Publications
The Washington State School Directors’ Association offers these guidebooks, manuals, and publications. If you don’t see the materials you are looking for, please contact the WSSDA office at 360-252-3000 or mail@wssda.org.
Open Public Meetings: A Guide for School Board Members and Superintendents, rev. 2022
Focuses on provisions of the State Open Public Meetings Act, and addresses other legal requirements and nonlegal issues surrounding effective and responsible public meetings.
The Basics of School Law: A Guide for School Directors, rev. 2022
This guide introduces school board directors to legal topics they may encounter in their board service. The legal topics covered range from employer/employee issues to student rights. Understanding school law helps members fulfill their role on the board.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: A Guide for School Board Members and Superintendents, rev. 2022
Reviews basic conflict of interest issues, with emphasis on structuring district policies and board practices to comply with state law when board members or superintendents have an ongoing personal financial interest in their district’s operations.
Parliamentary Procedure: A guide for School Board Members and Superintendents, rev. 2022
This guide introduces board members to the basics of parliamentary procedure found in Robert’s Rules. It also addresses topics that school boards will most commonly encounter during their meetings.
Policy & Legal News
Policy & Legal News keeps Washington’s school board directors current on emerging board policy and legal issues. It is a subscription-based quarterly publication with additional policy alerts issued as needed. Each issue features articles explaining the “why” behind newly developed or revised model policies, including the origin and context of the updates. Articles also cover need to know legal issues, including significant case law and key issues from the State Auditor’s Office. Policy & Legal News is the vehicle through which WSSDA updates its Model Policy Library, and subscription also includes markup versions of any revised model policy and procedure as attachments.
WSSDA Budgeting and Bargaining Manual
A resource for school directors as they navigate their roles and responsibilities related to school district budgeting and collective bargaining. Production of this publication was informed by unprecedented participation levels in feedback sessions throughout Washington at WSSDA Regional Meetings following the 2018 collective bargaining season.
Washington School Board Standards
Standards for School Boards and School Directors, developed by the WSSDA Board Standards Task Force.
WSSDA Direct
WSSDA Direct is a quarterly publication sharing stories about school boards and school districts from all over Washington state. Also included are updates on the work of WSSDA staff, its board, and sometimes other education-focused organizations. Book reviews, articles featuring student voice, and insights from legislators are also common ingredients.
Get on Board: Information flyer for school board candidates
This short, two-page flyer explains what a school board does, what characteristics make for a great school board member, and how to file to run for the local school board.
Educational Acronyms and Terminology 2021
This guide is a handy reference listing the acronyms school directors are most likely to hear.
Serving on Your Local School Board: A Guide to Effective Leadership
For new and prospective school board members. Topics include the governance role of school boards, the board-superintendent relationship, leadership techniques, ethics, employee relations, legal requirements, and education reform.
Effective Advocacy for School Directors
Advocacy is one of the primary responsibilities of a school board member. This 62-page manual covers the fundamentals of advocacy in the community and with state and federal legislators/policymakers. Includes tips on organizing advocacy programs and working with the news media.
