CER News Alert

FIFTEEN QUESTIONS TO ASK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS 

(March 16, 2001) Local School Boards can play an important role in demanding accountability in their local school systems. As you interview board members for your news stories, here are 15 questions that can help you learn if they're doing their jobs.

Accountability:

  1. The public wants higher standards and consequences for not meeting their levels. What is your position on high stakes testing aligned with state standard? How are you working to achieve your position?

  2. Are state-sanctioned report cards of school achievement, such as Florida's A-F rating, a good addition to the data available to the public?

  3. What objective performance standards relating to specific improvement in student academic performance are contained in your superintendent's contract? In principal contracts?

  4. Should Title I monies continue to flow to schools that do not demonstrate yearly academic progress for the majority of Title I children?

  5. Do you favor standardized annual reading and math assessments that would provide parents with information about how well their child is doing and how well their school is doing?

  6. What academic program has your district eliminated because the program failed to achieve the specific performance objectives established at its creation?

    7. Instruction:

  7. What three instructional programs has your district implemented during the last three years that were specifically targeted to students who either failed standardized state tests or are in the lowest quartile of nationally normed tests?

  8. What instructional programs has your district implemented during the last three years that were specifically targeted to improve or accelerate the academic performance of students (not enrolled in advanced or honors classes)?

  9. What are you doing to increase the percentage of students enrolled in math courses above Algebra I? Biology I?

  10. What programs has your district put in place to increase the number and percentage of students taking Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests? Which of these programs is designed to increase the participation and success of ethnic minorities?

    11. Flexibility:

  11. Many school principals and superintendents have duplicated what they see in charter schools or bemoaned the fact that they don't have the flexibility granted to charter schools. What are your plans to see that all schools in your district receive more school-based control?

  12. Would you favor giving states greater flexibility, and reducing regulatory and paperwork burdens on states and districts in return for agreeing to abide by a five-year performance agreement?

    13. Charters:

  13. More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed by individual school boards challenging charter school laws. Courts have dismissed these or upheld the constitutionality of charters. Will you challenge charter schools in your district?

    14. Teacher Quality:

  14. Teacher quality solutions are hotly debated today, from merit pay to ending tenure. Do you support performance-based pay (not bonuses) for individual teachers and how do you plan to pursue this policy with policymakers?

    15. Choice:

  15. Milwaukee's school board now advocates the city's voucher program. What should be the NSBA's views about this member school board?

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QUESTION AUTHORITY: 

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The Center for Education Reform is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1993 to provide support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For further information, please call (202) 822-9000.

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