The Canadian School Boards Association strongly supports the value of local, democratically elected school boards and districts across Canada. We uphold excellence in school board governance and are committed to providing tools, leadership, professional development and communication opportunities to trustees and commissioners across Canada. Strong school board leadership plays a meaningful and vital role in our school boards across the country, and has a direct impact on student achievement and school success for all Canadian students. When it comes to improvements in student achievement research shows that how school boards govern really matters.

Canadian trustees and commissioners:

• Use democratic principles to govern school boards
• Allocate resources and make budgetary decisions, based on local school board culture and accountability to the community
• Advocate at the grassroots level for their schools and communities
• Provide leadership and policy implementation that impact student teaching and learning
• Make evidence-based decisions
• Set a vision, high standards and culture for their school boards and schools
• Provide an important school/community connection
• Promote the values and beliefs of their school boards and communities
• Strongly advocate for student achievement
• Understand and debate programs and practices that lead to student achievement
• Understand current issues in student learning in their boards
• Are committed to student success