The National Association of State Boards of Education is the only national organization giving voice and adding value to the nation’s State Boards of Education. A non-profit organization founded in 1958, NASBE works to strengthen state leadership in educational policymaking, promote excellence in the education of all students, advocate equality of access to educational opportunity, and assure continued citizen support for public education.

NASBE’s membership is kept abreast of the latest developments in public policy via several key tools, including the weekly Headline Review, monthly Legislative Briefs, monthly Policy Updates, and monthly Legal Briefs.

NASBE serves as a rich source of information for its members, producing original, timely information on education’s most pressing issues via:

Original Reports: NASBE’s Study Groups and staff produce original reports that address single topics through in-dept research, and provide state and local leaders with recommendations for action.

The State Education Standard: NASBE’s highly respected quarterly journal is dedicated to covering state education policy issues. Each issues provides in-depth coverage of a pressing education topic. Resource Information Binder: Updated with monthly mailings, the binder includes education research and analysis, federal legislative updates, tips on effective policymaking, coverage of education reform efforts across the nation, and other vital resource documents.

On behalf of its membership, NASBE: Sponsors Study Groups that bring together education experts, state education policymakers, and national education officials to collaborate and produce in-depth reports on timely education topics.

Communicates with Congress, federal executive agencies, business and industry, national associations, and other state decisionmakers, including chief state school officers, state legislators, and governors, giving voice to state board needs and influencing the education policymaking process on state and national levels.

NASBE staff continually works to stay in front of state and national education issues. Through Study Groups, task forces, funded research, and individual expertise, staff anticipates what to expect from the latest phase of ESEA reauthorization, e-learning issues, special education concerns, and much more.

What is NASBE?
NASBE is a nonprofit 501(c)3 association that represents state and territorial boards of education. It has existed for fifty years, currently maintaining a staff of 20 at its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. NASBE is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of officers and area directors who are state board of education members from across the country. Sixty percent of the Association’s revenues come from state board of education dues. The organization also has funded projects that support the work of state boards from foundations and government agencies, including The Wallace Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Joyce Foundation, the Foundation for Child Development, the Met-Life Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. NASBE also has annual support for our convening activities from more than twenty corporate partners.

In addition to state boards of education, the NASBE membership includes associate members (typically former state board members, local superintendents and school board members, members of other education organizations, as well as others with an interest in education policy). NASBE has two affiliate organizations: the National Council of State Boards of Education Executives (NCSBEE) and the National Council of State Education Attorneys (NCOSEA).

How does NASBE interact with the broader education community?
NASBE’s officers and staff work with the broader education community through a wide range of formal and informal structures. NASBE is a member of the Learning First Alliance, a permanent partnership of 18 leading education associations representing state and local boards, administrators, teachers, parents, and teacher training institutions. NASBE staff also works directly with a number of organizations and education foundations through its funded projects and committees. More informally, NASBE staff maintain contact with a host of education policymakers, practitioners, and researchers covering all areas of education. Finally, NASBE Information Services reaches thousands of educators at all levels through dissemination of NASBE reports, policy briefs, newsletters, and commentaries, all of which provide research-based information and analysis through the lens of state board actions and state education policymaking.

How do I learn about membership in NASBE?
There are multiple ways to learn about NASBE membership and its benefits, starting with information on this FAQ section and other pages of the website. Interested board members should also feel free to contact NASBE at 703-684-4000 or [email protected] In addition, NASBE staff can put you in touch with other board members from dues-paying states who would be more than happy to help you in making the decision to join.

As a state board member, how can I participate in NASBE activities?
As a board member you are encouraged to participate in NASBE conferences, meetings, and study groups, all of which give attendees the chance to hear from and interact with some of the nation’s leading education researchers and policy analysts. NASBE sends out a form in October asking all board members to indicate their interest in participating in the various committees and groups, including the Governmental Affairs Committee, study groups, Public Education Positions Committee, Awards Committee, Technology Committee, and the Finance Committee.

How can I find out NASBE positions on education community?
NASBE maintains a set of Public Education Positions that is reviewed every year and approved by the membership’s voting delegates at the association’s Annual Business Meeting. NASBE’s current Public Education Positions are available below.