MERC shares a variety of tools for self-guided learning, allowing school committee members to explore resources at their own pace. These include insightful books, informative articles, engaging podcasts, and other materials designed to deepen understanding of educational policies and best practices. These resources empower members to stay informed and make impactful decisions in their local schools.
Organizations to Follow
School Boards for Academic Excellence
SBAE is focused on restoring academic excellence and parental rights in education by creating a national network of school board members and state-based organizations to reform policies and practices that enhance student outcomes in U.S. school districts. MERC is the MA state-level SBAE affiliate.
National School Board Leadership Council
The NSBLC is dedicated to empowering school board members and community stakeholders to prioritize student achievement, uphold academic accountability, and promote parental involvement in education.
Governing Effectively
Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet
This cheat sheet offers a quick reference to parliamentary procedures, including motions, voting methods, and meeting protocols, to aid in efficient meeting management.
How to Govern from the Minority
This video discusses strategies for effectively influencing decisions and advocating for policies when in the minority on a governing body.
Budgeting Effectively When Funds Are Low
This webinar provides insights into navigating challenging budget seasons, focusing on cost-saving measures, prioritizing essential services, and understanding the impact of federal funding changes on schools.
School Committee Time Use Evaluation Form
Effective School Boards created this form for school boards to assess how focused they are on academic achievement, useful to begin a conversation about priorities and necessary changes (this spreadsheet includes multiple tabs).
SMART Goal Template
Every district needs academic goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound (and few in number!); complete this worksheet to assess your district’s goals.
School Finance Data and Tools from Edunomics Lab
Look to Edunomics Lab for return on investment data, ESSER funds chart, and other analyses and tools to help make sense of current K-12 financial issues and inform improvements to policy and practice.
Policy Reform Handbook from School Boards for Academic Excellence
The Policy Reform Handbook for School Board Members is a comprehensive guide created by the School Boards for Academic Excellence to help newly elected board members enact meaningful reforms across eight key policy areas, including literacy, curriculum, finance, student safety, and graduation requirements. It provides detailed background information, action steps, and responses to common objections, empowering board members to prioritize academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and parental transparency in public education governance.
Improving Academic Achievement
Audit Your Curriculum
This program offers school boards tools for assessing and improving curriculum transparency and effectiveness, with options ranging from basic reviews to comprehensive audits.
Reading Curriculum Assessment Tool
These guidelines assist educators in evaluating K-5 English Language Arts curricula based on the science of reading, emphasizing systematic instruction and comprehensive language development.
Assessing Assessments
How effective is your district’s assessment protocol? Use this resource to determine the academic screening tools that best meet your district’s needs.
Hot Topics
School Safety: Five Steps to Securing Schools
This article outlines five actionable strategies to enhance school safety, all aimed at preventing tragedies like the Parkland shooting.
Title IX and Gender Issues: Sex Differences in Athletic Performance
This video explores the complexities of sex differences in athletic performance, discussing implications for Title IX and gender equity in sports.
School Discipline: Analysis and New Guidance
This article provides an analysis of twenty-first century school discipline theory and updates regarding a recent executive order that rescinds previous school discipline guidance.
MA Data and Articles
MA Total ESSER Summary
This interactive dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of Massachusetts’ ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) fund allocations and expenditures.
Academic Performance
Look up your School District’s assessment data here. This platform allows users to access detailed reports on school and district performance, including assessments, enrollment, and financial data, for informed decision-making.
