So What Makes An Effective School Board - Discuss Amongst Yourselves

We are engaging with the KCK board of education in support of the best possible governance of our school district geared toward the best possible outcomes for our students.  The Center for Public Education identified eight characteristics of effective school boards in their 2011 report.  We restate them here to challenge ourselves, our readers, the KCK board of education and the new superintendent to build and support an effective school board for the sake of our children.

1. Effective school boards commit to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and quality instruction and define clear goals toward this vision.

2.Effective school boards have strong shared beliefs and values about what is possible for students and their ability to learn, and of the system and its ability to teach all children at high levels.

3.Effective school boards are accountability driven, spending less time on operational issues and more time focused on policies to improve student achievement.

4.Effective school boards have a collaborative relationship with staff and the community and establish a strong communications structure to inform and engage both internal and external stakeholders in setting and achieving district goals.

5.Effective school boards are data savvy:  they embrace and monitor data, even when the information is negative, and use it to drive continuous improvement.

6.Effective school boards align and sustain resources, such as professional development to meet district goals. According to researchers LaRocque and Coleman, effective boards saw a responsibility to maintain high standards even in the midst of budget challenges.

7.Effective school boards lead as a united team with the superintendent, each from their respective roles, with strong collaborations and mutual trust.

8.Effective school boards take part in team development and training, sometimes with their superintendents, to build shared knowledge, values and commitments for their improvement efforts.
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To read the executive summary or to read the full report go to http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/research/eight-characteristics-effective-school-boards-full-report