COSA's Governance

NSBA formed COSA in 1967 to provide information and practical assistance to attorneys who represent public school boards. Our Office of General Counsel and COSA staff provide professional and executive support and programming for our members, school attorneys, and school leaders across the United States and in our International Partner countries. COSA also supports the legal advocacy efforts of NSBA.

COSA is governed by a 22-member board of directors who are elected at the annual business meeting held each spring in conjunction with the NSBA Annual Conference and School Law Seminar. The COSA chair serves ex officio on the NSBA Board of Directors giving our members a direct link to NSBA’s leadership.

The more than 3,000 COSA members join either through one of the 38 affiliated state councils, or as an individual member in the U.S., Canada, or other NSBA International Partner country. In affiliated states, all members of the state council must be members of the NSBA Council.

The following states have affiliated state councils: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

To carry out its programming, networking, and advisory functions, COSA operates standing and ad hoc committees and working groups.

Bylaws

Read more about COSA's mission and the rules under which it operates in their Bylaws.