Transparency Rankings

Growing expenditures made at the school district level require a greater level of transparency.

With this in mind, Texas Budget Source has developed its own transparency rankings to recognize local government that lead, put an effort into, or can improve upon transparency initiatives, according to three categories: exemplary, pass, and fail. These rankings are based on an analysis of what information the school district has posted online—e.g. budgets, check registers, and financial statements—as well as the quantity of information available; how prominently it is displayed; how searchable the information is; and whether the data is in an easily downloadable format that users can manipulate.

More school districts will be added to these rankings as their information is reviewed. If your district is currently ranked by Texas Budget Source, but has upgraded its transparency, please send a note to Texas Budget Source [hyperlink admin email address].

The categories are defined below:

• Exemplary
  An “exemplary” ranking indicates that a local government has exceeded basic expectations of open government.
• Pass
  A “pass” designation indicates a local government that has taken steps to become transparent, but with room for improvement.
• Fail
  A rank of “fail” denotes an entity that is not meeting its obligation to make public information available, accessible, or searchable.

Exemplary Districts

Houston ISD
Houston ISD has earned an exemplary ranking by Texas Budget Source for its transparency efforts, including posting budgets, financial reports, and monthly check registers that are easily accessible to the public. The check register is noteworthy because it is contained in a search engine that is easy for users to manipulate.

Round Rock ISD
Round Rock ISD has earned an exemplary ranking by Texas Budget Source for its transparency efforts, including posting budgets, financial reports, and monthly check registers that are easily accessible to the public.

San Antonio ISD
San Antonio ISD has earned an exemplary ranking by Texas Budget Source for its transparency efforts, including posting budgets, financial reports, and monthly check registers that are easily accessible to the public.

Passing Districts

El Paso ISD
El Paso ISD has taken the initiative to improve its transparency. The district’s website includes budgets and financial statements, but only one month’s worth of check registers.

Kingsville ISD
Kingsville ISD has taken the initiative to provide an open government, providing check register data to the public, but only one year’s worth of budget and financial documents.

Lago Vista ISD
Lago Vista ISD has taken the initiative to provide an open government, providing check register data to the public, but only one year’s worth of budget and financial documents.

Failing Districts

Each of the following school districts has made minimal attempts to provide fiscal transparency to the public. These cities may have tried to post at least one budget to their site, but remain well short of what we consider to be complete fiscal transparency.

1) Amarillo ISD

2) McAllen ISD

3) Pasadena ISD