The Future of School Board Governance: Relevancy and Revelation

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The 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.

Reviews

Tom 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, Teachers College, Ball State University
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 Americans 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, PhD, emeritus professor and vice chair, Division of Administration, Policy and Urban Education, Fordham University
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

Author Bio

Thomas L. Alsbury is currently an assistant professor at North Carolina State University.