You’ve probably heard the phrase countless times. But what is a school board? In the United States, school boards were first created in 1647 when a Massachusetts law, which required cities to establish and maintain schools, was passed. Basically, a school board is a local authority tasked with the provision and maintenance of a school or schools.

If you are like most parents, you may be wondering, What is the purpose of this board? Who are the individuals involved? What impact do they have on my child’s education? Good questions. Thanks for asking! The primary goal of a school board is to improve student achievement. However, since school boards have the power to make many key decisions about curriculum, bus transportation, the hiring of teachers and more, it is essential for school board members to be qualified, experienced, and responsible individuals.