Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas
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.
Ratings
Helpful Hints for Determining Your FIRST Rating
The following steps should be taken to anticipate and to make the best estimate of how a district will score on FIRST:
- Review the information before the annual financial audit is completed (the Annual Financial Report belongs to the district not the CPA firm, it is the district’s responsibility). This should involve spot checking numbers against the district’s general ledger and other financial records
- Ask the auditor about anything that does not look correct in the annual financial report (i.e. why is the unrestricted net position negative, were there any identified material miscoding errors, etc?)
- If deemed appropriate, ask the Education Service Center to help review the AFR before it is finalized, or contract with another CPA firm to help with the review
- Use the TASBO FIRST template to run your estimated FIRST results. https://www.tasbo.org/tools-services/schools-first-communication-kit
- Attend and use the presentations on FIRST
- Contact TEA Financial Accountability if you have questions 512-463-9095 or financialaccountability@tea.texas.gov
Correspondence
- Official Notification of 2018-2019 Final School FIRST Ratings Based on 2018 Data
- Official Notification of 2018-2019 Preliminary School FIRST Ratings Based on 2018 Data
- Official Notification of the 2017-2018 Release of Final FIRST Ratings
- Official Notification of 2017-2018 Preliminary School FIRST Ratings Based on 2017 Data
- Official Notification of the 2016-2017 Final School FIRST Rating Based on 2016 Data for Districts Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
- Official Notification of the 2016-2017 Final School FIRST Rating Based on 2016 Data for Districts Required to Submit Appeals by September 8, 2017
- Official Notification of 2016-2017 Preliminary School FIRST Ratings Based on 2016 Data
Financial Management Report Template for Use by School Districts
Law and Rules
Law: Texas Education Code, Chapter 39, Subchapter D
Commissioner's Rules: 19 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 109, Subchapter AA, Division 1, Financial Accountability Rating System
Rita Bunton (512) 936-3712 rita.bunton@tea.texas.gov
Division of Financial Compliance
Phone: (512) 463-9095
Fax: (512) 463-1777