Arkansas School Boards Association ~ Helping Arkansas School Boards Improve Student Achievement



	Training Overview The complex challenges of education require leaders who can study problems from multiple perspectives. Issues in both education and society cut across disciplines and professional boundaries, so school policy makers seek grounding in an array of topics. As a result, boards need access to training in such diverse areas as school and special education law, student assessment, and school finance and budgeting. Other areas may include community relations, policy development, millage campaigns, advocacy, and parliamentary procedure. ASBA’s comprehensive services include quality training to equip school boards with the knowledge and skills they need to fill their role effectively. ASBA Training Menu and Events We offer training on various topics in a variety of settings, including statewide conferences, regional seminars, and small group instruction. On-site workshops tailored to the needs of a particular district may also be available. State Training Requirements Training for boards is so important that Arkansas law mandates it: Act 1775 of 2005 requires all school board members to acquire at least six hours of training annually. Newly elected board members must have nine hours of training by the end of the year following the year in which they were elected. In their annual reports to the public, all school districts must publish the number of training hours each of their board members has earned. Any member’s failure to fulfill the annual training requirements will result in the school district’s placement on probationary status for violating the Standards of Accreditation. ASBA Boardmanship Program Boardmanship refers to the skills board members need to work together effectively and ensure competent governance of their local district. To encourage school board members to enhance their skills, ASBA sponsors a Boardmanship Awards Program that honors individual members and entire boards for their continuing education. The Center for Public Education A resource offered by the National School Boards Association (NSBA), the Center for Public Education serves as America’s one-stop shop for clear, concise, trusted information about the nation’s elementary and secondary public schools. This rich resource fosters deeper understanding of education, increased communitywide involvement in schools, and better decisions about schools. The Key Work of School Boards Developed by NSBA, the Key Work of School Boards is a framework to mobilize boards around student achievement goals and guide decision making and actions toward those goals. The Key Work revolves around eight essential elements that comprise principles, methods, and tools for understanding and creating more effective school systems. Throughout the process, the community is a fully participating partner. The Key Work encompasses these eight elements and actions: Vision: Establish a clear view of student achievement as the top priority of the board, staff, and community. Standards: Set clear standards for student performance, basing those standards on external sources that have credibility in the community. Assessment: Establish—and fully explain to the community—an assessment process that uses multiple measures to determine the extent to which students are meeting thestandards. Accountability: Define an effective means of measuring performance, tracking progress, and reporting results to the community. Alignment: Connect and balance all resources to support student achievement, facilitate parent involvement in the education process, and include the community in reviewing how well resources are budgeted and managed. Climate: Foster a positive environment for learning in which staff address the needs of all students and set the tone by modeling respectful, professional behavior. Collaboration: Develop strong, ongoing relationships with leaders and the community to build consensus about student achievement and enlist broad support. Continuous Improvement: Commit to ongoing learning about achievement issues, relying on data when setting priorities and considering both data and community input when adjusting the strategic plan. The Key Work of School Boards: A Guidebook Improving student achievement in conjunction with community engagement is the key work of school boards. This NSBA guidebook helps boards focus on improving student achievement using a framework of eight areas. The book includes examples and diagnostic tools to help individual members and entire boards go from good to great. The guide can be purchased from the NSBA bookstore. Related Links: Training Menu Training Events ASBA Recognition Programs ASBA Boardmanship Program Related Downloads (pdf): Act 1775 of 2005 ASBA Board Training Requirements Handout ASBA Handbook for Arkansas School Board Members ASBA Handbook- Chapter 9- The Key Work of School Boards