A Comparison of Public and Charter School Board Governance in Three States. Issue 4 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ford, Michael R.; Ihrke, Douglas M.
• Is Part Of: Nonprofit management & leadership. Volume 25:Issue 4(2015:Summer)
• Page Start: 403
• Page End: 416
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: governance -- charter schools -- nonprofit boards; Nonprofit organizations -- Management -- Periodicals; Nonprofit organizations -- Periodicals; 658.048
• DOI: 10.1002/nml.21133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1048-6682

Abstract

Abstract : In this article we compare the governance behaviors and preferences of nonprofit charter school board members with traditional elected public school board members in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Using originally collected survey data, we find that nonprofit charter school board members are less likely to place emphasis on relations with the public, engage in conflict, be ideologically diverse, and perceive the executive as responsible for key governance tasks than traditionally elected public school board members. The findings provide new information for policymakers weighing the potential benefits of education privatization through the use of nonprofit charter schools against the potential loss of democratic board accountability.