Governing public schools is one of the most important responsibilities a citizen can undertake. School board members work on behalf of all the families in their community, with fellow board members and with other community partners, to ensure that each student has equal and ample opportunities to reach his or her greatest potential. This guide provides the basics for successful local school board governance and outlines the roles and responsibilities of school boards. Part 1 traces the history of education governance in the United States, presents key federal and state legislation impacting public education, and provides an overview of Washington state's education system. Part 2 describes the key roles and responsibilities of school boards within the framework of the Washington State School Board Standards. Part 3 provides more detail about areas that help individuals understand a few important legal requirements in these key areas: the superintendent's responsibilities, school board meetings, collective bargaining and school finance. Part 4 provides examples of challenging issues boards sometimes face, and exercises for reflection. Appended are: (1) School boards and the law; (2) Alphabet soup of education acronyms; (3) State and local education resources; and (4) WSSDA: The school directors' own organization. [Funding for this paper was provided by the Public Financial Management, Inc.]