School-Based Decision Making (SBDM)

About Us

School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Councils promote shared leadership among those who are closest to the students. Membership of each council includes parents, teachers, and an administrator of the school.

The council is responsible for setting school policy and making decisions as outlined in statute, which should provide an environment to enhance student achievement and assist in meeting the goals established by law.

State law requires members elected to an SBDM Council to receive training in school-based decision-making.

Council Member Resources

School-Based Decision Making Councils set school policies and make decisions with the goal of creating an educational environment that promotes student achievement and aligns with the goals set by the law.

Principal Resources

CSIP Training

FRYSC Grant Approval

Consultation

Forms

Training Materials

New Member Training

SBDM 101: An Introduction to School-Based Decision Making is now available online!

SBDM 101 was designed to help new Council members understand the purpose of school-based decision making and the Council’s work related to student achievement. By the end of this session, Council members will be able to recognize the basics of Kentucky statutes and regulations governing their work and roles. New Council members must complete at least six hours of introductory SBDM training. Members who have SBDM experience and have completed the initial six hours of training must complete at least three additional hours per year. Training sessions are ongoing.

Experienced Member Training 

SBDM/ALT Experienced Member Training Options:  These trainings are only for SBDM/ALT members who have completed ALT/SBDM training within the previous three years.

  1. Online Roles and Responsibilities

    • ​Online Roles and Responsibilities: ​Roles and Responsibilities is available as a free, self-paced online course through Google. To access the course, follow the steps found on the Roles and Responsibilities document. During the course, you will need to access these sample minutes​. 

  2. Online Council's Role with Continuous Improvement

KDE will provide a list of participants at the conclusion of each week, and credit will be awarded through Vector each Monday. You should retain your certificate for your records and do not need to forward a copy to the SBDM Office.

SBDM Election Center

SBDM elections require teacher and parent representatives to be elected by their respective groups. Elections can be conducted through various methods and should be widely publicized, with a record of all ballots cast being maintained. Eligibility must be verified and only one vote per eligible voter should be allowed.

Additional Resources

Racial Equity Analysis Protocol (REAP)

The Racial Equity Analysis Protocol (REAP) is an instrument to be used when school leadership is making decisions that impact students. The expectation is that this protocol is used for every said decision. In turn, should the screening of an idea or initiative (un)intentionally marginalize or negatively influence a group of students, leadership is to adjust the idea/plan, “run” the idea through the REAP again, and check inclusion. The REAP is not just for new ideas and initiatives. Schools are expected to screen established practices using the protocol as well. Similarly, if established practices prove to marginalize any student group, leadership should amend or end the practice.