The standards and code, adopted by the PSBA Executive Board in September of 2005, are designed to give Pennsylvania’s 4,509 school board members specific guidance on providing the essential leadership required for highly effective boards. Based on the proven premise that highly achieving students come from districts with highly effective boards, PSBA actively encouraged all school boards to adopt the standards and the code as a means for setting high expectations and guiding principles for their endeavors.

“School directors bear much of the responsibility for producing citizens with the intellectual, social and ethical skills necessary to contribute successfully to the advancement of our representative democracy,” said Lou Ann Evans, 2006 PSBA president. “When Board members commit to the highest ideals of excellence in school governance, they substantially improve the operations of their school district and elevate the role public education plays in developing future citizens. McKeesport Area School Board President Kathy Ritchie noted of the approval, “Effective school government sets high standards for all stakeholders.”

The PSBA Standards for Effective School Governance, directed at the performance of the board, state that “To promote student growth and achievement an effective school board…

1. Advocates for a thorough and efficient system of public education.

2. Models responsible governance and leadership.

3. Governs through policy.

4. Ensures that effective planning occurs.

5. Monitors results.

6. Communicates with and engages the community.

Adoption of the standards and the code, which is directed at the individual behaviors of the board member, is voluntary. However, these guiding principals are important to maintaining an efficient and respected board that is committed to student excellence.