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This book identifies a targeted set of policy topics related to student learning. It includes some key concepts and provides a set of policy categories and issues designed to serve as the basis for board/superintendent leadership and any resulting staff-implementation of a district's educational program. The categories and topics, which are directed at the education program and student learning, are based on the underlying principle that it is the board's and superintendent's responsibility to ensure that all students have an opportunity to succeed at learning. The program begins with a framework for school-district policymaking, emphasizing the key components in policy development. The framework includes: the legal role of policy; the purposes of policies; the relationship between boards and superintendents in policymaking; policy development, adoption, and maintenance; the various roles of staff and community in policy development; governance and planning; academic standards and assessment; education programs; curriculum; instruction; learning environments; professional standards; and parent/community engagement. The material identifies key policy components for each topic: those that target student learning and fundamental policy considerations related to that topic. An example of a topical policy in each category is included in an appendix. (RJM)