FUNDING IMPLICATIONS

October 6, 2011

To: The Administrator Addressed

During the last legislative session, the Texas Legislature codified the calculation of the regular program allotment, which is equal to a district's number of students in average daily attendance multiplied by the adjusted basic allotment and then by what is known as the regular program adjustment factor (RPAF). The RPAF has the effect of reducing the amount of funding school districts receive.

The RPAF is set at 0.9239 for the 2011–2012 school year and 0.98 for the 2012–2013 school year. However, statutory provisions allow certain districts to request that the percentage reduction in funding be made the same ("smoothed") for both of these school years by having the RPAF changed to 0.95195 for both years, subject to a biennial limit on total funding. Only school districts that do not receive funding for Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR) as authorized by the Texas Education Code, §42.2516, are eligible for this adjustment.

An application is available for districts eligible for an adjustment to the RPAF. To access this application, or to find out if your district is eligible and learn more about this adjustment, visit our website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147503513.

Please contact me by phone at (512) 463-9268 or by email at helen.daniels@tea.state.tx.us with any questions concerning the RPAF adjustment.

Sincerely,

Helen Daniels
Senior School Finance Policy Analyst
Office of School Finance