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Transforming public education, board by board.

Are you a school board member? Become an NSBA member

Learn more about our mission, vision, and strategic direction.

About the Organization

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) purpose is to ensure each student everywhere has access to excellent and equitable public education governed by high-performing school board leaders and supported by the community. Learn more about NSBA.

Events

CUBE has convened school board members from across the nation for the past 59 years to network and share the continually evolving strategies they are using to address the unique educational challenges that exist in our nation's urban centers.

Content is curated specifically to provide you with the tools and support you need to effect change as an empowered, impactful urban school board member. 

The Council of School Attorneys (COSA) Fall School Law Seminar is the premier online event for school law professionals. This specialized CLE seminar is designed for attorneys representing K-12 public school boards. Over three afternoons, attendees will gain practical, up-to-date advice on critical legal issues and access invaluable resources to support their practice. 

Register Now & Save!

Share Your Insights 
Elevate your voice and lead a session at the NSBA 2027 Annual Conference. The submission deadline has been extended to July 24. 

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NSBA Statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s Rescission of Title VI Disparate Impact Regulations

On July 24, Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Executive Director and CEO of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), recently released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to rescind its Title VI regulations relating to “disparate impact.”
 
“It is critical for local education leaders and communities to understand what this action does — and does not — do. While the federal framework for administrative enforcement under Title VI is changing, this regulatory rollback does not supersede state laws, state constitutional guarantees, local school board policies, or the United States Constitution."

Read the complete NSBA statement.

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August 2026 Issue of American School Board Journal Now Online

With its focus on buildings and facilities, this issue examines both the role of school facilities teams in improving indoor air quality and how school building design can support resilience, equity, and community engagement. It also features findings from Ballotpedia's national survey of school board members; a discussion of the evolving federal education landscape and what it means for leadership and preparedness among school boards; advice on tackling chronic absenteeism by making schools places where students want to be; and a reminder to keep "human discernment, cultural understanding, compassion, and relationship-building" top of mind when considering artificial intelligence in education. 

Read the August Issue

U.S. Capitol

NSBA: House Legislation Would Rubber-Stamp Executive Overhaul at the Expense of Local Control

In advance of a House Education and Workforce Committee markup, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) released the following statement from Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs opposing the legislative package of 10 bills that would begin to codify the Trump administration’s efforts to phase out the Education Department and move many of its duties to other federal agencies.

“Don’t let the title fool you,” said McCotter-Jacobs. “The 'Less Bureaucracy, Better Education' legislative package delivers the exact opposite of its name, adding layers of federal red tape while shortchanging nearly 50 million public school students...

Read the complete NSBA statement.

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NSBA 2026 Federal Advocacy Agenda

Discover the National School Boards Association’s core legislative and policy priorities for 2026. This comprehensive agenda outlines our advocacy roadmap to support local school governance and ensure equity and excellence for all K-12 public school students.

Key priorities include securing full federal funding for IDEA, strengthening and diversifying the educator workforce, expanding investments in Title I and Career and Technical Education (CTE), promoting universal digital access and robust cybersecurity, prioritizing student mental health and safety, and protecting public education funds. Download the full document to see how NSBA is advocating for local control and student success on Capitol Hill.

Read the 2026 NSBA Advocacy Agenda

America 250--photos of school classrooms from around the country

Submit Your Story for America 250: Stories from the Front Lines of School Board Leadership

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, NSBA’s Center for Public Education (CPE) is launching a special storytelling initiative to honor the role public education has played in sustaining and strengthening American democracy. We are inviting school board members from across the country to submit short video reflections that capture the highlights and impact of their service. The submission deadline is August 15.

Learn more and submit your story!

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See Your School District Recognized Nationally

The 2027 Magna Awards program focuses on improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To be eligible for the awards, school districts must enact a NEW IAQ Management Plan and document reductions in GHG emissions.

A grand prize winner and silver award winners will be recognized in each district category: Urban, Rural, and Suburban. The three grand prize winners will showcase their winning programs at a special Master Class session during NSBA’s 2027 Annual Conference, be acknowledged during an awards luncheon, and be recognized on the General Session stage. All winning districts will also be featured in the April 2027 issue of American School Board Journal. The nomination deadline is October 31, 2026. 

Learn More and Apply

Cover of Becoming a Better Board Member

Becoming a Better Board Member is a must-have guide for anyone serving on a school board—whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills. Published by NSBA, this essential resource offers clear, practical insights into the responsibilities, policies, and challenges of school board governance. It’s a trusted tool for navigating the complexities of public education and leading with confidence.

Order Your Copy Today!

Cover of Key Work of School Boards Guidebook

The Key Work of School Boards Guidebook is NSBA’s foundational resource for effective school board governance. Grounded in decades of research and practice, this guidebook identifies the core skills that effective boards need to ensure that all students achieve at high levels through excellence in governance. Whether you're building a shared vision, setting strategic goals, or holding your system accountable, this framework supports excellence in every aspect of board service.

Order Your Copy Today!

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Closing the Gap: New NSBA Report Identifies 5 Key Drivers of Student Success

The latest report from NSBA's Center for Public Education highlights a critical disconnect between the booming demand for STEM professionals and current student proficiency levels. The report reveals that while high-quality materials are essential for student success, many school board members feel sidelined or underprepared to evaluate curricula. To address this, the report provides a roadmap for "systemic coherence," urging boards to move beyond simple oversight and take an active role in aligning district vision, budgets, and community engagement to support rigorous math instruction.

Learn More

NSBA 2026-27 President Leonard Lockhart

Connecticut School Board Member Leonard Lockhart Elected 2026-27 NSBA President

On April 27, NSBA announced that Leonard Lockhart of the Windsor Board of Education in Connecticut has been elected NSBA president for 2026-27. Becky Fles of MSAD #11 School District in Maine was elected President-elect and Dr. Sami Al-Abdrabbuh of the Corvallis Board of Education in Oregon was elected Secretary-Treasurer. NSBA’s former president, Devin Sheehan of Holyoke Public Schools Committee in Massachusetts, will serve as Immediate Past President.

Learn More

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Advertise with NSBA

Beyond our award-winning flagship publication American School Board Journal (ASBJ), NSBA also offers an array of other print and online marketing strategies allowing you to create a comprehensive, highly targeted year-round campaign. NSBA's audience reaches the entire district-level decision-making team made up of superintendents, school administrators, elected school members, school business officials, technology directors, and more.

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NSBA Executive Director & CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs in the News

McCotter-Jacobs was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal regarding a new federal school-choice tax credit poised to funnel billions of dollars to scholarships for students attending private and parochial schools. The big question now: Who gets to set the rules and control where the money goes? McCotter-Jacobs explained that states—responsible for most education policy and funding—should get to vet scholarship-providing groups and set priorities and conditions for the new money. NSBA is also seeking federal rules to make sure public school students can get scholarship assistance for tutoring and summer programs that aren’t directly run by schools. “Governors, we want them to have the most flexibility,” said Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, executive director of the National School Boards Association. “The states should have the ability to make a lot of these decisions.”

Invite Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs to Speak on Your Issue