School boards have always recognized the improvement of student achievement as central to their role in governing public schools. The Washington State Education Reform Act and the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) have, however, significantly affected the way schools go about educating students and the way boards hold schools accountable for educating students. Both Acts raise expectations for districts and schools, with the goal of each student meeting or exceeding state standards. With increased accountability for districts, the role of school boards in improving student achievement requires strategic policymaking that places an even greater emphasis on student learning. This paper presents several guiding principles to highlight the important role school boards have in ensuring that all students achieve the nation's academic standards. (Contains 8 resources.)