School boards are integral to the governance structure of public school districts across the United States. A board of education, also commonly referred to as a school board, oversees the operations and policies of a school district. The purpose of school boards is to provide leadership, oversight, and representation for their local public schools.
School boards have a long history in the U.S. education system. Local boards began appearing in the early 1800s, and by 1900 most states had established systems of local school boards. The system of local control through school boards became an important tradition in public education. Today, there are approximately 13,500 school boards governing public school districts nationwide.
While their structures and specifics duties vary between states and districts, board of education have core responsibilities that are common across the U.S. These include setting a vision for district schools, establishing standards and curriculum, managing the budget, developing district policies, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, and community engagement. The function of boards is to make high-level decisions and policies, while day-to-day administration is left to district staff like the superintendent.
Overall, school boards play a vital role in representing community interests, providing oversight, and ensuring high quality public education at the local level. The decisions and leadership of boards impact millions of students across the country.
Membership and Structure
The Board of Education is comprised of locally elected members from the community. The number of board members varies based on the district size, but generally ranges from 5 to 9 members. Board members are elected by the public, with elections held every 2 to 4 years depending on the district.
Each board has executive officers, usually consisting of a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The president serves as the main spokesperson and meeting facilitator, while the vice president fills these duties when the president is absent. The secretary maintains board records, policies, and documents. The treasurer oversees the budget and financial matters.
Board members may serve on various committees focused on specific functions, such as budget/finance, policy, curriculum, facilities, and community relations. Committees research issues and make recommendations to the full board for consideration and approval.
Board members are unpaid, volunteer positions. Terms lengths are commonly 4 years, with elections staggered so the full board does not turn over at once. Board members may serve multiple terms if reelected. To promote continuity, boards often limit the turnover to a few members each election cycle.
Major Responsibilities
Boards of education have several major areas of responsibility that are critical to effective district governance and student success. Some of the most significant duties include:
Overseeing District Budget and Finances
One of the most important jobs of a school board is to oversee the district budget and finances. This includes approving the annual budget, ensuring funds are spent efficiently and as allocated, and providing financial oversight through regular reviews and audits. Board members must make fiscally responsible decisions on behalf of taxpayers and ensure that students have the resources they need to succeed.
Developing District Policies
Boards are responsible for establishing policies that provide a framework and direction for district operations. Policies span areas like curriculum, assessment, hiring, student conduct, and more. The board must develop clear, thoughtful policies that align with the district’s goals and needs. They will also review and update policies regularly.
Hiring and Managing the Superintendent
Boards of education hire, evaluate, and work closely with the district superintendent. This is the board’s sole employee who oversees all district staff and functions. Boards must hire and retain an effective superintendent, communicate expectations clearly, and evaluate their performance regularly. Fostering a strong board-superintendent relationship is key.
With these major duties, boards of education steer the vision and direction for a school district. They make influential decisions that impact schools, educators, and most importantly, student growth and achievement. Boards must embrace these responsibilities and govern effectively to ensure district success.
Setting District Goals and Vision
One of the most critical responsibilities of a Board of Education is setting the long-term goals and vision for the school district. This is typically done through a strategic planning process that engages various stakeholders to identify priorities and create a roadmap for the future.
Strategic planning enables the board to focus on big-picture issues like student achievement, equity, financial stability and community engagement. The process examines relevant data, trends and district needs to formulate measurable goals and strategies across key areas. Common school district goals often relate to improving graduation rates, student performance, access to technology, building maintenance and school culture.
Well-defined goals serve to guide all district activities and planning. They inform the budgeting process and help align resource allocation to priority areas. Goals set direction for policy development and evaluation of district programs. The superintendent and staff roles focus on operationalizing the board’s vision and making progress on established goals.
Setting ambitious yet realistic goals requires balancing input from diverse community members, data analysis, capacity considerations and state/federal accountability measures. An effective strategic plan will outline both long-term goals and benchmarks for progress monitoring. With regular updates and progress reporting, the board can ensure the district stays focused on agreed-upon goals and adapt strategies as needed. A thoughtful strategic planning process allows boards of education to lead with vision and purpose.
Academic Standards and Curriculum
One of the most important responsibilities of a board of education is approving academic standards and curriculum for the school district. This involves setting policies and guidelines around:
Academic standards – The learning goals that outline what students are expected to know and be able to do at each grade level and in each subject area. The board reviews and adopts academic standards based on state and/or local requirements.
Curriculum – The instructional programs, courses, and materials used to meet academic standards. The board evaluates and approves curriculum recommendations brought forth by the superintendent and district staff.
Graduation requirements – The specific course credits and assessments students must complete to earn a high school diploma. Graduation policies are set at the state level, while boards can add local requirements.
Instructional materials – Textbooks, software, videos and other classroom resources used for student learning. Boards review instructional materials for accuracy, quality and alignment to academic standards.
Assessments – The tests, quizzes and other tools used to evaluate student learning and achievement. Boards approve district-wide assessment policies and testing calendars.
Setting clear academic expectations through standards provides consistency across schools in what students learn at each grade level. Adopting high-quality curriculum ensures students have access to engaging programs and materials designed to meet learning goals. By fulfilling their governance role in this area, boards help ensure equitable access to curriculum aligned to academic standards for all students in the district.
Financial Oversight
The board of education has a significant responsibility for overseeing taxpayer funds allocated for public schools. While the school administrators and staff manage day-to-day spending, the board has control over the district’s budget and taxation levels. Developing a balanced budget that aligns with the district’s strategic vision while maintaining fiscal responsibility is a key duty.
Specific financial oversight duties include:
Taxing Authority – The board has the power to levy taxes to fund school operations and facilities. There may be limits set by state law on allowable tax rates. The board must set a tax rate sufficient to fund district needs while considering taxpayer impact.
Budget Approval – The board is responsible for reviewing and approving the annual district budget recommended by the superintendent. This involves evaluating spending priorities and making adjustments.
Bonds/Levies – For major capital projects like building renovations or new construction, the board may issue bonds or place levies on the ballot to fund the projects. The board must educate voters on the value of the projects to gain approval.
Audits – To ensure proper use of district funds and prevent misappropriation, the board arranges for annual independent financial audits. The board reviews audit findings and requires corrective action if needed.
Proper financial oversight requires the board to balance educational needs with fiscal constraints. By making sound decisions on budgeting and taxation, the board helps ensure taxpayer funds are used responsibly to provide quality education.
Policy Development
A critical function of the school board is to establish policies that govern district operations, programs and educational priorities. Policies provide an overarching framework and guidance for administrators in carrying out day-to-day duties and decision-making. Effective policies promote equity, accountability, and continuity across leadership transitions.
The school board is responsible for developing and adopting policies on a wide range of issues, including:
Staffing policies – Hiring, evaluation, compensation, professional development, leave, discipline and termination procedures for district employees. Policies should outline fair, merit-based processes.
Student policies – Enrollment, transfers, attendance, discipline, promotions, graduation requirements and special education services. Policies should ensure equity and uphold rights.
Curriculum policies – Standards, testing, textbooks, technology and materials selection. Policies guide academic programs.
Operations policies – Budgeting, procurement, facilities use, transportation, food services and maintenance. Policies enable efficient district operations.
Equity policies – Anti-discrimination, inclusion, bullying/harassment, and culturally-responsive teaching. Policies foster safe, welcoming environments.
Community policies – Parent/community involvement and communication. Policies facilitate collaboration and transparency.
Technology policies – Acceptable use, data privacy, device management. Policies mitigate risks and support learning.
Emergency policies – Crisis response, school closures, health and safety. Policies aim to protect students and staff.
Developing and revising board policies is an ongoing process requiring research, community input and legal review. Adopting equitable, forward-thinking policies provides stability and direction for the district.
Superintendent Relations
A critical role for the school board is its relationship with the district superintendent. The superintendent serves as the chief executive responsible for managing district operations and implementing the board’s vision and policies on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, the board and superintendent must work closely together.
The board is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and evaluating the superintendent. This is one of the most important decisions a school board makes. The board should outline the qualifications and profile they seek for the next superintendent, based on the district’s goals. They must advertise the position, carefully screen applicants, and interview finalists. Once hired, the board and superintendent need to establish clear objectives and performance standards. The board should provide regular evaluations and feedback to support the superintendent’s ongoing growth and development in the role.
While the superintendent oversees district management, the board is responsible for maintaining oversight. The board grants authority to the superintendent to carry out day-to-day operations. However, the board is ultimately accountable for the performance of the district. Therefore, the board must hold the superintendent accountable while also providing the necessary guidance and support for them to be successful. Maintaining open communication and a constructive working relationship between the board and superintendent is essential for the effective governance of the district.