Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) is a federation of state associations and the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands. Through its member state associations that represent locally elected school board officials serving approximately 51 million public school students, NSBA advocates for equity and excellence in public education through school board leadership. We believe public education is a civil right necessary to the dignity and freedom of the American people and that each child, regardless of their disability, ethnicity, socio-economic status or citizenship, deserves equitable access to an education that maximizes their individual potential. In pursuit of these beliefs, NSBA and our members will continue to lead the national conversation about public education, advocate for public policies that ensure that each student everywhere has access to an excellent public education where they live, create a better understanding of the importance of school boards and the benefits of local governance, and enhance the effectiveness of school boards. NSBA welcomes civil discussion on this page about public education in America. Threats, profanity, bullying, or other content that does not contribute to productive civil discourse may be removed at the sole discretion of the moderator.