State business, education, and policy leaders are acutely aware of significant and ongoing changes in social institutions, personal lifestyles, forms of civic involvement, and workplace requirements. They are convinced - and vocal in their conviction - that the goals and productivity of their state's education system must improve in order to meet those changes.
Educational improvement is a process and not an event. In fact, improvement of the education system are likely to lead to social, personal, political, and career changes and, thus, demand further changes in education. It follows that coalitions must be structured if they are to provide stable leadership during times of political, social, and economic turbulence. They must ensure their own leadership continuity, attend to relations with influential groups and individuals, and dispassionately evaluate their own effectiveness. The following tools - procedures and sample products - can help structure a coalition to meet the long-term challenges of leadership.
Structuring the Board: Ensuring Broad-Based Leadership
Effective coalitions require collaboration of the state's business, community, education, and policy leaders. This tool provides a working definition of the four categories.
Building a Board: Recruiting, Educating, and Involving Board Members
A coalition's board of directors is responsible for defining the organization's mission and ensuring that coalition programs are effective in serving that mission. The website of the National Center for Nonprofit Boards is a rich source of tools to guide the selection of board members and to prepare board members to carry out their responsibilities.
The First Step in Structuring the Organization: From Bylaws to Nonprofit status
Bylaws, once adopted by the board, outline the governance structured and basic operating rules for the coalition. They also are a first and necessary step on the road to applying for legal status as a nonprofit organization. These tools provide procedures and sample forms useful in creating a structure that will prepare a coalition to become a nonprofit organization.
Evaluating the Board: Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses
To remain effective, a board must make periodic assessments of itself. This simple and effective tool developed by Chardon Press is in widespread use.