About School Boards

Every public school district in Texas is governed by a locally elected school board. School board members, often called trustees, are responsible for setting direction, adopting policies, and overseeing the district on behalf of the community.

School boards do not manage daily operations. Instead, they establish expectations, hire and evaluate the superintendent, and ensure the district is operating lawfully, responsibly, and in support of student success.

Role and Responsibilities

School boards are responsible for:

  • Adopting district policies and long‑term goals
  • Hiring and evaluating the superintendent
  • Approving budgets and setting the local tax rate
  • Calling and conducting board meetings
  • Providing legal, financial, and academic oversight

Board members are elected to represent the public interest and are accountable to the communities they serve. General information about school boards is also available through the Texas Association of School Boards.

School Board Meetings and Public Access

School board meetings are generally open to the public under the Texas Open Meetings Act in Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. These meetings allow the public to observe board decision‑making and, when applicable, provide public comment.

School boards must post advance notice of meetings that includes the date, time, place, and items to be discussed. For most meetings, notice must be posted at least 72 hours in advance at a location accessible to the public, often the district’s administrative office or website.

Boards may hold closed, or executive, sessions to discuss limited topics allowed by law, such as certain personnel matters or real estate negotiations. No votes may be taken in executive session.

Board Policies and Records

Each school district is required to post its board policy manual online. These policies describe how the district and board operate.

Official minutes of school board meetings are generally public records. Certain records related to closed sessions may be confidential, depending on the document and topic.

Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, and Hiring Restrictions

School board members are subject to state laws that promote transparency and public trust.

  • Conflicts of interest are governed by Chapter 171 of the Local Government Code. In some cases, a board member must disclose a potential conflict and abstain from discussion or voting.
     Employment of relatives is governed by nepotism laws in Chapter 573 of the Texas Government Code. These restrictions may apply even when a board does not directly vote on a hiring decision.

Raising Concerns or Filing Complaints

A complaint may be filed with the Texas Education Agency. Issues related to public records or meeting notices may fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Attorney General.

School Board FAQs

  • A teacher may run for a school board position in the district where they work. If elected, the individual must resign from their teaching position, as the roles are legally incompatible.

  • If an item was not posted on the meeting agenda, the board may generally respond to factual questions or discuss placing the issue on a future agenda. The board may not discuss the issue in detail during that meeting.

  • School board meetings are open to the public, except for legally permitted executive sessions. Individuals who disrupt meetings may be removed, but the public generally may not be excluded from open meetings.