Annual Financial Accountability Management (FIRST) Reports

  • The state’s school financial accountability rating system, known as the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and that they improve those practices.  The system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.

    Each school district must prepare an annual Financial Accountability Management Report containing disclosures required by Title 19 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 109 within two months of release of the District’s final FIRST rating and present it at a public hearing as well as make it available to all District stakeholders.  The ratings are based on the annual financial reports provided to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  The financial accountability system requires the TEA to review the audited financial reports from all districts and charters and evaluate them based on 15 indicators that assess a district’s solvency and financial competence.  Based on the total points awarded
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