Guide to School Board Resolutions
This guide will help build your knowledge about school board resolutions, your confidence in communicating their value, and your familiarity with how your local school board works and makes decisions.
What are a school board’s duties?
Local school boards have a tremendous role to play in the success of our schools and students. School boards adopt policies and resolutions that govern school employees and students. These policies must follow state laws or rules adopted by the state department of education.
What’s the difference? A board resolution is a formal statement adopted by the school board that expresses the board's position on a particular issue. It typically includes two sections. One section describes facts and values, and the second describes the district’s plan of action. Resolutions are typically used to address specific topics or issues that are of concern to the school district or community.
After the school board adopts a resolution, they may also adopt a policy that provides more detailed guidelines about what the resolution requires or prohibits. Board policies are a set of guidelines or rules that govern the operation of the school district. While resolutions themselves can sometimes include policy changes, districts more often supplement resolutions with additional policies.
School boards can also task a superintendent with adopting and implementing administrative regulations or additional rules that describe in even greater detail how the policy will be put into action. These rules may include timelines and school staff’s roles and responsibilities.
How are policies and resolutions adopted?
School board resolutions are typically proposed by members of the school board and are then voted on by the entire board. To adopt a new policy or resolution, school boards host a public meeting, take a formal vote during the meeting, and a majority of the board members must vote for adopting the policy or resolution. Community members and stakeholders have the right to attend the public meetings in which the board adopts a new policy or resolution. And meeting agendas should be publicized ahead of time usually on the district’s website.
Members of the public may also have the right to place a discussion of a board policy or resolution on the board’s agenda. The procedure for placing an item on the agenda differs among districts, so consult your district for more.
How can you advocate for a resolution?
Contact board members – Write, call, or meet with your school board members. You do not have to be an expert on education policy. It’s a board member’s job to hear your concerns, questions, and compliments. You can let the board members know that you are exploring an issue and resolution. Board members can be powerful allies, who can introduce and advocate on behalf of resolutions. If there is already a resolution under consideration, let them know why you support or oppose it. COSF can help you prepare for these conversations.
Contact the superintendent – Superintendents work closely with school board members on the policy. In fact, some school board bylaws require that the superintendent identify and communicate to the board issues that affect the community and suggest new policies or revise old policies. They may even be required to research issues, gather data, and get staff and community input. That’s why a superintendent is a key ally to communicate your concerns.
You can always set up individual meetings with your superintendent to see where they stand on an issue, but it’s a good idea to talk to your principal first.
Review your district’s school board policies – Build your knowledge about your district’s inclusion policies, your confidence in communicating their value, and your familiarity with how your local school board works.
Develop a resolution – If no resolution is on the table, you may have the power to propose one to school board members. Review your district’s proposed or established policies to identify gaps related to the issues you care about. Most districts publish their board policies and bylaws directly on their website.
COSF’s bank of resolutions can serve as a starting point for your advocacy efforts.
Participate in a board meeting – You can follow your individual meetings with school board members, the superintendent, and the principal by following up by raising your issue at a school board meeting.
Why should you get involved NOW?
Local school board resolutions allow community members to have a direct impact on the policies and decisions made by their local school district, provide an opportunity for community members to have their voices heard, and can help to build consensus and unite the community around a common cause.
This is especially important when you feel your voice is not being heard or that your concerns are not being addressed by the school district. At a time when school districts are censoring education or tampering with students’ rights, advocating for the issues you care about has never been more important.