Under Policy Governance, superintendents get full authority to run districts, but their actions must be aligned with board policy and certain board-imposed limitations. Boards' policy can change dramatically with elections, causing a change in Policy- Governance climate. Board decisions cannot be changed unless a majority approves. (MLH)

The Policy Governance model's philosophical foundations lie in Rousseau's social contract, Greenleaf's servant-leadership, and modern management theory. Policy Governance stresses primacy of the owner-representative role; full-board authority; superintendents as chief executive officers; authoritative prescription of "ends," bounded…

Elected school boards' skeptical eyes can guard against bad management practices and ensure that different voices get heard. Problems with board governance are a product of too little democracy. A democratic reform strategy would make board elections partisan, hold them on the same day as elections for more prominent state or national offices,…