Leading Schools Financially: The ABCs of Texas School Finance, is a comprehensive guide to many key aspects of school finance in Texas. Written by a veteran school business official, this work describes and discusses the governance structure of Texas school districts, details of school funding, legal and practical budgeting practices, the "Robin Hood" plan for sharing wealth, purchasing laws, the standardized accounting format, and the history of litigation and legislation that has shaped Texas' public education policy. This book was developed to assist in the education of students who are completing requirements in their master's or doctoral program and those individuals enrolled in teacher, administrator, or superintendent certification programs. It will provide each student with a better understanding of the complex subject of Texas school finance, the budget process, and school business management. The book will also help current and potential school board members to have a better understanding of Texas school finance.

The guidelines and examples contained in this guide are designed to help schools conduct their activities correctly, legally, and for the educational benefit of the students. By carefully accounting for the funding of activities, school administrators can sidestep financial problems and be prepared for all required audits. The guide covers legal authority and responsibilities, budgets, types of revenues and expenditures, reporting requirements, banking and investments, accounting, auditing, and types of activities funds. Examples of required forms and records are included. This guide will help school officials successfully navigate the complexities of Indianas regulatory system.

The ABCs of Money offers the basic financial education that we all should have received in high school. Get: * Debt reduction tips that you'll never learn from VISA. * Real estate solutions the bank will never offer. * Wall Street secrets your broker never tells you. * Energy saving tips worth thousands of dollars each year off of your bills As TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia says, "College students need this information before they get their first credit card. Young adults need it before they buy their first home. Empty nesters can use the information to downsize to a sustainable lifestyle, before they get into trouble." Stop making everybody else rich and start scoring assets, gains and savings for yourself.

I have made it my mission in life to assist parents and their children to navigate the challenging and complex processes of student finance for over 25 years. My passion stems from my personal experience of having been a first generation high school graduate going to college back in the early 80's who had no idea how financial aid process worked. After high school, I completed the paper Free Application for Federal Student Aid because I was told to do it by my counselor. I went to the college financial aid office. I was instructed that I would get a loan for $2625.00 and my parents needed to borrow a PLUS loan. The total cost per term was approximately $3500.00 for a total of $7,000.00 for the year. As a result, I did not go to college right away because I did believed that I could afford it. I was too proud to ask if there were other options. I did not know what questions to ask. I just did not understand the process. I gave up and walked away. After 9 years of going to college and working, I finally decided to go back to school full-time. I got a job at the financial aid office as a work-study and learned how the process worked, I looked up my old file to see the total tuition cost with books to go to the university per term. The cost was varied from $300 to $1000 per term for books and tuition. What I failed to tell the clerk or the clerk failed to ask me was where I was going to live. The clerk assumed I would be living in student housing and quoted me the cost of living on campus. I lived approximately 25 miles from the university and was planning to commute to college. Fortunately, my ignorance and embarrassment as a young high school kid and the clerk's misinformation set me down a different path. A path that was meant for me to be able to achieve amazing opportunities and impact the lives of many students and their parents. In this book where I commit to pay it forward, I provide answers to questions on financial aid processes and funds, guidance on career exploration and where to go to get information to help you not make the same mistakes others have in your journey to getting college financing. This book was designed to give you and your parents a base foundation to feel confident when you are starting to approach your high school counselors and financial aid personnel at colleges and universities.