Replace or repair: Exploring possible methods for improving school governance

Abstract

ABSTRACT The performance of school boards as a governmental body has been a source of often well-deserved critique in both policy and academic outlets. In this article, we explore approaches to school board governance to conceptualize possible approaches to increasing effective governance in service of students — namely effective governance, district operations, and student learning. We explore both alternative structures to replace traditional school boards and the ways in which relationships between actors in the system might offer routes for more effective governance within traditional school boards.