This guidebook is intended to help school boards focus their efforts on understanding and achieving the elements of their key work. Chapter 1 discusses the concept of systems thinking as a framework for organizational thinking and learning. It also provides an overview of the key work of improving student achievement. This work focuses on eight key actions: vision, standards, assessment, accountability, resource alignment, climate, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Each key action is explored in its own chapter. Each chapter includes a definition and explanation of the key action itself as an element of the key work, a self-assessment tool for gauging one's own initial understanding and the current level of readiness of the board in that element of key work, a list of questions the board should ask itself, an outline differentiating roles and responsibilities of board members and the superintendent, a series of considerations to be taken into account when formulating a plan for action, an annotated list of references, including Internet links, and a case study that illustrates what effective school boards can do to accomplish the key action. The book concludes with a short bibliography, notes about the authors, and a statement of acknowledgements. (RT)