School governance has recently come under scrutiny as one of the many areas of public education being examined in the educational reform movement. School boards are being criticized by state governments, educational experts, and the public. Crisis situations have developed in many educational systems nationwide, particularly in urban areas. In addition to poor relationships between school boards and superintendents, many school boards have become bogged down in micromanagement. Attempts to solve these problems have included school-based management, contracted school management, and charter schools. Two major reports, one by the Institute for Educational Leadership and the other by the Twentieth Century Fund, suggest changing school boards into educational boards, forming Children and Youth Coordinating Boards, encouraging better relationships with local government, and improving the public image of and involvement in school boards. However, some school boards see these reform efforts as attempts to erode their power and place on them undeserved blame. (JPT)