School Board Effectiveness Program

How Well Is Your Board Working?

School boards are a critical ingredient in the daunting school reform and accountability movement being addressed throughout the nation.  Although this governance system, through which most schools districts are organized and administered, has been in place since the early 20th century, it is evident that too many of these systems are not functioning well in meeting complex 21st century challenges. 

THE ISSUES

Several key issues and challenges confront contemporary local boards:

• How do we ensure that focused, intentional efforts for improved student outcomes are the number one district priority—especially for a body subject to constant change due to new elections or appointments?
• How do we work effectively with the Superintendent and other leaders to assess, support, and align the district’s mission, goals, vision, policies—and hold all school leaders accountable?
• How do we ensure fiscal prudence, stability, solvency, and accountability?
• How do we develop—and keep—productive, professional relationships between board members?
• How do we engage a more diverse and broader array of stakeholders to build coordinated efforts to address the “whole child”—and the required political will to improve outcomes for all children?  

Is It Time That You Answer this Question?

“Are you at odds, or are Board Members building and working as a team?”

OUR ANSWER

If you want your school board to be known as an Effective, High Performing, Results-oriented governing body that promotes, supports, and monitors key policy and outcome measures—we can help.

IEL’s School Board Effectiveness Program (SBEP) is based on fifteen (15) research-based indicators of an effective board of education (that emerged from our national study of school boards).  Let IEL help your board take the steps needed to become another sterling example of an effective board. 

The SBEP, unlike many other school board programs and tools, is a more tailored model.  Its unique “Board Effectiveness Inventory”—a self assessment tool—provides an opportunity for boards to:

1. Reflect upon and assess their own behaviors;
2. Receive a statistical and qualitative feedback report offering the board a picture of its own leadership behaviors; and
3. Obtain facilitation of a board development process that includes:
   
   • Tailored feedback on the self-assessment;
   • Help in developing effectiveness goals;
   • Help with capacity building in areas identified by the board;
   • On-going coaching to help the board achieve its goals.

Background and Feedback on SBEP

SBEP has been in continuous use since 1987.  We have provided assistance to improve school board effectiveness in hundreds of school districts—urban, rural, and suburban, including the District of Columbia, Birmingham (AL), Arlington (VA), the Pittsburgh (PA) Public School Districts, and Piscataway and Bridgeton (NJ).  The SBEP yields positive outcomes for boards and superintendents by strengthening their capacity to better serve all of the children and families in the district.  IEL’s experience suggests that boards committed to engaging in a serious and sustained manner will find that their combined effort leads to improved governance and leadership behavior that is imperative for school improvement.  Client feedback indicates that board-superintendent relationships are enhanced, that board member conduct is enhanced, that focus on policy oversight improves, that community engagement increases, and that boards’ capacity to govern and lead for student learning improves.

“It (the School Board Effectiveness Inventory) was very useful to myself and the whole Board…I found all the materials we received of great value.”

“We all appreciate the work you did for us. The depth of what you did for us and the expertise you brought were greater than what we have done on our own in recent years…. Your analysis, insight and suggestions will prove to be quite helpful, and already have.”

“Most informative (School Board Effectiveness Inventory), as a member of the Board and the other members were also impressed… A foundation was formed (for future learning sessions)—a follow-up is needed….It was a full-learning weekend—much needed.”

Give us a call to discuss your board’s SBEP.

 “IEL’s impartiality, broad constituency and governance/leadership expertise will enable us to work with the Board—and Superintendent—in efforts to enhance and improve governance and leadership strategies to  benefit all children in the district.”
Dr. Barbara McCloud

Primary contact for IEL’s Boards and Superintendents Development and Support is Barbara McCloud, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Leadership Programs.  Dr. McCloud is a former teacher, board of education member, and city planner, who brings to each community her three decades of expertise and working with school leaders.  Contact her via e-mail  (mccloudb@iel.org) or by phone (202-822-8405 x 139) to learn more about the SBEP, or if you have questions or need additional information.


Back to list of IEL programs