decorative image of children on a jungle gymThe Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has awarded Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) with the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This is the 30th consecutive year that PWCS has earned this award.

“PWCS has a longstanding tradition of strong financial management, as demonstrated by receiving the Meritorious Budget Award for 30 consecutive years,” said Shakeel Yusuf, chief financial officer for PWCS. “This recognition highlights the dedication of our Budget Department staff to creating a budget that is clear and accessible not only for our internal stakeholders but also for the entire Prince William County community we serve. It reflects our commitment to transparency and our genuine effort to effectively communicate our budget plans to our school communities.”

The MBA recognizes best practices for budget presentation among school districts. To be eligible, districts must submit their budget documents for review by a panel of school business officials. The panel evaluates submissions using the MBA criteria checklist and provides feedback to help districts strengthen their budget presentations.

According to the MBA criteria checklist, an award-winning school budget should reflect “a technically well-prepared budget that is clear and logical in its narration of facts and data, mathematically accurate, free of spelling and grammatical errors, and consistent in formatting and writing style.”

“An effective school budget is more than just numbers—it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” said Jim Rowan, executive director of ASBO International. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Prince William County Public Schools that prioritize financial clarity and accountability. We commend their dedication to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”

To learn more about the ASBO and the MBA program, please visit their website.