In 2019, the state legislature passed House Bill 3, the school finance bill. Among other items, the bill allocates funding to improve college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) for all students. This funding is known as the CCMR outcomes bonus.
Outcomes bonuses aim to improve CCMR for all students. They also aim to ensure equity among economically disadvantaged students, those not identified as economically disadvantaged, and students in special education programs.
Districts earn funds when they demonstrate excellent CCMR readiness student outcomes, such as on the ACT, SAT, and Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA). They can also earn bonuses when students receive industry-based certifications recognized in our A–F Accountability System. CCMR outcomes bonuses use a more rigorous standard than that of the accountability system.
Districts can use the funds to further prepare students for college, careers, or the military.
The CCMR outcomes bonus is paid annually to districts whose graduates exceed a certain percentage threshold in these three groups:
In order to qualify for an outcomes bonus, schools and districts must exceed minimum thresholds for college, career, and military readiness, as follows:
TEA released new college and career readiness thresholds in early November 2020. Due to the administrative rulemaking process, they are not yet final. The public comment period on the proposed CCMR outcomes bonus rule opens on January 1, 2021, and closes on February 1, 2021. Public comments may be made through the TEA website. Educators are encouraged to share feedback.
The definition of CCMR used for outcomes bonuses is significantly more rigorous than the CCMR indicators used in the A–F system. It is important for administrators to share this information with key staff members and stakeholders.
For the purposes of outcomes bonus distribution, a graduate demonstrates college readiness by:
Postsecondary enrollment data is pulled from the National Student Clearinghouse.
Also for outcomes bonuses, a graduate demonstrates career readiness by:
TEA will exclude military enlistment data for both CCMR accountability calculations and CCMR outcomes bonuses until such data can be obtained directly from the US armed forces. This is due to discrepancies between data from PEIMS and data released by the Department of Defense. Once this data is available, a graduate will demonstrate military readiness by enlisting in the armed forces of the United States by December 31 immediately following high school graduation.
TEA identifies several categories that are approved for spending CCMR outcomes bonuses:
Any expense incurred to prepare students to meet measures tied to the CCMR outcomes bonus is allowed. Such expenses include equipment, supplies, salaries, stipends, tutors, software (including subscriptions), rentals, and transportation.
Many districts and campuses are looking to use the new CCMR outcomes bonus funds to hire a college and career adviser. This is an allowable use of funds if the college and career adviser is to help students to and through postsecondary opportunities and if the position helps more students meet CCMR measures.
Technology, tools, and learning platforms that support college and career readiness advising are also approved ways to spend the bonus funds. Ideally these systems would help students with college and career modules, opportunities, and postsecondary planning. As a result, the workload of your school counselors may be reduced.
You can access TEA's full document on allowable use of funds here.