Embedded Files
Building understanding through transparency.
Building understanding through transparency.
This introductory issue launches Money Matters, a community-focused series designed to explain how school finance works in Calhoun County ISD. It emphasizes the importance of transparency, shared understanding, and responsible stewardship as the district begins a broader conversation about how funding decisions impact students and the community.
Understanding the foundation of public school finance.
Understanding the foundation of public school finance.
Issue 2 introduces how public schools in Texas are funded and why local communities play such a significant role. Readers learn about the three primary funding sources—local, state, and federal—along with the two types of school taxes (M&O and I&S), how tax rates have changed over time, and why state rules like tax rate compression limit revenue growth. This issue also explains economic development agreements, such as Chapter 313 and JETI, and clarifies common misconceptions about their impact on school taxes.
How funding is calculated—and why it can feel disconnected from enrollment.
How funding is calculated—and why it can feel disconnected from enrollment.
Issue 3 dives into the mechanics of Texas school finance, focusing on recapture, student attendance, and state funding formulas. Readers learn why schools are funded based on attendance rather than enrollment, how Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and Weighted Average Daily Attendance (WADA) work, and why programs like Career and Technical Education and special education receive additional funding. This issue connects attendance and program participation to a district’s entitlement and explains how recapture is determined.
Turning funding rules into real-world decisions.
Turning funding rules into real-world decisions.
Issue 4 shifts from how funding is generated to how it is spent. This issue explains where school dollars go, why most spending supports people and instruction, and why many costs are fixed. It also addresses what a budget deficit means—and what it does not—how fund balance works, and why it is not a long-term solution. The issue concludes by placing CCISD’s financial challenges in a statewide context and outlines how districts, including CCISD, responsibly plan for the future.
Calhoun County ISD
525 N. Commerce Street
Port Lavaca, Texas 77979
(361) 552-3775
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