Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has been lauded for the District’s financial reporting process by a leading organization in the financial reporting industry.

APS recently was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The COE recognizes districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency. The school district earned the Certificate of Excellence for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended 2019. 

It marks the 11^th consecutive year APS has received this award. 

The COE’s mission is to promote and recognize excellence in financial reporting, specifically through a school district’s CAFR, which informs stakeholders about the financial and economic state of the district, making it an important communications tool for building trust and engaging with the school community. 

By participating in the COE program, school districts demonstrate their commitment to financial transparency. Applicants submit their CAFR for review by a team of financial professionals, who provide feedback to improve future documents. If the CAFR meets the requirements of the program, the document may receive the Certificate of Excellence. A district’s participation in the COE program can facilitate bond rating and continuing bond disclosure processes.