School Governance
As an integral part of the American institution of representative governance, local school boards have a crucial role to play in preserving our democracy, preparing our children to be productive citizens, and enriching the lives of our communities. School boards also aim to mirror the diverse democracies they serve as representatives of their communities. All school boards derive their power and authority from the state and at the same time, all school boards generate “law” of their own by establishing the policies by which local schools are governed. School boards everywhere are the chief and, if state law permits, supreme educational authority for their communities.
Because school boards oversee education and represent lay involvement, they can provide a structure for public accountability and a way for parents and the community to influence vital policy issues affecting schools. In a time of social, economic, technological and geopolitical turbulence, the local school board remains the tried and true governance mechanism for delivering excellence and equity in public education for all of our children. If you have any questions related to school governance, please contact us at info@nsba.org.