What are we going to do differently, as a charter school sector, to collectively commit to making sure that every student is learning to read, write, and do math in the charter schools we created specifically for that purpose? When the majority of students from low-income families — students at the highest risk — are not at grade level in core academics, where does accountability lie? How can tighter accountability fuel better student outcomes?

We need to help charter school and network boards understand that accountability is their responsibility — and support them in how to hold their schools accountable in supportive, effective, and responsible ways. Investing in and insisting on stronger governance has the potential to significantly improve student outcomes, because boards have the power to hold their schools accountable and help their schools get better. After all, public charter schools were removed from district governance in the first place to give school-level decision-makers the proximity to understand school performance more clearly and to intervene faster and more effectively when students are off track. 

Like all public schools, charter schools are publicly funded and free to attend. But unlike traditional district-run schools, a public charter school or network is a nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board. That board has a front-row seat to what’s happening in the school; board members have the chance to share in the joy, inspiration, and learning that make up the life of the school — and step up and take action if their school’s students aren’t learning. Governance is both an exciting opportunity and an enormous responsibility.

Being on a charter school board is hard work. It’s personal, it’s often difficult, and yes, it takes a fair amount of time. It requires courage, fortitude, and a pretty thick skin. And it is important work – work worth doing, because by holding charter schools more accountable, boards can make sure their schools are educating all students.

Here are three reasons why strong charter school boards mean better schools.

Boards Hold Greater Direct Responsibility for Schools Accountability Than Authorizers

Charter schools have more autonomy than traditional public schools, which is intended to lead to better student outcomes. While only authorizers can review, renew, and revoke charters, it’s up to the board of each charter school or network to make sure the school is fulfilling the promises in the charter in between authorizer review cycles.

To do so, effective boards partner with school leadership to set strategic direction and clear goals for student success, and then consistently monitor progress towards those goals. When the school isn’t on track to meet those goals, board members must dial up support, not dial back expectations. They cannot be passive, reactive, or complacent. The job of every board member is to ask why students aren’t on track, provide needed support, offer guidance and encouragement to leadership, and stick with the issue to ensure that challenges are addressed. This means that the board monitors whether school leadership is improving instruction, developing teachers, using data to guide decision-making, and allocating resources to support student success. 

When these efforts succeed, boards should be first in line to recognize the hard work of leadership and staff. And if a school is persistently underperforming despite efforts to improve, the board must think carefully about a different future for the school, including exploring mergers, takeovers, or relinquishing the charter. That is what more autonomy in exchange for more accountability looks like.

Board Members Bring Valuable Experience and Perspectives to Leading a Successful School

Research shows that hospitals with more effective boards have lower mortality rates. What happens in the hospital boardroom directly affects what happens in the exam and operating rooms. Different context, to be sure, but in charter schools, we know that what happens in the boardroom directly impacts what happens in the classroom.

Board members bring lived and professional experience that can help school leaders make sound decisions. A school leader cannot be expected to bring deep expertise in financial management, legal matters, human resources, public relations, fundraising, and community organizing in addition to their experience in instruction and school culture. A good board has members with experience in these areas who can contribute to discussions and share insights and perspectives from their fields. Collectively, this shared leadership leads to better decisions — and better outcomes for students.

Board Members Can Help Schools Succeed by Advocating for Better Policies

Charter school board members see firsthand how hard it is to run a great school and the obstacles school leaders face. They develop compassion and respect for the work that educators do every day in challenging circumstances. They learn what policies, support, authorizing practices, and resources schools need to succeed. This experience equips board members to be extremely effective advocates for what schools need to better serve their students. 

Board members can urge policymakers and regulators to take action to clear obstacles for schools. They can appeal to funders and donors to seek the support schools need, and can help recruit prospective new board members. They can help build trust with staff and parents by being visible and enthusiastic supporters. By using their voices, knowledge, passion, and networks, board members create more opportunities for high-quality public school options for all families in a community.

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In every charter school board’s hands are the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure that every student in that school is getting a great education, to help clear the obstacles and dismantle the barriers, and to stand firm on holding schools accountable for student success. Good governance takes resolve, courage, and time. Boards and school leaders need support and resources to learn how to build more accountability into governance, and to understand that accountability for student success is the board’s job.

Strengthening charter school boards isn’t optional in the education sector — it’s essential. Sitting in today’s classrooms are tomorrow’s adults — tomorrow’s citizens, employees, voters, neighbors, parents, and civic leaders. Every one of them needs a great school now. This is urgent work. 

It’s time for our sector to invest in and insist on strong governance, so that boards can provide the support and the accountability that schools need. Students can’t wait.

Carrie recently spoke with Rick Cruz, board chair of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, about why strong charter boards matter for students. Watch the video below.