School Boards and the Achievement Gap
In filling out questionnaires from groups asking candidates why they are running for school board, I began to ponder if school boards really matter. Look at the mission and/or vision statements of most school boards and you will see a statement about educating ALL children in some way or form. But if you review your district assessment data, the achievement gaps across racial and class lines are easy to spot. What leadership role does a school board play in closing the gap in their community?
Current Landscape
School board, especially urban ones, are likely to be composed of three types of school board members: 1.) aspiring politicians who seeking higher office, 2.) former employees with a score to settle, and 3.) single cause advocates who want to impose their point of view. Not a good recipe for a forming a coherent governance team focused on student achievement.
Trends in public education reform are centralizing funding at the State and Federal level. National standards are being created with Federal and State accountability models.
Path Forward
The role of a school board is changing. School boards can no longer merely oversee the day to day operations of schools. School boards need to be coleaders in the efforts to improve student achievement. While the school board is dependent on the technical knowledge and leadership of its Superintendent, the Superintendent needs the authority and leadership of the school board to make changes stick.
Reflection Questions
Individual
What role do you believe a school board contributes in closing the achievement gap?
School Board
What actions over the past 12 months has your Board taken to close the achievement gap?
Community
If a community member reviewed the agendas from the past 12 months, what agenda items would be directly related to closing the achievement gap?
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