Skip To Main Content

Search Panel

Schools Menu

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Governance Policies

Governance Policies

The Issaquah School Board's policies are based on good governance practices for all organizations and with advice from policy governance consultants who have worked with school districts across the country.

If you wish to comment on board policies, send an e-mail to School Board
Refer to "Policies" in the subject line.

Coherent Governance

Prior to 2005, the Issaquah School Board followed a traditional governance model focused on approving staff recommendations and managing issues as they arose. Since 2005, the board has used a Policy Governance model centered on strategic leadership and clearly defined roles. On July 11, 2024, the School Board adopted a new leadership model called Coherent Governance based on a framework developed by the Aspen Group.

The Coherent Governance approach gives the superintendent management responsibility for day-to-day operations while allowing the board to set clear Operational Expectations rooted in its values. This approach uses more accessible language and strengthens the board’s ability to advocate for students and schools.

Student Outcomes and Performance Monitoring

The School Board’s core responsibility is to define a clear vision, mission and student-focused Results that guide district priorities. These Results are regularly reviewed and updated as needed. The superintendent’s performance is measured through monitoring reports, which are presented to the board and aligned with the Board’s Operational Expectations (OE) and Results (R).

As a result of changing to Coherent Governance, monitoring report titles prior to July 2024 reflect Ends and Executive Limitations (EL), while monitoring reports after that date reflect Results and Operational Expectations (OE). Please note prior governance process names changed and linked below. 

     * Results (R) and Operational Expectations (OE) contain linked Monitoring Reports