline: October 23, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CDT
Warning: After this date, publishers cannot opt out. Materials will still be reviewed, and if placed on the List of Rejected Instructional Materials, Texas public and charter schools are legally barred from purchasing or using them.
Materials & Subjects Accepted
TEA is accepting submissions across three tiers for specific grade levels (detailed TEKS/ELPS alignment can be found in Appendix B of the RFIM):
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Full-Subject, Tier-One: K–12 English Math, K–6 Spanish Math, 6–8 English Advanced Math, Grade 6 Spanish Advanced Math, K–5 ELAR/SLAR, 6–12 CTE (Batches 1 & 2), K–12 Fine Arts, and K–12 Languages Other Than English.
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Partial-Subject, Tier-One: K–3 English and Spanish Phonics.
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Supplemental Materials: K–12 English Math, K–6 Spanish Math, and K–5 ELAR/SLAR.
Support & Office Hours
The TEA IMRA Team is hosting biweekly office hours to support publishers (with extra assistance available for those new to the process).
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When: Biweekly on Thursdays, 2:00–3:00 p.m. CDT, starting July 23, 2026.
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Next Steps: Register for ZOOM Office Hours here or submit a ticket through the TEA Help Desk for external questions.
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🏛️Federal Grants & Policy Updates
Important: Proposed Federal Regulatory Changes May Impact Your Programs
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed revisions to the Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), which governs the use of federal grant funds, including Title I, Title II, and other ESEA programs that are intendend to go in effect on October 1, 2026.
- The Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) provided a summary of three initial concerns. One of the proposed changes is to Section 200.432; conference costs would only be allowable if attendance is specifically approved by the federal agency and included in the grant's terms and conditions.
- Because the federal definition of a "conference" is broad, many professional development events, trainings, and conferences could be affected by this restriction if the proposal is adopted.
If you would like to share your feedback, public comments on the proposed OMB revisions may be submitted through Regulations.gov (Docket OMB-2026-0034) by July 13, 2026. There has been minimal responses from K-12 entities.
FY27 Federal Education Funding Proposal Advances in House Subcommittee
Last month, the House Appropriations Subcommittee advanced its FY 2027 federal education funding proposal, which would affect the 2027-2028 school year. While less severe than last year's proposal, it includes significant cuts to many K-12 education programs. Click here or the button below to see the AESA summary of the funding proposal.
School Bus Safety Grant Program
The Texas Legislature created the School Bus Safety Grant Program to help school systems retrofit school buses with three-point seat belts. The program provides up to $6,000 per bus, with $10 million available statewide for eligible projects. Eligible school systems have until August 14, 2026 to submit their Informal Discretionary Competition (IDC) Data Application.
Click here or the button below for more information.
📈National Trends & Reports📈
2027–28 Full-Time Hybrid and Virtual Campus Authorization
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released a To the Administrator Addressed letter outlining the authorization process for school systems planning to operate full-time hybrid or virtual campuses for the 2027–2028 school year under Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 30B, Subchapter C.
Do You Need Authorization?
- Authorization REQUIRED: If 50% or more of a campus's total student enrollment is participating in a full-time virtual or hybrid program, it is classified as a virtual/hybrid campus and must get formal TEA approval.
- Authorization NOT Required: School systems can run smaller full-time virtual or hybrid programs within an existing local campus without TEA authorization, provided total program participation stays below 50% of that campus's enrollment.
The Core Requirements:
Authorized campuses must establish a separate County District Campus Number (CDCN) via the AskTED system.
- All operations must fulfill the standard state requirement of 75,600 operational minutes per school year and comply with course standards under TEC Chapter 30B.
Application & Submission Window:
Details on the exact application windows, rubric scoring, and required local board approvals are being routed to school leaders. Districts currently utilizing the Virtual and Hybrid Program Accelerator (VHPA) grant will automatically satisfy several Year 1 planning deliverables toward this authorization.
Click here or the button below for more information.
Report Shows Healthcare Costs' Impact on Schools
A joint report by the School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) reveals that skyrocketing healthcare costs are severely squeezing school district budgets nationwide.
The first-of-its-kind national study—titled Rising Premiums, Falling Opportunities: The Budgetary Impact of Health Care Costs on School Districts—details how healthcare expenditures are swallowing a larger share of district funds, forcing tough operational trade-offs.
The Cost Breakdown
As healthcare premiums eat up more of the budget, fewer resources are left to fund critical educational needs. The report highlights negative impacts on:
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Staffing & Compensation: Directly limits districts' ability to raise educator salaries and maintain optimal staffing levels.
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Student Opportunities: Reduces available funding for educational programs, instructional materials, and essential student services.
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Operations: Strains budgets intended for critical facility improvements and general school operations.
Click here or the button below to learn more.
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