Policy Services

Board policy is an essential governance and management tool needed to operate the district in a legal, fair, consistent manner, focused on student achievement. The Association of Alaska School Boards is here to support School Boards as they undertake policy making, and to help facilitate an efficient process. Consultation, workshops, research, samples, a policy reference manual, and custom policy development are some aspects of AASB’s Board Policy services.

Services Available

The following sections will elaborate on what Board Policy options and services AASB has to offer member School Boards.

  • Comprehensive Policy Assistance for School Boards
  • Policy Online
  • Policy Reference Manual
  • Annual Policy Updates
  • Custom Policy Development
  • Policy Audits
  • Policy Library

Want more information on any of the following items?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

Comprehensive Policy Assistance for School Boards

Some Districts have a streamlined process for insuring the District’s policy manual remains current and up to date.  Some Districts may have experienced turn over, or technology challenges, for whatever the reason, the District’s policy manual needs some work. AASB staff will work with the Board and administration to develop custom policy services.  Comprehensive policy development services include workshops on the process and stages of policy development, as well as custom revision of the entire policy manual, or just sections depending on the District’s needs.

Want more information on comprehensive policy assistance?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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Policy Online

AASB offers complete online publication and support for school district policy manuals.  The Policy Online manual is easily accessible, and can be linked to from the District’s website for easy access by the public, staff, administration, and the Board.  Once published, the district’s policy online manual is easily searchable, contains a sequential revision history, and allows anyone to export and download PDF files of each policy, administrative regulation, or exhibit.

The District office for subscribed districts will have administrative access to additional features like multiple district searches of policies for all other districts using the AASB Policy Online Service, including access to AASB’s model policy manual.  In addition, Policy Online subscribers can keep their policy manual up to date with recent policy amendments, or new policy additions, easily as policy online subscribers also receive AASB’s annual policy updates.  AASB staff stand ready to assist with any other policy updates the District would like to make online.

Want more information on Policy Online, how to sign your district up, or question on how to use it?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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Policy Reference Manual

AASB’s copyrighted Policy Reference Manual contains over 400 policies, along with administrative rules and exhibits, organized in an easy-to-read format and numerical finder index. Policies are cross-referenced to all pertinent policies, cite relevant legal authority, and contain descriptive notes detailing options or limitations in the policy area.  When a District wants to do some comprehensive work on the Board Policy Manual, the AASB reference manual is a great place to start. 

Want more information on AASB’s model policies?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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Structure

Annual Policy Updates

Once a year, Annual Policy Update subscribers receive updates reflecting new and changing laws and educational trends to supplement the AASB Policy Reference Manual.  AASB provides legally vetted, and expertly reviewed policy updates for Boards to consider and adopt.  This service prevents each district from having to legally vet each of their policies on their own, saving Districts thousands of dollars every year.  In addition, AASB strives to stay abreast of the latest trends in educational policy through its network of other state association policy experts.

This service is automatically included for Policy Online subscribers.

Want more information on the annual policy updates?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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Custom Policy Development

Each District is unique, and sometimes a need for a policy arises which hasn’t been addressed any of the AASB model policies.  AASB staff can work with the Board and administration to develop custom new policies depending on the District’s needs.  Custom policy development services include legal vetting of any newly created policy. 

Want more information on custom policy development?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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Structure

Policy Audits

For Districts that aren’t sure what the state of their policy manual is, AASB offers a Policy Audit service.  During a policy audit, AASB staff will compare the school district’s current policy manual, to the AASB model policies, and provide a report to the school district on which policies of the District which are current, out of date, or even missing.  This audit report gives the Superintendent and the School Board a starting point to start addressing policies in need of revision within the District.

Want more information on AASB’s policy library?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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Policy Library

School Board Members and administration are just a telephone call or email away from getting the sample policies needed to develop their own policy statements. AASB has a library of Alaskan school district policy manuals, as well as access to a nationwide policy network of National School Board Association members and other state association policy experts. AASB routinely conduct quick surveys by e-mail on topics of your choice, to find what Alaskan school boards are doing in a variety of policy areas.

Want more information on AASB’s policy library?  Please contact Katie Oliver or Lon Garrison at 907-463-1660

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