School Board Research Symposium 2007

The presentation was not intended as a historical review of the research literature on school boards, but rather as a reflection on the main themes from the 1975 symposium on school board research in order to further discussion on the impact of that research, and suggest themes for future research. [Conference presentation - Summary]

This research focuses on equity in school funding, studying a variety of issues in a group of states. [Conference presentation - Summary]

The study is a follow-on study to the Dissatisfaction Theory research. The research question is whether there is a relationship between board member and superintendent turnover and student achievement. A secondary research question is whether the size of the district is a factor in the effects of turnover on student achievement. Additional research questions address the effect of turnover on policy and on the system. The reasons for board members and superintendents leaving were categorized as either “political” or “apolitical”.

The longitudinal analysis of board and superintendent turnover over a period of 8 years in Washington State used the state’s criterion-referenced test to gauge changes in student achievement. [Conference presentation - Summary]

The question, “Can school boards make a difference in students’ academic accomplishments?” is addressed through a combination of a case study and review of research on school board effects.

Most Americans don’t think the mayor should get involved, but this perception is starting to change rapidly. In 2006 and 2007 the Gallup poll asked Americans if they favored mayoral control. In 2006, only 29% were in favor, but in 2007 that number had jumped to 39%, with 42% of parents in favor. Such trends in public opinion, combined with increased interest from mayors, make this a frequently debated topic in today’s education policy circles. [Abstract]

The persistence of the dysfunctional relationship between school board members and superintendents suggests perhaps that training and education programs for board members and superintendents have only been addressing the symptoms of something else. [Abstract]

In this chapter we will look at the effects of local fund-raising to supplement taxes. We will consider the possibility that state-wide funding of schools decreases the total amount available within a state, and whether we will be able to live with our goals for equitable funds for schools. [Abstract]

The Dissatisfaction Theory of American Democracy says simply that when the citizens of our democracy become dissatisfied enough with “things,” they go to the polls and vote to change “things.” Often the “things” they vote to change are the incumbent policy makers. On school boards, it is the incumbent school board members who are voted out. [Abstract]

In this chapter we explore the relationship of the board of education and district superintendent in an era of reform and eroding public confidence. [Abstract]

While previous research provides insight into the link between factors like public opinion and local spending, it does not tell us much about the electoral mechanism itself or how it may influence the makeup and behavior of school boards. [Abstract]

The question of whether elected dysfunctional large urban school district boards should be replaced or substantially restructured is a serious policy question impacting the lives of million of students. [Abstract]

This chapter offers a review of the few studies offering empirical evidence showing a link between school boards and student performance. Findings include a connection between student test scores and politically motivated school board turnover particularly in smaller districts. [Abstract]

The public cry for improved achievement and accountability in public schools and the traditional lack of board involvement in issues related to student achievement create an urgent need to clearly understand the leadership role of the board as it relates to improving student. [Abstract]

The author provides a retrospective of school board research themes from the time of the 1975 school board symposium. The author includes major theoretical advances in school board research and concludes that there are few empirical works that extend governance models past those originally prior to the 1970s. [Abstract]

This descriptive case study highlights the problems created when a three-two majority alliance was formed on the five-member board of trustees of the Northville School District, a medium-sized (10,250 students), suburban/urban, elementary (PreK-8) school district in Southern California. The crisis began when the newly-formed three member Board Majority were presented with and then spurned a legal mandate to revise the District’s Uniform Complaint Procedure Policy (UCPP). This mandated revision would have assured compliance to new state and federal laws that granted “protected class status” to transgender and transsexual students. [Abstract]