About TEA
FASRG (Financial Accountability System Resource Guide)
An official Texas Education Publication that describes the rules for financial accounting for charter schools, education service centers, and school districts
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Parents have a right of access to their children's education records. When a student turns 18 or enters college, the rights under FERPA transfer to the student.
FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas)
An accountability rating for a school district. It is based on the district's overall performance on certain financial measurements, ratios, and other indicators that are established by the commissioner of education.
FSP (Foundation School Program)
The state program that establishes the amount of state and local funding due to school districts under the Texas school finance law.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
This term refers to a full-time employee. When calculating the number of staff members employed by a district, for example, two half-time employees would equal one full-time equivalent employee.
GED (General Educational Development)
A high school equivalency program. Individuals who pass the exam earn a high school equivalency diploma. The GED tests cover five subjects: math, science, social studies, writing and reading.
GEEG (Governor’s Educator Excellence Grant)
A grant program that was federally and state funded. It provided three-year grants to schools to design and implement teacher performance pay plans from the 2005-06 to 2007-08 school years. GEEG was implemented in 99 high-poverty, high-performing Texas public schools.
IB (International Baccalaureate)
A nonprofit educational foundation that offers three programs for students aged 3 to 19 to help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
A law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.
IFA (Instructional Facilities Allotment)
An allotment that provides funding to school districts for payments on debt service for the purchase, construction, renovation and expansion of instructional facilities