For the fifth consecutive year, the Mesquite Independent School District has received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system.  The Superior Achievement rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of MISD’s financial management and reporting system.

This is the fifth year of Schools FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999.  The primary goal of Schools FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

“Mesquite ISD has a long history of financial competence that has allowed our district to provide resources to teachers and students,” said MISD Superintendent Dr. Linda Henrie.  “The rating of ‘Superior Achievement’ verifies that both accountability and efficiency continue to guide our budgeting processes and decisions.”

Ratings are based upon a district’s responses on a worksheet designed to assess its financial management system.  There are 21 criteria ranging from operational expenses and meeting deadlines to investment earnings and fund balances.  MISD answered affirmatively on all 21 indicators.

The Schools FIRST accountability rating system assigns one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “Superior Achievement,” followed by “Above-Standard Achievement,” “Standard Achievement” and “Substandard Achievement.” Districts with serious data quality problems may receive the additional rating of “Suspended – Data Quality.”  Districts that receive the “Substandard Achievement” or “Suspended – Data Quality” ratings under Schools FIRST must file a corrective action plan with the Texas Education Agency.

For more information, contact Ian Halperin, MISD Communications, at 972-882-7405