1 POLICY DEVELOPMENT: THE PROCESS IN SCHOOLS

Policy development in schools shares much with the policy development process in other settings. Health policy development in schools is no different. In other spheres of government, boards or legislative bodies make policy. School boards, elected public officials, who may or may not know a great deal about school functioning, make school policy, including school health policy. Public policy in the greater public arena, as well as in schools, is concerned about the welfare of its constituents. School policy, like public policy at large, reflects the values of the community at hand. Controversial public legislation invites persons to provide testimony and occasionally, draws protestors. Similarly, controversial policy in a school district is subject to board debate and often is the target of testimony and input from parents, students, and the school community. There are differences between general public policy and school policy, however. School policy is often developed by someone other than the school board and brought to the school board for approval. The district superintendent or other high-level school administrator may present the board with already developed and crafted language for approval. The board receives copies of proposed policy or policy changes for review before board meetings, but most ar