Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

School Finance (Online)

EDUC 6500-71I

Course: EDUC 6500-71I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TED
CRN: 30464

Course Description

Offers an exploration of resources used in public school funding. Students learn the basic functions of school finance such as accounting, purchasing, bonding, budgeting, and ethical practice. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

  • Sorenson, R.D. & Goldsmith, L.M. (2024).  The Principal’s Guide to School Budgeting, 4th. ed.  Corwin. 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Articulate and differentiate between the various conceptual roots of school budgeting processes.
  2. Demonstrate how budgets are anchored by school mission and vision, and supported by elements of national leadership standards.
  3. Determine key concepts of how culture, data and conflict processes relate to the school budget process.
  4. Demonstrate how the budget cycle and the role of school principals in the cycle.
  5. Identify various sources of school funding and how funds are allocated.
  6. Synthesize course material for envisioning future work as a school leader with regard to building and maintaining budgets.

Course Requirements

Weekly Discussions


You will have weekly discussions in an online forum with other learners in the class.  The purpose of these discussions are to provide the learner with the opportunity to synthesize reading and course materials through replying to prompts, and to give the learner the opportunity to challenge ideas and refine understanding through interacting with other learners through comment and discussion.

Administrative Application Papers (AAA)


You will have weekly papers that provide learners with the opportunity to differentiate and evaluate the course material as it applies to a specific administrative application.  These papers are designed to practice administrative thinking while synthesizing course concepts in relationship to each learner’s experiences and preconceptions within the field of education.  These papers are typically 2-3 pages in length and are final draft quality, APA formatted papers.  

Final Paper


The final paper provides the learners the opportunity for reflection over the course material.  These papers are typically 3-5  pages in length and are final draft quality, APA formatted papers.


Course Outline

7-Week Course Outline:

Week 1 – Foundations of School Finance

  • Overview of school budgeting concepts and historical roots

  • Introduction to fiscal responsibility in leadership

  • Understanding the principal’s role in financial decision-making

Week 2 – Mission, Vision, and Leadership Standards in Budgeting

  • Aligning budgets with school mission and vision

  • Exploring PSEL and NELP standards in financial leadership

  • Budgeting as a leadership and strategic planning tool

Week 3 – The Budget Cycle and Ethical Practices

  • Stages of the school budget cycle: planning to evaluation

  • Key legal and ethical considerations

  • Fraud prevention and internal control measures

Week 4 – Revenue Sources and Resource Allocation

  • Local, state, and federal funding sources

  • Categorical vs. discretionary funds

  • Equity, adequacy, and resource prioritization

Week 5 – Using Data, Culture, and Conflict to Inform Budgeting

  • Budget decisions through the lens of data

  • School culture and its impact on resource allocation

  • Constructive conflict and collaborative problem-solving

Week 6 – Procurement, Purchasing, and Bonding

  • Overview of procurement laws and purchasing practices

  • Understanding bonds and capital project financing

  • Transparency in vendor relations and contract management

Week 7 – Synthesis and Vision for Future Leadership

  • Reflection on course learning and leadership growth

  • Final project or vision plan for ethical and strategic budgeting

  • Communicating financial plans to stakeholders

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Students are deemed professionals in their field. This course is designed to encourage these professionals to look within to determine the perspectives they bring to their individual classrooms/schools. Work should be submitted by due dates.    The nature of a 7-week term means that we move quickly and we cannot afford to allow late work to accumulate.  Discussion posts only receive credit if they are posted by the due date.  Assignments that are late receive a 10-point per day penalty for the first two days late, after three days the assignment is recorded as a zero. If you are unable to submit work on time, please reach out to me prior to the due date.

Attendance Policy

Students are deemed professionals in their field. This course is designed to encourage these professionals to look within to determine the perspectives they bring to their individual classrooms/schools. Work should be submitted by due dates.    The nature of a 7-week term means that we move quickly and we cannot afford to allow late work to accumulate.  Discussion posts only receive credit if they are posted by the due date.  Assignments that are late receive a 10-point per day penalty for the first two days late, after three days the assignment is recorded as a zero. If you are unable to submit work on time, please reach out to me prior to the due date.

Course Fees

$7.50

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.