November 9, 2023, LANCASTER, Texas-- Lancaster Independent School District announced that the district received a rating of “A” for “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Superior Achievement'' rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Lancaster ISD’s financial management and reporting system.
This is the 18th year of School 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 and amendments under House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013.
"We applaud the hard work and dedication of our school district administration. This accomplishment reflects the Lancaster ISD board's and administrative team's collective commitment to responsible financial stewardship with taxpayers' money,” Lancaster ISD School Board President Marion Hamilton shared. “It also showcases how Dr. Perera and her administrative team prioritize the financial well-being of our district so we can continue to provide the best educational experience for our students."
The primary goal of School 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 the Texas School finance system.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. A. K. Perera says that receiving a Superior FIRST rating is a testament to our district's commitment to financial excellence.
“Our Superior rating is not just an achievement, but a reaffirmation of our dedication to ensuring the financial well-being of our district,” she said. “Our finance team is committed to ensuring our financial integrity, transparency, and accountability as we continue to move forward to achieve our district goals.”
The Texas Education Agency assigned one of four financial accountability ratings to
Texas school districts, with the highest being “A” for “Superior Achievement,” followed by “B” for “Above-Standard Achievement,” “C” for “Standard Achievement” and “F” for “Substandard Achievement.” Lancaster ISD has achieved an A rating the last two years.