NIFA (New Instructional Facility Allotment) Program

Geographic Scope: Texas

Focus Areas: Reimbursement funds for expenses related to start-up costs of new campus construction

Funding Details:

• Initial (first year) applications: $250 per ADA
• Available for 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years
• No funding was appropriated for 2014-2015 school year

Eligibility Requirements:
Charter schools that construct new buildings must meet the following criteria:

New Facility Requirements

• Be a newly constructed instructional site used for teaching curriculum required by TEA
• Have its own campus ID number designated by TEA
• Have its own principal or be eligible to receive an accountability rating
• House its own instructional staff and instructional program separate from other facilities
• Maintain its own record of expenditures that are NOT a subset of another school budget and its own attendance data
• Be physically separate from other school structures (however, a covered walkway may connect it to existing facilities)
• Be occupied for the first time in the 2015-2016 school year

District Eligibility

• Must take action under TEC, Chapter 431, to reduce wealth per student to the equalized wealth level
• School districts that do not otherwise qualify for state aid are eligible to receive NIFA
• Available to all charter schools that construct new buildings

Application Process

Submission Method: Online system only

Deadline: July 15 (by 11:59 PM)

Important Notes:

• Neither late applications nor paper applications will be accepted
• Applications must be entered, saved and sent through the online system by July 15

Required Materials

The following documents must be uploaded into the Foundation School Program (FSP) System by July 15:

• Pictures
• Site plans
• Floor plans
• Demolition plans (if applicable)
• Legal documentation

Application Timing

• Initial (first year) applications must be submitted during the summer before the expected opening of the new building