School boards usually consist of five to nine elected or appointed representatives from the community who meet regularly to decide issues related to local schools.

How does this apply to me?

  • Awareness — The more we interact with school boards, the more we will increase our awareness of our students’ education and the factors that influence policy-maker decision-making. Overall, school board meetings can give key insight into what goes into the decisions about young people’s education.

  • Student Resources — Because school boards set the budget each year, they can influence the amount and quality of resources allocated to students and teachers. While class-specific resources are decided by the teachers and principal, school board control over budgets can greatly impact the quality and amount of resources given.

  • Increasing Diversity in Decisions — According to the Brennan Center for Justice, Georgia school boards severely underrepresent people of color in their membership, especially for Latino and Asian communities. Especially given boards’ powers to influence the quality of children's education, this lack of diversity in leadership can impact support for diverse students and inhibit their successes.

So, what does this look like?

  • Organization — School boards base their decisions on input from the superintendent, families, teachers, students, and the general public.

  • Budget — They also control their district’s budgets. This can be allocated toward specific programs, salaries, and maintenance.

  • Curriculum — Each school board will also approve the curriculum and set educational policies that schools in their district implement.

Where can I go to speak with my board members?