What is a school board?

A school board is the governing body of a public school system, responsible for setting policy and overseeing the operations of public schools in a school district. School boards are typically elected by voters in the school district, though some are appointed by mayors or other officials. There are roughly 13,000 public school districts in the United States, each governed by a school board. School board sizes vary, with most having between five and nine members. School board members serve specific terms, typically three to four years, often with staggered elections so that not all seats are up at the same time. Most school board elections are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not run as members of political parties on the ballot, though candidates may have political affiliations. School board members are generally not paid, or are paid only nominal amounts, reflecting the role's tradition as community service rather than a professional position.

School boards have significant authority over public education within their district. They hire the school superintendent, who serves as the chief executive of the school district. They approve the district's annual budget, which determines how much is spent on teachers, facilities, transportation, supplies, and other school needs. School board budgets typically run into the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in larger districts. Boards approve curriculum, set graduation requirements within state guidelines, choose textbooks, and decide on school policies including discipline, technology use, and athletics. They negotiate contracts with teachers' unions and other school employees in many states. Boards make decisions about opening new schools, closing schools, and drawing school attendance boundaries, decisions that can be politically sensitive when they involve race or socioeconomic class.

Schools are funded by a combination of local property taxes (the largest source in most states), state aid (which often makes up 30 to 50 percent of school funding), and federal aid (typically less than 10 percent). The federal role in K-12 education is limited but includes Title I funding for low-income schools, special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and civil rights enforcement. State law governs much of what school boards can do, including teacher certification requirements, graduation standards, and school accreditation.

Recent years have seen increased political contention around school board elections on issues including curriculum, library books, transgender students, and pandemic-era policies. Some board races have become highly partisan despite their formal nonpartisan status.