Exam Preparation

• SFO Exam Prep On-Demand Webinar Bundle
• SFO Digital Study Flash Cards
• Affiliate Study Groups - contact your local affiliate to see if they offer an SFO study program.
• SFO Affiliate Toolkit

ASBO International study materials, including the SFO Exam Prep Workshop, shall not be reproduced or transmitted, in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of ASBO International. In addition, attendance in exam prep workshops or completion of any other exam prep activity does not guarantee a passing exam score.

SFO Resource Documents

• SFO Candidate Handbook
• SFO Policies and Procedures Manual
• SFO Exam Study Domains
• ASBO International’s Professional Standards and Code of Ethics
• SFO Recertification Guide

Recommended Reading List

ASBO International’s Certification Commission provides a general guide for references and publications to use as a study aid in preparation for the SFO exam. The list is not an endorsement of the specific references, nor are the test questions necessarily taken from the sources listed. The Certification Commission will review and update the list on an ongoing basis.

Book References

Ethics for School Business Officials, William T. Hartman and Jacqueline A. Stefkovich. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2005.

Essentials of Illinois school finance: A Guide to Techniques, Issues and Resources, Sixth Edition, James Fritts. IL Association of School Boards.

Financial and Managerial Accounting for School Administrators: Superintendents, School Business Administrators, and Principals, Fourth Edition, Ronald E. Everett, Raymond L. Lows, and Donald Johnson. Reston, VA: Association of School Business Officials International, 2003.

Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, Stephen J. Gauthier, 2005.

Evaluating Internal Controls: A Local Government Manager's Guide, Stephen J. Gauthier, 1999.

Planning Educational Facilities: What Educators Need to Know, Third Edition, Glen I. Earthman. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2009.

Principles of School Business Management. ASBO. R. Craig Wood, Ed.D.

Resource Management for School Administrators. Schilling, Craig & Tomal, Daniel, 2013.

School District Budgeting, Second Edition, William T. Hartman. Lanham, MD: ScarecrowEd, 2003.

Standards of Excellence in Budget Presentation, Denny G. Bolton and Gary W. Harmer. Lanham, MD: ASBO International/Rowman and Littlefield, 2000.

Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities, U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Forum on Education Statistics, NCES 2003-347, prepared by T. Szuba, R. Young, and the School Facilities Maintenance Task Force, Washington, D.C., 2003.

Standards

International School Business Management Professional Standards and Code of Ethics. Copyright 2005 ASBO International. Third Revision 2021.

Website References

GFOA

• GFOA Best Practices (Search Topic)
  https://www.gfoa.org/best-practices
• Budgeting for Outcomes Key Findings from GFOA Research (Search Topic)
  http://www.gfoa.org/sites/default/files/GFR_OCT_12_47.pdf

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect
www.childwelfare.gov.

Mitigation
https://www.fema.gov/, Retrieval Date: 03/26/2022

Understanding School Levies
https://www.napls.us/cms/lib07/OH01914683/Centricity/Domain/381/UNDERSTANDING-SCHOOL-LEVIES.pdf

What is a financial Management System?
https://www.oracle.com/erp/financials/what-is-financial-management-system/

What School Districts Need To Know About Crowdfunding, Author: Lauren C. Tompkins
https://www.fisherphillips.com/news-insights/what-school-districts-need-to-know-about-crowdfunding.html

What You Should Know about Your Local Government's Finances
www.accountingtools.com

Canadian Reference

Federal Statuses: Act Name: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Alberta), Canada.

Resources Disclaimer

ASBO International’s certification program is governed by the Certification Commission, a semi-independent certifying body of the Association of School Business Officials International. In adherence to the best practices for certifying bodies, Certification Commission volunteers and certification staff are not involved in the development of any preparatory program, and no preparatory program is endorsed by the Certification Commission nor is a prerequisite to earn the certification. The Certification Commission and its staff are solely responsible for the policies and administration of the certification program, including application procedures and qualification requirements.

Contact ASBO International's certification department