Grounded in national research.
Built for Chicago’s context.
Chicago’s transition to an elected school board is a historic expansion of democratic participation. But changing who selects the board does not, on its own, ensure that the board will govern effectively or improve outcomes for students.
The Governance Compass provides a shared, community-informed framework for understanding what effective school board governance looks like in practice.
What is the Governance Compass?
The Governance Compass is a public, nonpartisan framework that defines the essential responsibilities and practices of effective school board governance.
It creates a shared language for evaluating how a school board leads—not simply what positions individual members take or whether every observer agrees with every decision.
The framework is designed for board members, families, students, educators, community leaders, advocates, candidates, researchers, journalists, and civic and philanthropic partners.
Help Us Strengthen the Compass
This public draft reflects two and a half years of research, community engagement, and learning alongside board members, educators, families, students, and civic partners. We are continuing to test and refine it.
We welcome feedback on whether the five orientations are clear, useful, and grounded in what effective school board governance requires. Share feedback at program@localleadership.org.
The Five Orientations
01 | Set the Direction
Adopt a small number of measurable student outcome goals and connect major decisions to them.
02 | Protect Community Values
Translate community priorities into clear commitments the board will uphold, especially under pressure.
03 | Hold the System Accountable
Align oversight of the superintendent and budget to the board’s goals.
04 | Be Transparent
Make decisions in public, explain them clearly, and show how community input shaped action.
05 | Govern Collectively
Debate openly, decide through shared processes, and take collective responsibility for the board’s actions.