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How School Boards Shape Education
EDU A301

Course Information

Description

**Lottery-based Enrollment** Not long ago, America’s local school boards were viewed as unexciting entities that conducted mundane district business, and they were often an afterthought in academia and among education reformers. More recently, across blue, purple, and red states, school boards have become highly visible battlegrounds, adjudicating some of the most contentious issues of our time. This course engages participants in essential education governance questions and explores why school board politics are often so charged. Do school boards matter? How do they function? How has their role evolved over time? Are they the optimal way to govern schools or is there a better alternative? In addition, the course will analyze board governance best practices, including the board-superintendent relationship and interaction with teachers, administrators, unions, policy makers, and community members. Lastly, we will explore the connection between school boards and democracy more broadly.

Class Notes

Non-HGSE Harvard students cross registering into Lottery-based Enrollment courses must email registrar@gse.harvard.edu to request to be added to the lottery event. Non-Harvard students are not eligible to enter the course lottery. Please see this page of the Office of the Registrar website for more information.

School Graduate School of Education
Credits 2
Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Department Education
Course Component Regular Course
Instruction Mode In Person
Subject Education
Grading Basis HGSE Student Option (Letter Graded, Sat/Unsat)
Learning Goals N/A
Career Focus This course is geared toward students interested in public school governance, policy, leadership, and management. It is suited to anyone who aspires to work in public education or might interface with public school leaders. From future teachers and administrators to community partners and concerned citizens to future board members and state policy makers, the goal is to gain an understanding of the role that public school boards play. While the primary focus is on public education, many of the governance and leadership skills discussed are universally applicable.