Data Elements

All data used in this report come from the Texas Education Agency’s latest database for the 2002-03 District Planning Estimates (DPE).

Calculations for both the TAMS Mid-Size District Adjustment and the Small District Adjustment are based on regular program ADA rather than refined ADA. The number of students in regular program ADA is calculated by subtracting special education and career and technology FTE’s from the district’s refined ADA. The statutory language for this usage is found in section 42.103 (1)(a) of the Texas Education Code (TEC), which states that “ADA is the number of students in average daily attendance for which the district is entitled to an allotment under Section 42.101…”. Section 42.101 states that “For each student in average daily attendance, not including the time students spend each day in special education programs in an instructional arrangement other than mainstream or career and technology education programs, for which an additional allotment is made under Subchapter C…”.

Notes

The Small District Adjustment has two levels, based on the number of square miles in the district. If the Mid-Size District Adjustment were not in place, small districts (less than 1,600 regular program ADA) with greater than 300 square miles would realize a greater increase in funding than districts with less than 300 square miles. While the Mid-Size District Adjustment provides for increased funding to these districts, the increase is not as great as districts that would receive a smaller increase under the Small District Adjustment because of having less than 300 square miles. In other words, there is a greater increase in funding due to the Mid-Size District Adjustment for districts with less than 300 square miles than there is for districts with greater than 300 square miles.

Fluctuations in the allotment used for the TAMS Mid-Size District Adjustment in Tier 1 are caused by differences in the CEI. Both the CEI and wealth are the factors that cause fluctuations in Tier 2.

Although the report shows a decreased recapture amount for Chapter 41 districts, this decrease in recapture will only be realized if the legislature removes the Chapter 41 exclusion from the TAMS Mid-Size District Adjustment formula.

There are a few districts throughout the state that are known as “gap” districts. These are districts that are above the cut-off point for receiving Tier 2 state funds but are not wealthy enough to be classified as Chapter 41 districts.  These districts receive little, if any, state funds other than their share of the Available School Fund (ASF), because their state-mandated local share of Tier 1 costs completely covers the calculated cost of their Foundation School Program.  This is not a function of the Mid-Size District Adjustment, but rather a function of the funding mechanism of Tier 1.  A total cost is determined through the various formulas.  Any portion of the Tier 1 cost that exceeds the district’s local share and the ASF per capita allotment is paid to the district by the state.  Any adjustment to any of the formulas that increases the Tier 1 cost will not be paid to the district in state aid until the cost exceeds the local share.