A recent survey from Brookings shows growing concern among school board members nationwide that culture wars, divisive politics, and increased factionalism is leaving lasting scars on education and school systems across the country.
The Brookings survey of America’s school board members offers an important national temperature check because school boards sit at the intersection of education policy, community priorities, and local politics. While state and federal debates often dominate headlines, school boards are where many of those issues ultimately play out. The recent survey provides a rare nationwide snapshot of who is serving on school boards, what issues they view as most pressing, and how they perceive the concerns of their communities.
The findings show that board members reported concerns about increasingly partisan elections, growing community conflict, and factionalism within some boards, particularly in larger school districts. Together, these findings provide policymakers, education leaders, and local officials with an important barometer of the current climate in public education governance and a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing school boards nationwide.
The report is also noteworthy because it highlights the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the culture-war debates that have reshaped school governance in recent years. Maryland in particular is at a cross roads in education as they approach the halfway point for implementation of the statewide education reform plan – the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Blueprint). Local education agencies and boards of education in Maryland are no strangers to differences of opinion and policies that are driven by cultural and political shifts of the last decade, as described in the report, but also disagreement over the feasibility and practicality of mandated Blueprint programming and funding. This is also while navigating the impacts of digital learning and AI-enhanced programing.
While Maryland’s county governments play a critical role in public education by providing billions of dollars in annual funding to local school systems, county governments do not control local boards of education. School boards operate as independent entities under state law and are responsible for setting some education policy, overseeing school system operations, and hiring and evaluating superintendents. This places them at a crucial juncture for providing efficient public school education while in the midst of significant cultural and policy shifts at the state, local, and national level. This climate underscores the importance of strong communication and understanding between county officials and school boards to ensure that public education strategies are geared towards addressing the realities of today.
5 Major Takeaways from the Brookings Survey
- Board members are concerned about the influence of divisive, partisan politics in school board elections and governance.
- Board members believe that their top priorities—such as safety and academic performance—align with the top priorities of their communities but diverge from the top priorities of the most vocal members of their communities.
- School board elections and service differ markedly in large and small districts. Members in large districts face more contentious and expensive elections, greater factionalism within their boards, and more community conflict.
- COVID-19 and culture-war conflicts affected school districts across the country, leaving lasting scars on many of America’s school boards.
- Despite real challenges, most board members remain motivated to serve. About half plan to seek another term, with most citing a belief that they are making a positive impact.
