The Washington School Board Standards provide a common framework for school board governance for local school boards and directors. The standards were established to encourage school boards and school directors to subscribe to high levels of professional and personal conduct and performance.
Developed by a WSSDA task force, approved by the WSSDA Board of Directors, and subsequently updated in 2023, these voluntary standards identify the elements of good governance and effective board leadership grounded in best practices and current research. They provide a shared understanding of what constitutes good governance and validate the importance of the school board’s role in ensuring student success.
Standards for the Whole Board
One set of standards addresses the school board’s leadership role as a team. The Standards list benchmarks and indicators that promote responsible governance, setting high expectations for student learning, creating conditions for student and staff success, fostering accountability, and engaging with the local community.
Standards for Individuals
The other set addresses professional standards for individual school directors. These include indicators that promote ethical behavior, informed leadership, effective communication, professional development, accountability, and educational equity.
Also included is information on how the standards were developed and how they can be put into practice.