Finances play an integral role in support of public education in Utah. Each school district and charter school accounting must comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The accounting methods must be capable of producing financial reports that conform with GAAP and the legal requirements of Utah.
This section will link you to chart of accounts, prior year financial summaries of the Annual Financial Report (AFR) and Annual Program Report (APR), indirect cost rates, and other finance matters relating to public education in Utah.
Additional information can be found on the Utah State Board of Education Superintendent's Annual Report.
The AFR reports all school district and charter school financial data by fund. The General fund is the largest and records the majority of operating expenses for the operation and maintenance of education.
The AFR summarizes and totals data by school district and charter school. The AFR is compiled using Microsoft Excel. When opening a file click on Enable Macros then click Don't Update to open and work with the file.
The APR reports all school district and charter school financial data by major program. (i.e. Direct Instruction, Special Education, Career Technology Education, Capital Projects, etc.) The APR summarizes and totals data by school district and charter school.
The APR is complied using Microsoft Excel. When opening a file click on 'Enable Macros' then click 'Don't Update' to open and work with the file.
Schedule C: Career and Technical Education
Schedule D: Special Populations
Schedule H: Restricted State and Federal
Note: If you need this information in an accessible format, contact the department directly.
This handbook is intended to help in the standardization of financial and statistical reports submitted by school districts and charter schools. The contents may be updated from time to time but the basic principles have been in place since 1979 when Utah adopted the Handbook II chart of accounts approved by the Department of Education in 1974. We continue to follow those principles and hope this compilation will assist with questions about specific portions of school budgeting, accounting, auditing and financial reporting in the State of Utah.
Chapter 3: Accounting:
Chapter 6: Auditing:
Schedule 1 Administrative Records: Utah School Districts General Retention Schedule
The chart of accounts gives a school district or charter school the ability to accurately and effectively report on its financial activities and be able to compare data with other school districts or charter schools within the state. The chart of accounts, follow guidelines from Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems, 2014 Edition, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All school districts and charter schools are required to report to the State Board of Education using the approved chart of accounts.
Schedule H: Indirect Cost Methodology
Indirect Costs: Guidance for State Agencies and School Food Authorities
Local Education Agency (LEA) Delegation Agreement
Utah State Board of Education Indirect Cost Type Schedule Fiscal Year (FY) 2022
Utah State Board of Education Indirect Cost Rates for FY 2021: Schedule M
Agenda for New Business Administrator Training
New Business Official Training
Utah Public Education Financial System (UPEFS)/Financial Reports/Chart of Accounts
Utah State Board of Education Chart of Accounts Fiscal Year 2022
Spring Finance Training
YouTube
Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Agenda 2021 Spring Finance Training
2021 Public Education Summary Presentation
2021 Public Education Summary
Utah State Board of Education Policy, Law and Professional Practices
COVID-19 Relief Funding for K-12
Miscellaneous Items USBE - School Finance
Local Education Agencies (LEA) Statistics
Basics of Direct and Indirect Costs for LEAs
USBE Spring Finance Training Child Nutrition Programs
2021 General Legislative Session Bills and Procurement
Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 Legislative Estimates Overview
USBE Fall Finance Training November 17, 2021
YouTube
Utah State Board of Education - Fall Finance Training Agenda
COVID-19 Relief Funding for K-12
Budgets, Midyear Updates and More
Procurement 101: An Introduction
Grants Compliance and Reimbursement Requests
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) FY 2021-2022
Spring Finance Training
YouTube
Agenda: Spring Finance Training Part 1
2020 Special Session and Board Rule Updates
Legislative Estimates May 2020
CARES Act : Local Education Agency (LEA) Survey Results
Utah Grants Update: Spring Financial Training
Spring Training 2020: House Bill (H.B. 242) Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) 87
Best Practices and Recommendations for K-12 School Transportation and Student Travel
Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) for the Primary Local Education Agency (LEA)
Spring Finance Training Part 2
YouTube
Special Education Fiscal Compliance
Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Spring Finance Training
Utah State Board of Education Internal Audit Assurance Services
Agenda for Charter Finance Training
2021 General Legislative Session Budget Tracker
Business Case for Program Title: Intensive Services Pilot Program
Business Case for Program Title: Optional Enhanced Kindergarten (OEK)
Business Case for Program Title: Reengaging Learners who are Disconnected
Business Case for Program Title: Utah Broadband Access Initiative
2021 General Session Requests for Statutory Changes
Total Basic School Cost Comparison - Charter Schools
State Education Funding Overview
Average Daily Membership (ADM) and Mid Year Update Fiscal Year 2021
How to Find Pertinent Information Regarding State Funding and Legislation
Child Nutrition Programs (CNP):
Agenda for New Business Administration Training
Financial Reporting and Compliance - New BA
State Education Funding Overview
How to Find Pertinent Information Regarding State Funding and Legislation
Utah Grants 101 New BA Training
Fiscal Year 2021 Code Rule for Minimum School Program and Other State Funds Citations
Fiscal Year 2021 K-12 WPUs Funding Example - Prior Year Plus Growth Model