This study applied 3 theoretical frameworks--Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal's four frames, the Lighthouse Inquiry of the Iowa Association of School Boards, and effective governance characteristics--to examine the impact of the Masters in Governance (MIG) training offered by the California School Boards Association on the ability of school board members to exhibit the characteristics of effective governance. This inaugural investigation of the MIG training program included interviews of 2 MIG-trained board members and their corresponding superintendents utilizing qualitative methodology. The resulting data were then triangulated against MIG training observations and survey data collected from 86 MIG trained board members and 61 superintendents to answer the following 3 research questions regarding (a) factors impacting the decision of school board members to complete a school board training program, (b) whether and how MIG training encourages and equips school board members to exhibit the behaviors of effective governance, and (c) in what ways mandating the MIG training could impact school board governance. The findings suggested that the MIG equips board members to exhibit the characteristics of effective governance by fostering board collaboration and hastening the understanding of various roles and responsibilities of school board trustees. This study should add to the scholarly body of work by expanding current school board research to include a comprehensive analysis of the ability of the MIG to impact effective governance practices of school board members in California and examining the case for potential mandates in the future. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]