LSG Frequently Asked Questions

Lone Star Governance (LSG) is an optional, first-of-its-kind training initiative. Founded on research, LSG is a continuous-improvement model for governing teams—boards in collaboration with their superintendents—who choose to focus intensely on only one primary objective: improving student outcomes. Governance teams express this intense focus through a tailored execution of the five aspects of the Texas Framework for School Board Development: Vision and Goals, Systems and Processes, Progress and Accountability, Advocacy and Engagement, and Synergy and Teamwork. In addition to driving a focus on improving student outcomes, the LSG philosophy and practices provide a system for managing the vital, though secondary, legal and fiscal responsibilities of the board. 

Lone Star Governance workshops are two-day sessions scheduled with a Lone Star Governance Coach. After the two-day workshop, LSG Coaches will provide on-going support using the LSG Integrity Instrument as a guide to meet the needs of your local school system. 

Participants in Lone Star Governance will work with an LSG Coach to develop the mindset, the knowledge and the skills on how to work collaboratively together as a board and with the superintendent to develop: a vision of improving student outcomes; student outcome goals; methods to communicate local values, and effective local accountability by monitoring the progress towards achieving the student outcome goals. 

All school boards and superintendents statewide are welcomed to attend LSG workshops. Lone Star Governance workshops are specifically designed for school board members and superintendents.

Board members and superintendents are welcome to attend any LSG Workshop, but in order to earn a Lone Star Governance Certificate, all members of the board and the superintendent must attend the entirety of the LSG Workshop.

Yes. Other members of the leadership team, at the discretion of the superintendent, may attend the LSG Workshop.

Districts interested in attending an upcoming LSG Workshop can contact the appropriate LSG Coach leading the workshop for information. If your school board is seeking specific dates for a LSG Workshop you can contact any of our LSG Coaches or you can email the TEA Governance Division at lsg@tea.texas.gov.

The data is very clear, the implementation after the LSG Workshop is what creates the environment for local school system to improve student outcomes. Following the two-day workshop, school boards and superintendents will be encouraged to engage with an LSG Coach for on-going support in implementing the mindset, knowledge, and skills gleaned during the LSG Workshop, evaluating their progress along the way. 

Testimonials from superintendents and school board members who have recently participated in Lone Star Governance workshops can be found on the Lone Star Governance YouTube playlist..

All support materials used in Lone Star Governance are available on the Texas Education Agency website. Subscribe to the LSG monthly newsletter for up-to-date information in Lone Star Governance. 

LSG recommends that the school board receives the final version of the materials for topics to be discussed and possible action at least seven calendar days in advance of the meeting at which the materials are scheduled to be considered. Ideally, school board members will submit any questions at least three calendar days in advance of the meeting and the superintendent will update the materials to include written answers to the questions at least one calendar day in advance. Please see the "Structure" section of the LSG Integrity Instrument.  

LSG recommends that school boards display the status and targets of all student outcome goals and GPMs permanently and publicly in the room in which the school board most frequently holds regularly scheduled school board meetings. The targets and status should be regularly updated. Please see the "Advocacy" section of the LSG Integrity Instrument.  

LSG recommends that the number of board-authorized public meetings in the last quarter not exceed an average of three per month and not exceed an average time of more than two hours. Please see the "structure" section of the LSG Integrity Instrument.  

LSG recommends that the board limit its adoption of local policies regarding school system operations to matters that are either required by law or an appropriate exercise of the board's oversight authority as defined by the board's adopted student outcome goals or constraints. If a school board has adopted student outcome goals and constraints or the legislature has passed a law, then LSG recommends that the board adopt a policy. Otherwise, allow the issue to be managed through administrative procedures/regulations. Please see the "structure" section of the LSG Integrity Instrument.   

LSG recommends that a school board complete and vote to approve a self-evaluation every three months using the LSG Integrity Instrument. The LSG Integrity Instrument is found in the LSG Manual.   

No. Each column in the LSG Integrity Instrument is all or nothing. This is described on each page of the framework where it says, "if all of the following conditions are true."   

Unless the board has adopted another means of determination, a resolution adopted or vote passed by a majority of the board will meet the standard of evidence. Please see the "Evaluation Notes" section of the LSG Integrity Instrument. 

LSG Certificates expire after 24 months. For school boards that self-evaluate using the LSG Integrity Instrument and earn an LSG-Coach-confirmed score of 60 or higher, the LSG certificate may be automatically reissued. Otherwise, the governing team will need to attend the LSG workshop to earn a new LSG certificate.   

No. LSG recommends that the board adopt three to five student outcome goals. Each student outcome goal has one to three Goal Progress Measures. Please see the "Vision 1" and "Vision 2" sections of the LSG Integrity Instrument. 

No. In this instance, the LSG instrument offers the presumption of effective board behaviors until evidence demonstrates otherwise. If the board does not conduct a superintendent evaluation within 12 months or the board does conduct an evaluation but evaluates the superintendent on more than the board-adopted student outcome goals and constraints, then it remains at Approaches Focus. If neither of those conditions are true, the board may proceed to Meets Focus. Please see the "Sample Superintendent Evaluation Template" in the LSG manual.   

No. As long as board members know what is knowable, that qualifies for Masters Focus. The intent is for board members to be as informed as possible on the current status and progress of the student outcome goals.  

The Board's Time Use Tracker is designed to track the minutes school boards choose to spend their time on in Board authorized public meetings. The time used in closed session is not public, therefore, do not count in the Board's Time Use Tracker. Also, minutes spent in public hearings, forums, comments, and training required by law are not counted in the Board's Time Use Tracker because the board does not have a choice in these minutes.   

Yes, the renewal date would be two years from the date you finish the updated EISO training. Your renewal date would no longer be based on when you successfully completed your original EISO training. The updated training replaces the original training; the original training will no longer be offered after May 1, 2020.

No, a new board member can start with the updated training released in February 2020. There is no prerequisite to the updated EISO training. The updated training replaces the original training. The updated training replaces the original training; the original training will no longer be offered after May 1, 2020.