School Boards

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
Thumb 04 BS
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
Photo of empty chairs at school board meeting.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
School & District Management Opinion The Big Problem With Who Runs for School Boards—and How to Fix It
Serving on a board is far too punishing for young parents, writes a current member.
Carrie Douglass, December 20, 2022
•
5 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School & District Management Opinion Searching for Common Ground: How Education Leaders Can Navigate Divisiveness
Being a school board member used to be this anonymous job, but suddenly, the position is at the fulcrum of a lot of controversy.
Rick Hess, December 13, 2022
•
5 min read
Image of safety cones and red flags.
Collage by Laura Baker/Education Week via Getty
School Climate & Safety How a Virginia District ‘Failed at Every Juncture’ to Prevent Sexual Assault
The grand jury’s devastating report is a must-read for district superintendents on how systems fall apart.
Caitlynn Peetz, December 9, 2022
•
6 min read
Illustration showing diversity with multi-colored human figures.
ajijchan/iStock/Getty
School & District Management How to Recruit and Retain School Board Members of Color
Pay, staffing, and support are key ingredients to persuade people of color to run for their local school board, experts say.
Eesha Pendharkar, November 22, 2022
•
5 min read
Load More ▼