For a number of years there has been a growing recognition of the importance of the school board's role in improving educational programs and services. Evidences of this recognition may be found in the increased citizen interest in school boards, the amount of school administration literature devoted to them, the rapidly growing body of school board research, and the expanded program of services of State school board associations and of the National School Boards Association. The powers of school boards and their position in the structure of education make them key agencies in school improvement programs. A soundly organized and efficiently operation board of education is essential to the provision of good schools. This bulletin is a report of a study undertaken to identify and provide up-to-date information about school board organization and practices. Its contents include: (1) Background of the study; (2) selection of members and size of school boards; (3) membership of boards of education; (4) school board organization; (5) school board meetings; (6) school board policy manuals; (7) compensation and reimbursements for school board members; and (8) school board problems. (Contains 19 footnotes, 47 tables, and 9 figures.) [Best copy available has been provided.]