In Pursuit of Highly Qualified School Boards: Evidence from a National Survey of School Board Members and Superintendents

• Activity Number: 162
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 2, 2010 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Mack Shelley*+ and Dai-Trang Le
• Companies: Iowa State University and Iowa State University
• Keywords: School districts ; School boards ; Superintendents ; Surveys ; Education policy

Abstract

Survey data (n=1,020) from board members and superintendents of large urban school districts and a random sample of 400 other school districts (with more than 1,000 students) are analyzed to understand how school board members see their role in improving leadership, teaching quality, and student achievement. This information will help leaders in public education strengthen the ability of school boards to be as effective as possible in governing and supporting district efforts to improve student achievement. Results examine the motivation of school board members, institutional differences and operational differences among boards, how to strengthen leadership and teaching quality, how boards prioritize activities and gain knowledge, and the values, behaviors, policies, and actions boards are engaging in to lift student achievement.