The "Foundational Principles of Effective Governance" has served as the Illinois Association of School Boards' primary document to explain the role of school board members in their district. These six principles are the cornerstone of IASB's beliefs about the governance process.

Supporting these principles are certain rights and responsibilities. These include the "Code of Conduct," a document that states 12 standards for ethical and effective behavior for all school board members. Coinciding with these responsibilities is the newest IASB governance tool, "School Board Member Opportunities and Expectations."

Combined, these documents form the basic tenets of effective school board governance.

This PDF document may be downloaded and reproduced by boards for the purpose of new member orientation, training or board self-evaluation. An in-depth explanation of the purpose for School Board Governance Basics can be found in this article, "Finding a Balance, Focus for Board Work," published in the May-June 2009 issue of the Illinois School Board Journal.

Boards that need assistance with this governance tool are encouraged to contact their IASB field service director.

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