Oregon's education agencies manage complex financial data across multiple systems. With greater proactive alignment between ODE's financial systems and reporting requests, the state has an opportunity to reduce redundant submissions, improve classification accuracy, and increase flexibility—ultimately easing administrative workload and strengthening statewide financial reporting.
ODE embarked on an updated Program Budgeting and Accounting Manual (PBAM) and an accompanying chart of accounts structure with the following goals:
- Ensure financial data collected by ODE is clear, consistent, and usable,
- Consolidate grant expenditure reporting across ODE, and
- Align fiscal reporting with Senate Bill 141 priorities
The updated chart of accounts integrates budget, financial, and program reporting requirements into a single, cohesive framework PBAM and Chart of Accounts Initiative Expainer.pptx.
Public Comment Process
ODE held an initial public comment period from October 10 – December 1, 2025. We received feedback from over half of all districts and ESDs as well as from audit firms, charter schools and other education support organizations. Here is a summary of major changes we made following the initial public comment period:
Key Changes: The Chart of Accounts
- Extended Implementation Timeline:
- Implementation pushed back to July 1, 2027 (FY28)
- Reduced Size:
- Removal of Source Dimension
- Removal of Grade Level Dimension
- Re-numbering to combine GL and Object dimensions
- Reduced required detail in Curriculum dimension
- Refining Codes:
- Reform of program and grant dimensions through internal ODE collaboration
- Additional guidance on flexibility and local coding
- Update of Function and Object dimensions for improved functionality
- Re-alignment to codes needed for Local Budget Law reporting
Key Changes: The Program Budgeting and Accounting Manual
- Removal of language around reporting frequency (this will be developed with feasibility and implementation considerations)
- Edits to the language for tone and clarity
- Improved distinguishment between required and optional elements
- Review and revision of Student Activity Fund guidance
ODE is holding an additional public comment period from February 2 – February 13, 2026, before the materials go to the State Board of Education for first read in March and second read in April. ODE will not update the below materials until the completion of the February comment period.
Public Comment Period 2: Updated Materials for Review
How to Use the Chart of Accounts – Brief explaining how to use the new chart of accounts, including example coding.
New Chart of Accounts - Complete Excel file with the draft account structure and codes.
2027 Program Budget and Accounting Manual (PBAM) – Updated draft of the 2027 PBAM.
2027 Program Budgeting and Accounting Manual (with copyedits) – this draft includes copyedits of what changed after the first public comment period.
Share your Feedback
We need to hear from you. Please complete our feedback survey to share your insights on the proposed changes. You can also send us an email at ode.fiscaltransparency@ode.oregon.gov. For detailed, code-level comments, we have developed a feedback template that you can use to email us comments on specific account codes. This helps us understand exactly where adjustments may be needed.