As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250-year-old form of governance this summer, strong public schools remain a crucial element in sustaining that democracy for future generations, writes NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Esq. "Our nation created public schools to teach children to be informed citizens capable of being active members in our democracy. Today, that mission is as vital as ever."
January 19, 2026
This summer, our nation will celebrate our 250-year-old form of governance. The Founding Fathers considered our country's fledgling democracy an experiment, one that they hoped we would preserve. A crucial element to sustaining democracy for the next generation is strong public schools. In fact, our nation created public schools to teach children to be informed citizens capable of being active members in our democracy. Today, that mission is as vital as ever.
Students must learn how their government works, how laws are made, and how citizens can engage constructively in public affairs. But beyond facts and processes, they need experiences that strengthen civic dispositions: curiosity about others, respect for differing viewpoints, and a willingness to contribute to their communities. These are the skills that help democracy flourish.
Every day, public schools bring together young people of different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. Public education is a unifying institution—one of the few shared spaces where each generation prepares the next for the responsibilities of citizenship.
School board members are at the heart of democracy. As locally elected representatives, board members embody the principle that governance should be rooted in and responsive to the community. They listen to parents, educators, and community members to make decisions that shape the learning experiences of millions of students. Their work is collaborative, deliberative, and grounded in public trust—all hallmarks of democratic practice.
When we speak of school boards as the bedrock of democracy, it is not metaphorical. They role model the kind of civic engagement we hope students will carry into adulthood: weighing evidence, debating respectfully, balancing competing priorities, and putting the public good first. In this way, school boards are both guardians of the present and stewards of the future.
As we look toward the nation's 250th anniversary, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) is reflecting on how best to support this essential work. NSBA has long served as a national voice for public education, helping elevate the experiences of school board members, fostering collaboration across states, and communicating the value of strong local governance to policymakers and the public.
When NSBA shares research, offers testimony, or provides insight to national leaders, it helps strengthen the conditions in which public schools operate. When we create opportunities for school board members to learn from each other, we help build a network of committed leaders ready to navigate an increasingly complex educational landscape. And when we highlight the importance of civics education, we reinforce a foundational truth: Democracy depends on well-prepared and well-informed citizens.
As July 4, 2026, approaches, we have an extraordinary opportunity to reaffirm the ideals that unite us. Public education—and the leaders who guide it—will play a central role in shaping how the next generation understands and participates in our shared democracy.
NSBA remains committed to supporting school boards in this mission, working nationally to help ensure that every district has the tools, knowledge, and partnership it needs to serve its community well.
If you would like to support us in our efforts, consider donating to NSBA so we can continue to fight for school boards, public schools, and democracy. Visit tinyurl.com/Donate2NSBA for more information.
Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Esq. (ceo@nsba.org) is NSBA’s executive director and CEO and the publisher of American School Board Journal.