This guide presents a financial model that affects all governmental entities that issue financial statements in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The model was prepared to provide school business officials specific examples of school system financial-statement presentations. The guide is divided into six chapters. The first chapter provides background information on the Certificate of Excellence program that was formed by the Association of School Business Officials, the group responsible for the guide. The chapter offers insights on how to prepare a successful submission and provides an explanation of the program's general requirements. The next three chapters examine each of the three sections in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which the Governmental Accounting Standards Board requires of all schools. Each of these chapters includes examples from actual CAFRs, which may be used for reference, and contains information on topics such as fund financial statements, statements of net assets, and land-use assessments by municipalities. The next chapter is on common problems noted by Certificate of Excellence panel-review members. The concluding chapter discusses how to achieve report excellence with the Financial Reporting of Governments. An appendix includes a case study, examples of financial models, and other information. (RJM)