# Austin ISD Board of Trustees Public Hearing - Financial Integrity Rating: October 29, 2026


**Body:** Austin ISD
**Date:** October 28, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Education


Austin ISD Board of Trustees public hearing on the district’s 2026 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating, held October 29, 2026. Staff reported a score of 88, in the “above standard” category. The presentation noted that the administrative-cost indicator was not evaluated this year and the student-to-staff ratio indicator fell from 10 points to zero amid declining enrollment and increased staffing, including special-education positions. Trustees discussed monitoring staffing and administrative costs and said changing the state’s rating formula would require state action. Staff also reported that Kroll and Moody’s maintained AAA bond ratings, while Fitch downgraded the district from AA+ to AA; an S&P review was scheduled for November. In response to a public comment about paused voter-approved bond projects, staff said the FIRST score was not directly determinative of agency bond ratings, which consider broader financial factors. No contract awards, purchasing decisions, or procurement-related votes were identified; the hearing concluded with a motion to adjourn.

**Source:** Austin ISD