The purpose of this research was to identify practices and activities of school board governance in large urban Texas school districts that achieved an academic rating of Recognized during the 2005-06 school year. Specifically, this research was designed to identify the practices that board presidents and superintendents felt were beneficial and necessary in assisting their boards to govern in an appropriate manner. The research questions that guided this process are: 1) How is the board involved in policy development and district planning that contributes to governing the school district? 2) What practices are used in the management, operation, and training of the board and individual board members for effective school board governance? 3) What practices have proven beneficial for effective communication among school board members and between the board and superintendent, and how does the board evaluate its own governing effectiveness? 4) What are critical areas affecting school boards and their ability to successfully and effectively govern? This study used qualitative research methods to examine and identify the strategies and practices employed by superintendents and board presidents in assisting boards to properly and efficiently govern their school districts. Data for this study was collected through publicly accessible information from the Texas Education Agency’s web site and a series of one-on-one interviews with superintendents and board presidents in academically high-achieving large Texas urban school districts. After transcription of the interviews, the resulting data was coded and emerging categories and themes identified through Grounded Theory qualitative research methods and procedures. Based on analysis of the research, board presidents and superintendents identified the following practices for their boards: establishing salaries early in the budget process; regularly contacting local, state, and federal policymakers about educational issues; establishing annual goals and performance criteria for the district and superintendent from a district-wide strategic plan; providing the board with multiple opportunities of involvement each month to meet and discuss district issues; identifying and attending multiple levels of continuous board training; being visible in the community by attending school and community events; providing all board members with extensive and ongoing information from the school district; having clearly defined board operating procedures; and being an advocate for the school district as well as voicing support for the administration. Regardless of the size of the school district, the findings of this research will enhance superintendents’ and board presidents’ understanding of the activities and practices used by board presidents and superintendents in academically high-achieving Texas urban school districts. / text

This study is an intensive examination of the role, position, and perceptions of women school board members in Texas as they perceive them. The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions which women school board members have concerning their role, function, and relationships as they serve on school boards in Texas and to determine if sex prejudice does exist. There were eight basic questions to which the study sought answers. The findings indicate that the perceptions of women board members are not influenced by age, marital status, parental status, educational level, and years of experience. They also revealed that only a small minority of the Texas school board women responding had experienced instances of sex discrimination. Doubt was expressed through the responses of the women as to whether or not superintendents encourage the election of a man as board president. Size of the school district was found to have no effect on the number of women board members serving. It was found to be a factor in whether or not a woman was designated chairman of a board committee as only the larger districts were likely to have women serving in this capacity.

The purposes of this study were to determine whether school board presidents' perceptions regarding competency-based testing in Texas were related to the (1) size of the school district represented by those surveyed, and (2) length of service of the board presidents. The dissertation includes an introductory chapter, a review of related literature, the procedures for collection and treatment of data, the presentation of data, and the summary, conclusions, and recommendations.