How Are the School Board Members Elected?

Community members can become more involved in the administration of their local schools by becoming school board members.

A school board is essentially a board of directors for a particular school or school district. Members are elected to their positions by voters in the area and serve for terms of various lengths. There is no single standard by which school board members are elected in the United States. The specific method will vary from state to state and from district to district. There are, however, some common steps to the process that can be found in most school board election processes.

Instructions

1. Find out when the next local school board election is and what the qualifications are for a representative. This information varies for each district and can be obtained from the local school board.

2. Fill out a candidate application. These can be obtained from the local school board either in person or online. The application will need to be filed with the appropriate school board official.

3. Attend a school board interview. Some school boards will require that potential candidates submit to a school board interview before approval for candidacy. Find out if your district requires such an interview, and when it will take place after submitting the application.

4. Collect signatures for a petition and return the associated paperwork. Many school districts will require this. The actual number of signatures required on the petition will vary with each district, but the signers will generally have to be either registered voters or parents of school age children. There will be a deadline for the petition, it may also have to be turned in with a some other paperwork, such as a Statement of Candidacy, Statement of Economic Interests or a Loyalty Oath. These forms must obtained in advance from the school board.

5. To get elected, a school board candidate must be chosen by a majority of voters in their area. Voters go to their local polling station or, in some states, mail in their ballots. These elections often take place in April.

Tips & Warnings

• Get to know the people in your area and the existing school board members to improve your chances of success.

• School board members are usually unpaid and must work long hours, so do not run for the school board unless you really want the job.

References

• Vote April 27: Voter Resources
• Community Consolidated School District 15: Election Process

Resources

• New Jersey School Boards Association