����ֱ��

The purpose of the financial accountability rating system for charter schools, known as Charter Financial Integrity Rating System of ����ֱ�� (FIRST), is to ensure that open-enrollment charter schools and charter schools operated by a public institution of higher education (IHE) are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and that they improve those practices. The system is designed to encourage ����ֱ�� public schools to better manage their financial resources in order to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.   

Recent Update

Changes effective with the 2022-2023 Charter FIRST Ratings

The ����ֱ�� Administrative Code (TAC) §109.1001(n)(9)(A) and (B) was recently amended to allow for adjustments to scores and ratings upon appeal for FIRST Indicator 1—Timely Submissions of the Annual Financial Report.

• Charter FIRST Change—Appeal for Timely Submission of Annual Financial Report Slides
• Video:  

Correspondence

• Official Notification of 2022-2023 Preliminary FIRST Ratings Based on 2022 Data
• Official Notification of 2020-2021 Final FIRST Ratings Based on 2020 Data
• Official Notification of 2020-2021 Preliminary FIRST Ratings Based on 2020 Data
• Official Notification of 2019-2020 Final Charter FIRST Ratings Based on 2019 Data
• Official Notification of 2019-2020 Preliminary Charter FIRST Ratings Based on 2019 Data

•   
• 2016-2017 IHE Charter FIRST Ratings based on 2016 data (PDF, 83 KB)

Financial Management Report Template for Use by Open-Enrollment Charter Schools and Charter Schools Operated by a Public Institution of Higher Education (IHE)

• Charter FIRST Annual Financial Management Report (PDF, 150 KB)
• Charter FIRST Annual Financial Management Report (Excel, 26 KB)

Law and Rules

Law:

Commissioner's Rules: