CRISIS RESPONSE: WHAT SCHOOL LEADERS NEED TO KNOW NOW
First things first: Please protect yourself as you protect your students. Don’t guess. Don’t try to figure things out alone. That’s why you have us. All of us.
School leaders, we want you to know your union is working with all stakeholders in partnership for your safety, sanity, and protection. There is no ‘I’ in TEAM, and today we are sending this message in solidarity with the City of Chicago, the Chicago Board of Education, local and state agencies, external partners, and internal CPS departments.
We know it’s tempting to act on instinct, to assume, or to just “do something” when things feel urgent or unclear. But that’s where mistakes happen, and those mistakes can have serious consequences. In most cases, the guidance does exist, and we can help you get to it. Whether it’s a school-level issue or a community concern, your union can point you to the right policy, the right response, or the right people.
Leader Quote: “I cry almost daily trying to wrap my head around what the actual &$% I can really do right now to keep my babies safe and their families not kidnapped. There is so little I can do, and yet a lot I still can do.”
We know what’s happening across our city is confusing and traumatic. The federal government’s immigration enforcement is harmful to the very communities our schools serve.
Leader Quote: “No child or adult should live in that level of fear daily.”
“Personally, my anxiety was extremely through the roof on Friday. … I personally don't feel safe either, for fear of being racially profiled.”
While many details from our sessions require legal consideration and authorization from the city (we absolutely will not risk undermining the work being done to protect young people and families already living in fear), we want you to know this: We are demanding strategic and thoughtful solutions in every space we enter.
Last week, we met with Mayor Johnson and key members of his team. As of this week, CPAA is part of daily briefings with the Mayor’s Office, the CPS CEO’s team, all labor partners, and sister agencies to bring school-level concerns to the forefront and work toward solutions. Your daily lived experiences are being elevated in every space, and we are grateful to those of you who are sharing your stories with us.
Even with Monday’s holiday, we are still working.
---------
We Are Demanding:
1. Attention to the Emotional and Psychological Toll
Leader Quote: “The toll it is taking on adults is noticeable. Staff has also expressed concerns and fears, as we are walking around on high alert — scanning every white van and unmarked car.”...
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
“School board politics in most communities appears to be less heated and less driven by partisan conflict than is often portrayed in the media,” the authors write.
Published in October 2025 by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and funded by The Wallace Foundation, the report represents the most comprehensive examination of American school board members to date. Researchers surveyed thousands of board members nationwide, analyzing their racial and ethnic backgrounds, professional experiences, political affiliations, and views on key education policy issues. They then compared those findings with demographic and voter data from local communities to determine how closely board members’ views align with those of their constituents.
The results reveal that school board members’ views tend to mirror those of the voters they represent—and align closely with the broader U.S. public.
Key Findings
Conflict is rare. Few school boards are mired in divisive debates over topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or rules for transgender students.
Representation varies by population. While most of the nation’s 13,000 school districts are small and rural, the majority of students attend schools in larger, urban systems. That means a relatively small number of board members represent a large share of America’s students.
Diversity gaps persist. Black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented on school boards—each accounting for just 4 percent of members, compared with 12 percent and 19 percent of the U.S. population, respectively. However, because these members often serve in larger districts, they collectively represent about 9 percent of students.
Moderates dominate. Nationally, 39 percent of school board members identify as politically moderate, 37 percent as conservative, and 24 percent as liberal. In large urban districts, however, liberals are more common than conservatives.
Highly educated leadership. Nearly half of all board members hold postgraduate degrees, compared with just 14 percent of U.S. adults, and one in four has worked as a teacher, compared with only 3 percent of adults nationwide.
