| School governance is based on the decisions and actions that people take as it relates to the education of students. School governance occurs on many different levels including the individual taxpayer, parent, local school district, state, and federal. There are times when these entities come into conflict when decisions are made. Some scholars have attempted to debate which governance structure provides the optimal framework for the governance of education. However, very little literature exists on this topic. This study aims to address that gap with a study of current scholarship on school governance, including the examination of state constitutional clauses, statutory language, and case law.;Public choice theory is used as the theoretical framework for this study as it aims to explain how conflicting individual interests are reconciled in the collective choice domain. Public choice theory is based on the market theory approach of economics. The state of Florida is used as an example of school governance structure to illustrate the effects of decision-making at various levels, particularly as it pertains to charter schools. After review of the existing governance structures in the United States, and the pros and cons of governance on the various levels, application and recommendations are made for a system of inclusive and varying authority and accountability. |
