Our Mission, Vision & More

Since 1946, the Iowa Association of School Boards^® has been committed to serving Iowa school boards and public schools. As a 501c4 nonprofit organization, the association advances the goals of its members through education, advocacy and service.

Our Mission

Educating and supporting Iowa’s public school districts to govern effectively for student success.

Our Vision

Strong world-class public school districts led by effective, informed, and accountable school boards.

Our Core Values

Service | Innovation | Accountability

Our Strategic Priorities 

Strategic Priority 1: Empower

Strengthen the leadership, governance, and impact of Iowa’s public school districts through targeted board member support, professional development, and accessible resources that improve district-level outcomes.

Goal: IASB will equip board members with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to govern their school districts at the highest level.

Strategic Priority 2: Advocate

Serve as the leading voice for Iowa’s public school districts through public policy, leadership, and stakeholder awareness.

Goal: IASB will strengthen its role as the trusted voice for Iowa’s public school districts by deepening relationships with local, state, and national leaders while equipping members to be effective advocates for public education.

Strategic Priority 3: Excel

Operate IASB with a focus on organizational excellence, fiscal discipline, operational alignment and effectiveness, and streamlined collaboration.

Goal: IASB will continuously strengthen its internal systems, staff capacity, and operational effectiveness to deliver consistent, sustainable, high-impact value to members.

Who We Serve  

IASB^® members include boards of education for Iowa’s public school districts, area education agencies and community colleges. In addition to board members themselves, IASB provides important support services for roles that work closely with boards: superintendents, business officials, board secretaries and school attorneys.

School Boards: 1,840 individuals serve on local school boards for Iowa’s 324 school districts. Iowa school boards govern the education of approximately 480,665 students while overseeing school budgets totaling $7.19 billion. School board members are elected by their local communities in an election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years. They serve four-year terms. They may be elected at large, from director districts or in several combinations of at-large and districts, depending on the system locally adopted.

Local school boards may have five or seven members. School board members receive no pay. Their reward is the satisfaction they receive from public service.

Area Education Agency Boards: The state’s nine area education agencies (AEAs) are governed by board members serving four-year terms. Five of the nine AEA board members are elected. The remaining four are appointed superintendents.

Community College Trustees: The Iowa Association of Community College Trustees holds a membership in IASB. Iowa’s 15 two-year community colleges are governed by five-to-nine board members elected by local residents in an election held the second Tuesday of November in odd-numbered years. They are elected to four-year terms.