Funding Sources
East Central ISD serves approximately 11,000 students and employs 1,700 teachers and support staff. The district provides a well-balanced curriculum to meet the needs of all students offering advanced academics, concurrent college and high school enrollment credit, career, and technical education career paths and certifications, early childhood, full-day kindergarten, and a strong academic core.
Breaking Down the Revenue
As of January 27, 2025, East Central ISD receives about 51% of its revenue for the general operating budget from local tax collections and other local sources. For the 2024-2025 adopted budget, local funding sources are expected to reach $62,662,578.
The locally-elected School Board sets the school property tax rate each year, but the district does not determine the market value of homes and business property within the district. Values are determined each year by the Bexar County Appraisal District.
State funding accounts for 48% of the district’s revenue and federal funding only provides 1%.
One of the challenges in Texas school finance is the fact that schools adopt budgets based on enrollment, but they are funded based on attendance.
What's the difference?
Budgeting on Enrollment
East Central ISD works with third-party demographic experts to predict how many students will enroll in the future. Based on those numbers, we must make sure there is enough classroom space, desks, and supplies. We also need to pay for teachers, support staff, and other costs like electricity, water, food, and gas. These expenses are necessary to support the number of students we expect to have.
Funding on Attendance
Texas is one of only six states that bases school funding on attendance. In Texas, Average Daily Attendance (ADA) plays a big role in how public schools receive funding. When students are absent, the district loses money. Each day of absences can cost as much as one teacher’s annual salary—about $58,000. Over a whole school year, this loss can add up to an incredible $10.2 million.
Good Attendance Pays Off
That’s right—on any given day in East Central ISD, when some students stay home because they’re sick, go on family trips, take a mental health day, have a doctor or dentist appointment during school, or miss class for other reasons, it’s not just their learning time that’s affected. The district also loses a significant amount of state funding.