Over the span of a week’s time, Harris County Department of Education’s Business Services Division earned two top-level awards, both acknowledging the entity’s excellence in financial operations and production. 

The first honor came July 31 from the National Procurement Institute, Inc., as HCDE joined nearly 200 fellow organizations in earning the 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. It recognizes organizational excellence in public and non-profit procurement.

HCDE is among 45 honorees from Texas, second only to California. Award criteria is designed to measure innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity and leadership attributes of the procurement function. 

Six days later, HCDE was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO International). The honor recognizes entities that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency and comes from its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended 2023. 

“Communicating the financial and economic state of a district is so important when engaging with the school community and building their trust,” ASBO International Executive Director Jim Rowan said.