The Washington School Board Standards are intended for use by local school boards and individual directors as a common framework for school board governance. Two sets of standards were developed to encourage school boards and individual school directors to subscribe to the highest levels of professional and personal conduct and performance. The standards identify the elements of good governance and effective board leadership as drawn from best practices and current research. They provide shared understanding of what constitutes good governance. They also validate and affirm the importance of the school board's role in ensuring student success. The School Board Standards comprise five core principles: (1) Responsible school district governance; (2) Communication of and commitment to high expectations for student learning; (3) Creating conditions district-wide for student and staff success; (4) Holding the district accountable for student learning; and (5) Engagement of the community in education. [Standards have individual references.]