When most parents think about schools, they picture classrooms, teachers, and their kids learning new skills. What often gets overlooked is the huge role that school boards play in shaping what happens inside those classrooms. Decisions about curriculum, funding, and even which books stay on the shelves all connect back to the relationship between school boards and politics.
If you’ve ever wondered who really makes the decisions that impact your child’s education, it’s worth taking a closer look at how local governance and political influence intersect. I recently came across an insightful piece that breaks this down in plain language. You can read it here: School Boards and Politics: Power, Influence, and Education.
The article highlights how elections, lobbying, and even national agendas trickle down into school board decisions. While these boards are local by design, politics often pushes them in directions that don’t always reflect the needs of students or communities. For parents, this means paying attention isn’t optional anymore, it’s essential.
If you want to go deeper into this topic, Lonnie Palmer’s book Politics of Education K-12 offers an even clearer picture of how politics shapes public schools across the country. It’s a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone concerned about the future of education. You can check it out here: Politics of Education K-12 by Lonnie Palmer.
