April 2021 Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund Item 10

Fourth Quarter 2020 Permanent School Fund Performance Report

April 15, 2021

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL FINANCE/PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND:  DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION:  NO ACTION

SUMMARY:  The performance measurement consultant to the Permanent School Fund (PSF), BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, will report on the investment performance during the fourth calendar quarter 2020 and cumulative investment performance of the various portfolios of the PSF. This item provides the opportunity for the committee to discuss in depth various issues related to portfolio management such as risk characteristics of portfolios and portfolio attributes.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Texas Constitution, Article VII, §2 and §5; 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 33.

The Texas Constitution, Article VII, §2 and §5 establish the permanent school fund, the assets that comprise the permanent school fund, the bond guarantee program, the available school fund, and authorize the State Board of Education (SBOE) to manage and invest the permanent school fund in accordance with the prudent person standard.

Administrative rules found in 19 TAC Chapter 33 provide a statement of investment objectives, policies, and guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund and Bond Guarantee Program as adopted by the SBOE.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION:  An in-depth performance review at the committee level is intended to allow committee members to review not only total return information for each managed portfolio, but to gain a more thorough understanding of the risk characteristics, portfolio attributes, and portfolio structures of each portfolio that all contribute to return.

Staff Member Responsible: 
Holland Timmins, Executive Administrator and Chief Investment Officer, Texas Permanent School Fund