School Boards

People in privacy booths vote in the midterm election at an early voting polling site at Frank McCourt High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 1, 2022.
People in privacy booths vote in the midterm election at an early voting polling site at Frank McCourt High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on Nov. 1, 2022.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
School & District Management Running for a School Board Seat? This Is the Most Powerful Endorsement You Can Get
New research shows that this endorsement in school board races is more influential than any other, with virtually no downside.
Caitlynn Peetz, September 22, 2023
5 min read
Members of The Temecula Valley Educators Association, students and parents cheer in support of Temecula Valley Unified School District Superintendent Jodi McClay during a meeting at Temecula Valley High School on June 13, 2023.
Members of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, students, and parents cheer in support of Temecula Valley Unified School District Superintendent Jodi McClay during a meeting at Temecula Valley High School on June 13, 2023. The school board voted to fire McClay that day. TVEA and students are suing the district over its anti-critical race theory resolution.
Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Sun/SCNG via TNS
Equity & Diversity School District's Anti-CRT Resolution Prompts Lawsuit From Teachers and Students
Teachers, parents, and students in a California district claim the resolution restricts their rights.
Eesha Pendharkar, August 30, 2023
5 min read
An overflow crowd attends a Temecula Valley Unified School District board meeting July 18, 2023, at which a proposed social studies curriculum was again debated and rejected.
An overflow crowd attends a Temecula Valley Unified School District board meeting July 18, 2023, at which the board again debated and rejected a proposed social studies curriculum.
Will Lester/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG via TNS
States What California Gov. Newsom's Fight With a School District Says About Local Control
Newsom threatened to fine the Temecula Valley school board after it rejected a curriculum that mentioned gay rights leader Harvey Milk.
Libby Stanford, August 11, 2023
8 min read
Retired superintendent Mike Nelson and school board member Nancy Merrill engage in a Q&A for community members.
Retired superintendent Mike Nelson and school board member Nancy Merrill engage in a Q&A for community members.
Britt Nelson
Professional Development Opinion How Superintendents Can Engage Board Members to Benefit Their Districts
Board members are often disconnected from the day-to-day learning needs of teachers and students. Here are strategies to change that.
Michael Nelson, June 20, 2023
6 min read
Parents from Parmer Lane Elementary School attend a packed school board workshop for Pflugerville Independent School District in Pflugerville, Texas, on Feb. 6, 2023.
Parents from Parmer Lane Elementary School attend a packed school board workshop for Pflugerville Independent School District in Pflugerville, Texas, on Feb. 6, 2023.
Lauren Santucci/Education Week
Families & the Community Video How Parents Engage With Their Local School Boards
Through seats on the board, positions in their PTA, and as individuals, parents can engage with their school boards in a number of ways.
May 2, 2023
Photo of U.S. flag in classroom.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
States More States Consider Partisan School Board Races as Education Debates Intensify
Most states don't allow party labels in school board races. With education debates cleaving down party lines, there's a push to change that.
Evie Blad, April 27, 2023
5 min read
A female and male professional with open laptops and surrounded by chat bubbles and social media icons.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Law & Courts Can School Board Members Block Parents on Social Media? Supreme Court to Decide
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal from board members who blocked 'unreasonable,' repetitious posts from parents on social media pages.
Mark Walsh, April 24, 2023
5 min read
Security officer James White wears a mask as protesters hold signs during a Board of Education meeting in Castle Rock, Colo., to discuss the use of masks and other protective measures in Douglas County Schools on Aug. 24, 2021. A federal judge issued a restraining order Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, against the suburban Denver county's policy allowing parents to opt their children out of a mask mandate at schools, finding that the rule violates the rights of students with disabilities who are vulnerable to COVID-19.
Security officer James White wears a mask as protesters hold signs during a board of education meeting in Castle Rock, Colo., to discuss the use of masks and other protective measures in Douglas County Schools on Aug. 24, 2021.
AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via AP
School Climate & Safety After Threats and Unruly Meetings, School Boards Invest in Security
Many districts have decided to make metal detectors, security guards or police, and mandatory bag checks a permanent feature of board meetings.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 18, 2023
7 min read
Photo of employee review.
Getty
School & District Management Superintendent Evaluations Are Murky, Incomplete, Unfocused. Here's Why That Matters
More than half of superintendents said in a recent survey that their contracts don't specify clear objectives for their annual reviews.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 6, 2023
5 min read
Families & the Community Video These Moms Ran for Their Local School Board and Won. Here’s What They've Learned
After their district brought on a new superintendent, these Michigan moms decided to run for their local school board, and they won.
Kaylee Domzalski & Sam Mallon, March 28, 2023
2:59
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Build a More Effective School Board
Board members are well-intentioned, but they've been mis-trained into focusing on adult inputs rather than student needs.
Rick Hess, March 16, 2023
5 min read
Magnet attracting employee candidates represented by wooden dolls
iStock/Getty
School & District Management 3 Things That Keep Superintendents in Their Jobs
Two experienced leaders say strong relationships with the community and school board make all the difference.
Caitlynn Peetz, January 30, 2023
5 min read
Photo of empty chairs at school board meeting.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
School & District Management 3 Tips to Build Trust Between School Boards and the Public
Here's how school boards can improve ways of interacting with parents and the community.
Evie Blad, January 19, 2023
3 min read
Illustration of a man on a ladder painting over a woman's speech bubble.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
School & District Management School Boards Are Limiting Public Comment. Will That Erode Trust?
School boards walk a fine line when they restrict public comment policies in a divisive political climate.
Evie Blad, January 18, 2023
7 min read