Effects of Masters in governance training and school board leadership

The purpose of the study was to determine how the California School Board Associa- tion’s (CSBA) Masters in Governance (MIG) training program leads to more effective school board leadership and governance. This study employed the framework of authors Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal, the CSBA, and the Iowa Lighthouse Inquiry. The participants in the study were superintendents and school board members from the following southern California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego. The research design involved a review of litera- ture, surveys, interviews, and observations. The data collection entailed survey collec- tion and follow-up interviews with board members and superintendents. This study sought to understand the factors that impacted the decision of school board members to complete a school board training program. The study also focused on how the MIG training program equipped board members to exhibit the behaviors of effective gover- nance and, finally, how a mandate for school board training could impact school board governance. The findings indicated that a school board training mandate would lead to more effective school board leadership and governance. The implications are that school board practice can be improved through training and that board members should seek training. The benefits of training are substantial with regard to school board governance and leadership.