Abstract:
This thesis is a comparative historical analysis of the appointed and elected District of Columbia Public School Board of Education. Using the Boards’ meeting minutes, the study illuminates how the selection method of the two governance structures influenced each of the body’s meeting structures and decision-making. The current evolving roles and responsibilities of school boards have led to the significant scrutiny of them, including their impact on schools and whether or not they should remain in existence at all. However, with the acknowledgment that every school district has uniquely different needs, this research provides insight into the dialogue and rhetoric to help us understand how the different governance structures approached their policymaking roles.
