Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University
 

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Post-Master's Graduate Certificate for Chief School Business Official

Chief School Business Official Certification may be obtained within the post-master's certification program or within the doctoral program.

The program is designed for Illinois educators interested in advance study and preparation in the organization and administration of the management of fiscal, physical, and human resources of a public school district in Illinois. Candidates should hold a Type 75 certificate, a master's degree, and P-12 leadership experience.

Applicants with a master's degree in Business, Finance, Public Administration, or Accounting do not need the Type 75 certificate; however, program requirements differ from those with Type 75 certificates. See details below in the requirements section.

Learn more about the Graduate Admissions at Illinois State University.

Goals and Outcomes

A Chief School Business Official  graduate in Educational Administration at Illinois State University applies knowledge that promotes the success of every student by:

  • facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a shared district vision of learning through the collection and use of data to identify district goals, assess organizational effectiveness, and implement district plans to achieve district goals; promotion of continual and sustainable district improvement; and evaluation of district progress and revision of district plans supported by district stakeholders.
  • sustaining a district culture conducive to collaboration, trust, and a personalized learning environment with high expectations for students; creating and evaluating a comprehensive, rigorous, and coherent curricular and instructional district program; developing and supervising the instructional and leadership capacity across the district; and promoting the most effective and appropriate technologies to support teaching and learning within the district.
  • ensuring the management of the district’s organization, operation, and resources through monitoring and evaluating district management and operational systems; efficiently using human, fiscal, and technological resources within the district; promoting district-level policies and procedures that protect the welfare and safety of students and staff across the district; developing district capacity for distributed leadership; and ensuring that district time focuses on high-quality instruction and student learning.
  • collaborating with faculty and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources for the district by collecting and analyzing information pertinent to improvement of the district’s educational environment; promoting an understanding, appreciation, and use of the community’s diverse cultural, social, and intellectual resources throughout the district; building and sustaining positive district relationships with families and caregivers; and cultivating productive district relationships with community partners.
  • acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner to ensure a district system of accountability for every student’s academic and social success by modeling district principles of self-awareness, reflective practice, transparency, and ethical behavior as related to their roles within the district; safeguarding the values of democracy, equity, and diversity within the district; evaluating the potential moral and legal consequences of decision making in the district; and promoting social justice within the district to ensure individual student needs inform all aspects of schooling.
  • understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context within the district through advocating for district students, families, and caregivers; acting to influence local, district, state, and national decisions affecting student learning; and anticipating and assessing emerging trends and initiatives in order to adapt district-level leadership strategies

(2011 ELCC District-Level Standards)

Admission

Applicants for post-master's certification programs must have already earned a master's degree. Admission to the programs in EAF is competitive. The Department has a rolling admissions policy and considers admission three times a year. Learn about the application process.

(NOTE: CSBO applicants who have an MBA, MPA, or master's in accounting/finance with 2 years full-time P12 school business experience need to contact Mr. Larry Lowe - ljlowe@ilstu.edu before completing any application material).

Financial Assistance

Tuition and fees for the program are determined each year by the University. These costs exclude textbook or software requirements for courses.

Financial assistance is available through scholarships, graduate assistantships, and tuition waivers. Learn about financial aid opportunities.

Requirements

The course requires at least 36 hours of coursework in a required sequence, passing the state CSBO certification test, and demonstrating 2 years experience with different verified financial duties. Most Type 75 graduates complete coursework and the exam first, and gain the two years of experience after graduation. The verification of experiences is usually scheduled with several current CSBO's who meet with the candidate and review a portfolio of verified experiences.

Courses are offered nights and weekends to accommodate schedules of full-time educational professionals. Some online options exist for select courses.

Courses for Individuals with Type 75 Certification

You may go to the Univerisity's "Course Finder" page to learn more about the courses.

  • EAF 508: Applied Educational Research (*S)
  • EAF 579: Research Seminar on the Public Finance of Education (starting 2011)
  • EAF 548: Advanced Seminar on Legal Basis of Education (*S)
  • EAF 575: Seminar in School Business Management
  • EAF 576 Administration of Instructional Programs (*S)
  • EAF 580: Educational Facilities (*S)
  • EAF 585: Management of Educational Funds (*S)
  • EAF 586: Administration of Human Resources (*S)
  • EAF 587: Community Relations Seminar (*S)
  • EAF 596: Bargaining in Education or Negotiated Agreement Development & Management
  • EAF 521: Moral and Political Foundations of Educational Policy Analysis (*S)
  • EAF 584: Superintendent and Central Staff (*S) (capstone)

Total 36 hours (*S indicates course also counts toward Superintendent's endorsement.)

 

Courses for Individuals with Business Master's Degrees who do not have 2-years full-time P12 school business experience

  • 36 hours above (12 courses)
  • EAF 598: Professional Practice - take course twice over two semesters (6 hours)

Total: 42 hours

Courses for Individuals with Business Master's Degrees who have 2-years full-time P12 school business experience, permission from district to complete professional practice requirements beyond their assigned duties, and ability to complete some experiences at two different district sites. (Contact Mr. Larry Lowe ljlowe@ilstu.edu for clarification.)

  • EAF 598: Professional Practice - take course twice over two semesters (6 hours)

Total: 6 hours

Graduate Catalog
See the Graduate Catalog to learn more about program requirements, course descriptions, and prerequisites.

Computer Requirements

To successfully complete Educational Administration and Foundations courses, students in all programs are expected to have frequent and convenient access to a computer and Internet resources. Illinois State University students can take advantage of special hardware and software pricing as well as installation support at ISU TechZone. Review the computer and technology requirements for EAF students.

Program cost, enrollment, completion information

For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at: http://provost.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/GainfulEmploymentDisclosureRequirements6_30_2011.pdf

Apply for Graduation

Within the first 2 weeks of the semester you plan to graduate go to http://www.graduationservices.ilstu.edu/graduates/procedures.asp

If you have not submitted the degree audit for yet to the Department , complete one and send to the EAF advisor.

Apply for Certification

Application for graduate-level certification at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate. Go to the Lauby Teacher Ed Center website to see graduate certification information and steps. listed on the graduate certification site.

So that an initial evaluation for certification can be completed, the evaluation should be made early in the student's program in order to provide a list of deficiencies to be completed prior to the issuance of the certificate. A copy of the evaluation is sent to the student for use as a reference for all requirements. Allow up to four weeks for the Certification Office to process each initial evaluation.

This endorsement may also be granted to individuals who have graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting and who have passed the certification examinations required for this endorsement.

Program Advisor

For more information about the certificate programs, please contact the program advisor for an appointment:

Larry Lowe
340D DeGarmo Hall
(309) 438-3948

Program Faculty

List are faculty who specialize in educational administration. (NOTE: There are several other faculty in EAF who are involved in the P-12 Administration concentration in teaching, scholarship, or professional service roles as well as professionals having adjunct, part-time relationships.)