Charter School Finance

The Foundation School Program (FSP) is the primary source of funding for charter schools. The number of students attending as well as their program participation determine the amount of funding for each charter. Schools that choose to provide transportation to students receive additional state funds. Charter schools are not entitled to participate in the Instructional Facilities Allotment program.

Law and Rules

• Texas Education Code: §12.106, State Funding
• Commissioner's Rules: 19 Texas Administrative Code §100.1041, State Funding

Background and Presentations

• Charter School Funding                                                                       (PDF, 24 KB)
• Charter School Attendance Reporting                                                 (PDF, 23 KB) 
• New to Charter School Finance                   (PowerPoint, 1.98 MB)  (PDF, 639 KB)
• District Summary Attendance Reporting      (PowerPoint, 1 MB)       (PDF, 700 MB)
• Charter School Finance Update                   (PowerPoint, 728 KB)   (PDF, 363 KB)

TEAL and Foundation School Program (FSP)

Reference the documents on the step-by-step process to acquire a TEAL account and/or request the Foundation School Program Application.

• TEA Login (TEAL) and Getting FSP Application Access
• TEAL Quick Reference for Organization Approvers

Charter School FSP Deadlines

August 1: Estimate Data Report: (Late submissions not accepted)

• Report opens the first week of July
• Required submission for new open-enrollment charter schools
• Optional submission for all other charter schools

September 1: Accelerated Payment Schedule Class 5 (Late submissions not accepted)

• Schedule opens two weeks before deadline
• New open-enrollment charter schools not eligible to apply

10 calendar days after six-week reporting period ends: Six-week District Summary Attendance Report

Non-school days count toward the 10-calendar day deadline, however you may use the following guidance if deadline falls during:

• Thanksgiving break - Submit by December 5
• Christmas break - Submit by January 7
• Spring break - Submit by April 5

Estimate of State Aid Template

The template is published annually in July. For planning purposes, you may continue to use the current Estimate of State Aid Template, which reconciles to the latest Summary of Finances report to project state aid for the upcoming school year.

• 2019-2020 Estimate of State Aid Template (Excel, 380 KB)             (PDF, 330 KB)
• 2018-2019 Estimate of State Aid Template (Excel, 2.4 MB)              (PDF, 75 KB)

Reports, Links and Other Information

• Summary of Finances (SOF)
• Payment Ledger
• TEA Payment Report
• Student Attendance Accounting Handbook  
• Compensatory Education Allotment Alternative Reporting Procedures
• Foundation School Program (FSP) System Training

 For additional information, contact: