Responsibilities of the Board

The Seattle School Board is charged with setting policy for, and collectively providing governance and oversight of, the Seattle School District on behalf of the people of Seattle. The Board fulfills this governance role through the following functions:

• Vision and Values: The Board will set student outcomes goals that reflect the community’s vision and establish guardrails that are rooted in the community’s values to set the course for the District with high expectations for staff and students for high quality education for all children.

• Structure: To achieve the vision, the Board will establish a sound organizational framework. This includes employing a Superintendent responsible for day-to-day operations of the District, adopting a strategic plan, developing and approving policies as required by state law and necessary for District governance, ensuring that budgets approved annually provide financial stability and resource distribution in support of student learning and success, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Monitoring and Accountability: The Board is accountable to the community for the success of the District and will adopt a system for District oversight and accountability that will include regularly monitoring student outcomes and evaluating Board and Superintendent performance.

• Advocacy: The Board will serve as an advocate on behalf of the District, its students and schools, building the civic capacity of the District.

• Community Representation: The Board represents the interests of the Seattle community as a whole and will maintain transparency in decision-making and seek input and participation from a wide range of community members to inform and advance the community’s vision for the education of our children.

Authority of the Board

The Board shall exercise those powers expressly provided by law and that are essential to the goals and duties of the District. Powers not expressly delegated are reserved to the Board.

Superintendent Procedure:

Policy Cross References:

• 0010 – Instructional Philosophy
• 0020 – Goals for the District
• 0025 – Guardrails for the District
• 0030 – Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity
• 0060 – Financial Planning and Budgeting
• 0061 – Administration of the Annual Budget and Financial Reporting
• 1000 – Legal Status and Operation
• 1010 – Oversight and Progress Monitoring
• 1111 – Oath of Office
• 1225 – Legislative Program and Advocacy
• 1310 – Board Policies, Manuals, and Superintendent Procedures
• 1620 – Board-Superintendent Relationship
• 1630 – Evaluation of the Superintendent
• 1640 – Responsibilities and Authority of the Superintendent
• 1810 – Board Governance Goal-Setting and Self-Evaluation
• 6550 – Internal Audit Policy

Previous Policies:

• B60.00 – School Board-Superintendent Relations
• B60.01 – School Board-Superintendent Relations Procedure

Legal References:

• RCW 28A.150.230 District school directors’ responsibilities.

Management Resources:

• A Guide for Effective School Board Members, Washington State School Directors’ Association
• Council of Great City Schools Student Outcomes Focused Governance Manual

Last Board Review:

• July 2, 2025

Revisions:

• July 2, 2025
• March 4, 2025 (Administrative Update per Policy No. 1310)

Adopted by the Board:

• June 1, 2011