Political Lens
Civic Basics

Government · Chapter 14

What does a school district control?

A school district runs the K–12 public schools in its boundaries. Its elected school board hires the superintendent, approves the budget, sets the local school property-tax rate, and decides whether to put bond proposals on the ballot.

Plain English

What it actually means

School districts are independent local governments. They have their own elected board, their own budget, their own taxing authority, and their own employees — separate from the city or county.

State law sets curriculum standards, graduation requirements, and most testing rules. The school board does not write those state rules, but it decides how the district will operate within them.

Breakdown

  • Hires and oversees the superintendent

    The board hires the superintendent, who runs the district day-to-day. The board does not run individual schools.

  • Approves the budget and tax rate

    Each year the board approves the district’s budget and adopts the local school property-tax rate.

  • Approves policies and bonds

    The board approves district policies, attendance boundaries, and any bond proposals that go on the ballot for new schools or major projects.

Why this matters when voting

A school board candidate cannot set state curriculum or rewrite state law. They can, however, decide who leads the district, what the district spends, and which bonds appear on the ballot. Knowing the difference helps you judge campaign promises.

Common questions

Follow-up questions

Does the school board pick textbooks?
In many states, school boards approve instructional materials from a list permitted by the state. State agencies typically set the broader rules.

Sources

Where this information comes from

Last updated May 10, 2026. Civic Basics chapters cite official .gov sources where possible and are reviewed for neutrality.

Next chapter

How do property taxes fund schools?

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