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School Finance Weekly Updates

July 9, 2026

🏫 Trainings & Resources 📖

EDGAR Training: Is your manual ready for TEA's Federal Fiscal Monitoring Protocol?

Session ID 120035 | July 29, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Cost: $50

(Free to 25-26 Federal Program's Grant Support Commitment Members)

This session will discuss federal education fiscal rules, regulations, and risk assessment, including references to statute that applies to all education grants. We will reference TEA's New Federal Fiscal Monitoring Protocol and give you time to check if your school system would have the documentation necessary for the indicators. Updates to the Education Department Grant Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and best practice recommendations will be shared. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring their federal programs administrative manual to reflect on opportunities for refinement.

ESC-20’s New Federal Programs Directors Academy for 2026-2027

New to federal programs? ESC-20's New Federal Programs Directors Academy provides six half-day sessions designed to help new directors build a strong foundation in federal program compliance and grant management.

Participants will learn key topics such as budgeting, allowability, procurement, fiscal requirements, CNA and DIP/CIP planning, program evaluation, documentation, amendments, carryover, drawdowns, and grant closeout. Attendees will also gain a better understanding of their school system's EDGAR manual and federal grants procedures. 6 Virtual Days from 8:30 AM - 11:45 AM for just $400! Click here or the button below to register. For more information contact Carrie Helmke at carrie.helmke@esc20.net

School Finance Resources

• School District State Aid Reports
• Summary of Finances (SOF)
• Attendance (Pupil) Projections
• State Funding Reports
• Foundation School Program (FSP)
• Excess Local Revenue
• State Funding Worksheets (from ESC XIII - external link)
• Financial Information Tool (FIT)
• School Finance Manuals and Presentations
• Charter School Funding
• Facilities Funding and Standards
• Additional Finance Resources

Texas School Finance Center (TSFC)

ESC-20 is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Texas School Finance Center (TSFC) to expand school finance support for districts across our region. This collaboration provides streamlined access to service that strengthen financial operations ensure compliance, and support long-term planning. Get your school district on the path to success for: Revenue Projection Staffing Pattern Analysis Compliance Management Business Coaching Full-Services Solutions & more! Visit their website for more information.

Your School Finance Journey Starts Here!

Commitments for 2026-2027 Are Now Open!

Business Manager Cooperative (BMC)

Stay Connected. Stay Informed. Stay Ahead!

For Business Managers and CFOs who need timely updates, trusted guidance, and access to experts throughout the year.   What You'll Receive 🏛️5 Critical Issue Sessions 🏛️5 Touch Base Sessions 🏛️4 Days of Investment Officer Training ⭐ 50+ Hours of Technical Assistance & Information Sessions ⭐Expertise from ESC-20 Client Business Services, MoakCasey, LLC, & external partners 💲Significant cost savings for your district Already a BMC Member? Renew your commitment for 2026-2027 and continue receiving the support your rely on!  Register for the Business Manager Cooperative (BMC) through the commitment system.

School Finance Academy Pathway Grow Your Expertise Through The School Finance Academy

Click here or the graphic above to hear from our members about their SFA experience!

School Finance Academy: Foundations

Perfect for:

• New CFOs
• Business Managers
• Aspiring school finance leaders
• Staff transitioning into finance roles

10 Full Days of Hands-On Learning

✔️School Finance Fundamentals

✔️Compliance requirements

✔️Operational best practices

✔️Real-world examples & practical applications

✔️Confidence to support district financial operations

School Finance Academy: Next Level

Exclusively for participants who completed the 2025-2026 School Finance Academy.

6 Full Days of Advanced Learning

✔️ Deeper school finance application

✔️Leadership and communication skills

✔️Working effectively with district leaders & boards

✔️Collaboration & organizational health strategies

✔️Informed financial decision-making

💰Funding Opportunity💰

2026 Summer Special Education Data Support Grant

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is offering a one-time extra-duty stipend grant to help school systems fund summer staffing costs. This funding supports the intense record review needed ahead of the state's transition to the new special education funding models.

Quick Eligibility

School systems must meet at least one of the following:

• Serve 50 or more students receiving special education services

OR

• Participate in a Shared Services Arrangement (SSA) with a combined total of 50 or more special education students across all member districts.

Allowable Use of Funds

Funds must be used this summer to cover staffing costs for reviewing student records to determine:

• Tier of intensity

• Applicable service group(s)

• Average daily minutes spent in a special education setting

Critical Deadlines & Requirements

• August 14, 2026: Deadline to complete early data submission via the TEA portal (must include at least 10% of your total special education student population).

• August 31, 2026: All grant funds must be either fully expended or formally obligated (allocated/reserved).

Resources & Portals

• Summer Special Education Data Support Grant Application

• Official Grant FAQ

• TEA Early Data Request Portal

School District Property Value Study (SDPVS) Required Forms 📋 

📅Deadline: October 15, 2026 

Per Tax Code Section 5.09, appraisal districts must submit required School District Property Value Study (SDPVS) forms and backup documentation to report total appraised values, taxable values, and tax rates.

Required Forms Checklist:

• Form 50-755, Report on Value Lost Because of School District Participation in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) (PDF)

• Form 50-767, Report on Value Lost Because of Value Limitations Under Tax Code Chapter 313 (PDF)

• Form 50-846, Report on Value Lost Because of Limitations on Taxable Value Under the JETI Act (PDF)

• Form 50-851, Report on Value Lost Because of Deferred Tax Collections Under Tax Code Sections 33.06 and 33.065 (PDF)

• Form 50-886-a, Tax Rate Submission Spreadsheet (XLSX)

• Form 50-897-b, Data Collection for Limitation on Homesteads of Elderly and Disabled or Deferred Taxes (XLSX)

Critical Instructions:

• No Blanks: Do not submit incomplete or blank forms. If a form does not apply, mark it N/A or attach a statement explaining why it isn't required.

• How to Submit: Email all completed, signed forms and backup data to ptad.ears@cpa.texas.gov.

• Resources: Refer to the EARS Manual for complete process details.

What's at Stake: Missing the October 15 deadline or submitting incomplete data can directly impact your school district's state funding and the appraisal district's Methods and Assistance Program (MAP) review.

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.

2026 Truth-in-Taxation (TNT) ⚖️

Forms & Notices 

The Truth-in-Taxation calculation forms and notices for the 2026 tax year are now available on the Forms webpage. Based on feedback from the Property Tax Rate Calculation Form Committee and the industry, several key forms have been updated.

Updated Forms & Worksheets

• 50-856, Tax Rate Calculation Worksheet – Taxing Units Other Than School Districts or Water Districts (PDF)

• 50-856-A, Supplemental Tax Rate Calculation Worksheet – Voter-Approval Tax Rate for Taxing Unit in a Disaster Area Other Than School Districts or Water Districts (PDF)

• 50-858, Water District Voter-Approval Tax Rate Worksheet for Low Tax Rate and Developing Districts (PDF)

• 50-859, Tax Rate Calculation Worksheet – School Districts without Chapter 313 and JETI Agreements (PDF)

• 50-860, Developed Water District Voter-Approval Tax Rate Worksheet (PDF)

• 50-884, Tax Rate Calculation Worksheet – School Districts with Chapter 313 and JETI Agreements (PDF)

New Supplemental Worksheet

Form 50-110 (Captured Appraised Value Adjustment): This brand-new supplemental worksheet allows taxing units affected by Tax Code Section 26.03 to calculate adjustments separately for each individual reinvestment zone.

Compliance Reminder: In addition to the updated forms, the website hosts essential resources outlining taxing units' legal responsibilities to taxpayers and the proper procedures for setting tax rates.

For more information on School Finance Services at ESC-20, please contact

Alexis Gutierrez or Lilibeth Robles