Citizen Advocacy for Changes in Local Policies

School governance is the responsibility of the local school board. The school board exists only when its individual members are meeting together in a legal session. It is the school board as a body, not individual school board members, that sets school district policy. School boards in Wisconsin have been given explicit authority under state law to "make rules for the organization, graduation and government of the schools of the district." They also have been given broad power to do all things reasonable to promote the cause of education, including establishing, providing and improving school district programs, functions and other activities for the benefit of students.  

Policymaking is one of the school board's most important functions. It is through policy that the board sets the educational goals for the entire school system and provides directives for administrators and others to follow while working toward achieving the district's goals. School boards are encouraged, but not necessarily required, to involve in the policy development process people knowledgeable about a policy issue and people affected by the policy. By doing so, school boards can build support for the policy and develop policy based on the best information available.

The methods by which school boards provide for citizen involvement in policy or other school district decisionmaking vary from school district to school district. It is important that citizens find out what methods their local school board has in place for involving students, parents, citizens and others in decisionmaking. It is through these methods that citizens can advocate change in local school district policies or procedures.

Wisconsin school boards provide for citizen involvement in decisionmaking in a variety of ways, including but not limited to the following:

• Public participation at school board meetings

• Placement of matters of interest on board meeting agendas

• Initiation of policy change proposals through the policy development process

• Citizen advisory committees/councils

• Strategic planning teams

• Site-based decision-making teams

• Public complaint/concern procedures

• Parent-teacher associations

• Parent conferences

• Public hearings