Description
Book SynopsisThe Future of School Board Governance combines theoretical debate as well as empirical evidence of the effectiveness and relevancy of local school boards today. Original theorists of competing school board governance theories, current researchers, and researcher/practitioners provided the latest empirical data about the role of school boards as well as applications for practitioners in the field. Such a combination of readings is rarely found in a single volume. This book has a unique and distinguished set of contributors representing a virtual Who's Who among governance researchers. Many of these authors represent the major school governance theorists of the 20th century. While other books generally include only scholars from a single academic field, this list of authors includes some of the top scholars in the fields of political science, educational administration, and sociology. The authors also come from the practitioner field including numerous former school administrators, school board members and state associate directors representing over 200 years of collective experience in K-12 education.
Trade ReviewTom Alsbuy's book sheds light on the most mysterious of American creations in education, the school board and its relationship to the superintendency. Whatever American education is or can become is hinged right here. It will never be better or worse than this critical intesection allows. -- Fenwick W. English, R. Wendell Eaves Sr. Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This collection of superbly edited and arranged papers by many of the nation's premier school board scholars is a treasure chest, with one gem following another. Exactly the right questions are asked, and answered. If you are a school board member, policymaker, researcher, or just care about American?s public schools, read this book. -- Don McAdams, president, Center for Reform of School Systems, Houston
This book raises hard questions about the realities of governance structure for American schools in a period of increased pressure for accountability. -- Richard F. Elmore, Gregory Anrig Professor of Educational Leadership, Harvard Graduate School of Education
A must-read for anyone concerned about the future of local school boards and democracy in education. A legitimate concern has risen as federal power under NCLB and state control increase. Many believe local school boards must quickly activate or may become obsolete; it's that critical. This book tells the complex truths about where local school governance is headed! -- Bruce S. Cooper, professor and vice chair, Division of Administration, Policy and Urban Education (APUE), at the Fordham University Graduate Scho, Ph.D., professor and vice chair, Division of Administration, Policy and Urban Education (APUE), at the Fordham University Graduate School of Education,…
The research papers contained in this review have powerful information for school board members, scholars, and educational leaders. Though some articles will disturb, others will confirm the importance of school board leadership in transforming public education…. And they all speak to the need for more research and attention to the vital leadership role that school boards must play in achieving educational excellence for every child. -- Anne L. Bryant, executive director emerita, National School Boards Association
This is a very overdue, comprehensive discussion of the importance of school boards in the governance of America's schools. Thomas Alsbury has collected the current thoughts of the most prominent scholars on boards in this volume. It is a must read for superintendents, board members, students and professors of educational leadership. -- Margaret Grogan, department chair and professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Dissatisfaction Theory of the American Democracy Part 1 History of School Board Governance Theory and Research Chapter 2 School Board Research: A Retrospective Part 2 History of the Changing Roles of School Boards Part 3 School Board/Superintendent and Authority Relations Chapter 3 The Evolving Role of School Boards: Retrospect and Prospect Chapter 4 Leading in an Era of Change:The Micropolitics of Superintendent-Board Relations Part 4 School Board Democratic Effectiveness Part 5 School Board's Role in District/Systemic Reform Chapter 5 Historical and Current Tensions Among Board/Superintendent Teams: Symptoms or Cause? Part 6 Relevance: School Board Influence on Student Achievement Chapter 6 Systemic Leadership Amidst Turbulence: Superintendent-School Board Relations Under Pressure Part 7 Revelation: School Board's Viability and Possible Future Chapter 7 Money, Interest Groups, and School Board Elections Chapter 8 Local School Foundations: Equity and the Future of School Funding Chapter 9 A Descriptive Case Study of Discord & Dissent: The Story of A School Board's Act of Non-Compliance To State And Federal Law Chapter 10 The Lighthouse Inquiry: Examining the Role of School Board Leadership in the Improvement of Student Achievement Chapter 11 School Reform, Civic Engagement, and School Board Leadership Chapter 12 School Board Politics and Student Achievement Chapter 13 School Boards and Raising Student Outcomes: Reflections (Confessions?) of a Former Urban School Board Member Chapter 14 Elected Versus Appointed Boards Chapter 15 Education Mayors & Big City School Boards: New Directions, New Evidence
