What is Policy Governance?

It is a model of governance designed for a Board of Directors to fulfill their obligation of accountability to the organization. Policy Governance enables the Board to:

• focus on broader and more strategic issues
• delegate with clarity
• empower the Superintendent to run the organization and manage her/his performance without micro-managing
• rigorously evaluate organizational outcomes

Policy Governance ensures that:

1. The school accomplishes the outcomes for which it was created
2. The school avoids the things that should be avoided (i.e., things that are illegal, imprudent, and unethical).

In keeping with the school mission, values, and vision, effective Policy Governance ensures that excellent outcomes are established and continuously evaluates how well those outcomes were achieved. (It is less focused on how things are going to be done.)

The Policy Governance model integrates four families of policies:

1. Ends: Describe the difference that the school will make to stakeholders (results/outcomes) – based upon school mission, vision, and values.
2. Executive Limitations: Constitute the Board’s instructions to the Superintendent regarding things she/he may not allow to exist in the school. They are intended to prevent the occurrence of things that are illegal, unethical, or imprudent.
3. Board-Staff Linkage: Instruct Board members on how to interact with school staff. These policies make clear that individual board members do not have authority to give directions to staff members, only advice when requested.
4. Governance Process: Describe the focus of the Board’s work including its philosophy, accountability, values, and perspectives that underlie all organizational decisions, activities, practices, budgets, and goals. They emphasize looking forward as a Board.