Policy Toolkit

This page is a resource library where you can access sample model policies and resources.  Click here to access the drive with all model policies and resources.

BOARD GOVERNANCE

• Board Governance Policy: Policy to define the governance principles and primary roles and responsibilities of the Board.

• Standing Committee Policy: Policy on standing committee structure, roles, and responsibilities.

• Board Meeting Standing Agenda Policy: Policy establishing a foundational structure for regular board business meetings, focusing the Board's attention on data driven performance monitoring and policy making activities.

• Agenda Preparation Policy: Policy on how board agendas are formed, the rights of members to request agenda items, and the use of a consent agenda.

• Board Meeting Procedures Policy: Policy establishing parliamentary procedures for board meetings.

• School Board Legal Counsel Policy: Policy outlining the roles and responsibilities of the school district's General Counsel and the independent external Board Counsel.

• Board Professional Development Policy: Policy to encourage and provide for members of the Board to participate in professional development activities.

• New Board Member Orientation Policy: Policy to ensure robust orientation is provided to new board members to prepare them to be effective in their new role.

• Public Comment Policy: Policy outlining procedures for public comment at board meetings ensuring transparency and authentic input from the public to inform the Board's decision-making, while also maintaining reasonable procedures for orderly and efficient conduct of public comment periods.

• The 7 Roles of a School Board: The essential roles of a school board. The board should generally NOT be engaged in activities outside of these 7 key roles.

• Board Self Evaluation: This survey may be administered to assess how well a school board is aligned to the four core principles of Empowered Governance – policy-centered, measurable accountability, balanced power, and equity.

• Robert's Rules Cheat Sheet: The most essential Robert's Rules you can bring to board meetings.

• Strategic Planning Process: Model strategic planning process.

• Policy Review Protocols: Procedures and protocols for conducting a comprehensive review of all Board policies.

EQUITY

• Equity Policy: Policy that outlines parameters for implementation of and accountability for practices promoting equity for staff and students.

• Student Discipline Policy: Policy outlining expectations for management of student discipline.

• Racial Disproportionality Metrics 101: Methodology and an example for how to use risk ratios to quantify racial disproportionalities in school discipline, special education, or other student outcomes.

• Teacher Diversity Policy: Policy to promote the hiring, development and retention of a diverse teacher workforce.

• Open Enrollment Policy: Policy establishing guardrails and priorities for maximizing transparent and equitable access to schools throughout the district. Includes suggested guidelines for enrollment access outside attendance zones, priorities for lottery selection to fill open seats, and accountability metrics to monitor desired enrollment outcomes.

• Restraint & Isolation Policy: This policy governs the District’s use of restraint and isolation practices in alignment with regulatory and research-based best practices, prioritizing the educational and socioemotional well-being of all students.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• District Data Monitoring Policy: Policy to ensure that the Board monitors comprehensive, measurable data across all major areas of district performance on a regular and routine basis.

• Sample Board / District Annual Goals: These sample goals represent a rigorous approach to annual district goals for student outcomes, as well as a solid foundation for any superintendent evaluation.

• Superintendent Evaluation: There are 3 cornerstones to a high-quality superintendent evaluation:

  • 1. Process – annual procedures for how the process is to be conducted.  Includes details regarding the steps in the process, the components of the evaluation, who is responsible for the deliverables, and on what timelines. The process includes evaluation elements that may change on an annual basis (e.g., annual performance objectives). Board members working to establish the 3 cornerstones may find it easier to cultivate consensus for the process first before pursuing changes to policy. 

    2. Policy – major building blocks of the evaluation process that are timeless and universal. The policy does NOT include elements that change on an annual basis.

    3. Contract – the superintendent employment contract should enable all components of the evaluation process, incorporate annual performance objectives as an attachment to the contract, specify whether a performance-based bonus or salary increase is earned when performance objectives are achieved, and empower the board to make contract renewal or termination decisions based on the results of the evaluation. Superintendent contract changes are best pursued at the time of renewing an existing contract or prior to selecting a new superintendent and starting a new contract.

INSTRUCTION

• High Quality Instructional Materials Policy: this policy seeks to reinforce alignment of district practices with research-based best practices regarding selection and implementation of instructional materials.

• Literacy Programs Policy: this policy provides minimum guidelines that ensure best practices in literacy instruction are implemented across the district, and provides accountability structures for ensuring all students are on the path to strong literacy outcomes. 

• English Learners Policy: The purpose of this policy is to ensure equitable access, achievement, and inclusion for all students identified as English learners (ELs), regardless of background or documentation status, by bolstering current standards of practice and systems of accountability. 

  • English Learners Policy translated into Spanish.

LABOR RELATIONS

• Labor Relations Policy: this policy stipulates the Board’s minimum expectations regarding collective bargaining agreements and processes as they pertain to potential impacts on students, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

SCHOOL CLOSURE

• School Closure Policy: This policy governs the district’s process for school closures and consolidations, ensuring utilization of research-based best practices and thorough engagement of all key constituencies before finalizing these critical decisions.

ENGAGEMENT

• Board Community Engagement Policy: Policy to set minimum expectations for Board community engagement activities.

• Student Board Member - (Voting) Policy: Policy that provides for a student board member with voting power, including the election process.

• Student Representation Policy - (Non-Voting): Policy that outlines the primary methods and structures for the Board to engage with students and receive student input to inform decision-making.

FACILITIES

• Vacant Property Policy: This policy governs the process of assigning a school program to a newly constructed or recently vacated building, ensuring a strategic, transparent and equitable process while maintaining repurposing priorities that are aligned with the district's mission.

FINANCE

• Budget: Policy to prepare and approve annual budget.

• Financial Reporting: Policy to set minimum requirements for financial reporting to the Board.

• Fund Balance: Policy to establish guardrails and ground rules for potential usage of cash reserves.

• Strategic Budgeting Leadership Questions: questions for CFOs, Superintendents and Board Members to consider when navigating uncertainties in annual budgeting and ensuring alignment of district finances with strategic priorities for equity and outcomes.