By the book: getting your policies in order
A school district’s policy manual is an essential element to promote good governance, compliance with state and federal law, and effective overall leadership. It helps to ensure that the board and administration act according to appropriate, agreed-upon guidelines. Over time, these policies can become out-of-date due to changing laws, evolving educational goals and other factors. To make sure policies are legally compliant and serve to further the district’s vision, SCSBA will assist the district in revising the policy manual to accurately reflect current state and federal laws, court decisions and “hot topic” issues.
There are two main components of a district’s policy manual: policies and administrative rules.
- Policies are the voice of the board and the law of the district. They give direction and structure to support the district’s long-range vision and goals and serve as tools to turn these visions and goals into reality.
- Administrative rules are procedures established to address all aspects of district operations. They include practices, courses of action and details to be used in the implementation of policy established by the board.
Together, policies and administrative rules assure district compliance with state and federal laws and court decisions, and SCSBA is here to help.
For additional information, contact Stephanie N. Lawrence.
