School Board Governance in Finland

• In Event: International School Boards in the Governance Process

Abstract

The present chapter deals with the first national study on school boards in Finland. The study was conducted by the Institute of Educational Leadership at the University of Jyväskylä and funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. In the chapter we will present the context of the study as well as the context of the Finnish school board. As municipalities in Finland have a constitutional autonomy and municipalities are the main providers of education, research on the local political body governing educational services is of great importance. On the basis of the research, a description on the demog-raphy and work of school boards is given. In addition, school board members’ perceptions on the status of local provisions of education and on the future of education are reflected on.
Methods, Data Sources: Researchers formed a collaboration with Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the United States. The researchers met over two years to create an International Governance Survey. The re-cultured survey was administered to all school board members in the country.
Results: Results across countries were compared and data trends were noted. Emerging themes across countries were developed and implications and recommendations for (a) control and trust, (b) power and influence, (c) quality assurance and satisfaction (d) politics, administration and professionalism, (e) democracy and ‘member knowledge’, (e) management and leadership, (f) multi-level governance, and (g) school board and superintendent relations was compared between Finland and the other countries in the study.
Significance: Study findings provide evidence to address a variety of issues currently being debated in all countries regarding school governance. These include democracy, leadership, quality assurance, and power and influence. Findings and emerging themes across the participating countries in the study allow for improving school governance models in multiple countries.

Authors

• Mika Risku, University of Jyvaskyla

• Pekka Kanervio, University of Jyväskylä

• Seppo Pulkkinen, University of Jyväskylä