5 Questions School Boards Must Ask to Support Student Success

Despite national and local political polarization, budget constraints and K-12 challenges, school boards remain catalysts to change systems for student success.

The current state of U.S. education and the chaotic political landscape require school board members who believe governance and school accountability are moral and ethical imperatives.

A clear vision of high expectations, rigorous and attainable goals, and a belief that all students deserve opportunities to engage in compelling and rigorous learning experiences are paramount for boards and school systems. However, the questions board members consistently ask prompt transparent public discussions and accountable actions that can change school systems, and can ultimately change the trajectory of students’ academic lives, particularly student groups whom schools underserve.

Key questions about schooling, ranging from enrollment to family engagement and facilities maintenance, are important for all boards and communities; however, knowing that students' academic success is the core mission, what questions should board members ask throughout the school year?

1.  Which student groups is each school supporting and serving well and in what ways? Asset-mapping and studying success are powerful practices of effective leaders in every sector and industry. Learning about the opportunities, factors, and conditions the system and individual schools provide the most successful students is the beginning of identifying and providing equitable opportunities and resources to all school communities.

2.  Which student groups is the system failing and in what specific ways? Identifying the student groups the system and individuals schools predictably fail compels system and campus leaders to focus on necessary change for equitable opportunities and support for all school communities. Most importantly, boards must focus on the very specific ways the system is failing certain student groups and school communites and then determine what matters most to change the system for student well-being and academic success.

3.  What are administrators doing to ensure student groups the system is failing are taught and led by experienced and culturally responsive teachers and campus leaders? Indisputably, two of the system inputs and factors that increase success for all student groups, are experienced and culturally responsive teachers and campus leaders with a vision and a deep understanding of both student and adult learning needs and suppports.

4. How are differentiated instruction and universal design being implemented with fidelity to ensure students with disabilities receive the highest quality instruction? Students with disabilities and all students flourish in supportive, adaptive, and flexible environments. Learning experiences must be facilitated by highly effective and highly qualified teachers. Ensuring universal design and differentiated instruction are practiced and prioritized within the system means students requiring special education services, gifted and talented programs, and other specialized support have increased opportunities to learn and excel.

"A school system's budget is also a portfolio of what the board and staff value and what is believed to be of value."

5. How do budget allocations and expenditures reflect a comittment to student success? Budgets are moral documents according to many leaders and policymakers. A school system’s budget is also a portfolio of what the board and staff value and what is believed to be of value. Investments in highly effective teachers, proven campus leaders, professional learning to improve leadership and instruction, rigorous and culturally responsive curricula, and services that increase well-being and learning opportunities for all school communities, demonstrate the board's commitment to moral and ethical governance.

Despite national and local political polarization, budget constraints and current school system failures, boards remain catalysts for systemic transformation. The right questions are the beginning of learning, and the responses from administration support taking collective action for change, so that every student and every student group experiences academic success in all of our school systems.

What other questions should boards ask about policies, programs and practices for student success? Let's chat at sjhawley40@gmail.com