Tens of thousands of individuals across the United States volunteer their time, energy, and expertise as members of charter school boards. Yet as the charter sector has grown, remarkably little has been learned about these individuals who make key operational decisions about their schools and have legal and moral responsibilities for the education of children in their communities. This report is one of the first attempts to use quantitative survey data to explore the relationship between charter boards and school quality. Authors Juliet Squire and Allison Crean Davis of Bellwether Education Partners queried charter school board members in Washington, D.C.--a city with one of the highest percentage of public charter school students in the nation--to determine (1) who serves on District charter boards; and (2) which board practices are associated with school quality. Key findings include: (1) Charter school board members in D.C. tend to be affluent, highly educated individuals with liberal or moderate political leanings; (2) Board members of high-quality charters are more knowledgeable about their schools; (3) Board members of high-quality schools are more likely to participate in training, engage in strategic planning, and meet monthly; (4) Board members of high-quality schools are significantly more likely to evaluate their school leaders and use staff satisfaction as a factor in such evaluations; and (5) Regardless of school quality, charter school board members have much in common, including beliefs about the importance of academic achievement, similar school finance practices, and understanding their role and responsibilities. While focused on charter board members in Washington D.C., the report nonetheless offers valuable insights for charter advocates in other cities. By recruiting informed and dedicated volunteers to lend their time to these boards--and nudging them to implement sound practices--they may be able to replicate some of the successes of one of America's most robust charter sectors. [Foreword by Amber M. Northern and Michael J. Petrilli.]