Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy
Language: English
Authors: Scott R. Levy
Source: MIT Press. 2025.
Availability: MIT Press. 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. Tel: 800-405-1619; Tel: 617-253-5646; Fax: 617-253-1709; e-mail: mitpress-orders@mit.edu; Web site: https://mitpress.mit.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 286
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Book
Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: Boards of Education, Politics of Education, Educational Attitudes, Public Education, Educational Policy, Board of Education Role, Meetings, Accountability, Educational Practices
Geographic Terms: Virginia, Utah
ISBN: 978-0-262-55272-1
Abstract: In Virginia, a contentious school board meeting led to an arrest and trespassing summons. In Utah, eleven people were charged with disorderly conduct after a board meeting turned chaotic. Not long ago, school boards conducted mundane district business. Understudied and underreported, they were an afterthought of centrally driven education reform efforts. Now, across blue, purple, and red states, school boards have become the epicenter of heated debates, reflecting society's deep divisions. In "Why School Boards Matter," Scott Levy challenges conventional wisdom by reminding us of the essential role school boards play. While battles in the boardroom may be uncomfortable, they exemplify how passionate Americans are about education. As policymakers debate the federal government's role in K-12 and states pursue sharply divergent policies, Levy offers a roadmap that empowers school boards to tackle intractable public education challenges, including initiative fatigue, district climate, and accountability. School boards are where theory meets practice, where federal and state requirements converge with local policies, and where constituents can advocate for important issues affecting our children today. Every K-12 stakeholder--administrators, teachers, parents, and students alike--has a vested interest in understanding how school boards shape education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Access URL: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262552721/why-school-boards-matter/
Accession Number: ED676297
Database: ERIC
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