Legal Advocacy

U.S. Supreme Court

NSBA Legal Advocacy brings the local public school board perspective to a national audience as an established and credible influencer. Working with our state school boards associations and the NSBA Council of School Attorneys (COSA), we advocate in the U.S. Supreme Court and in appellate courts across the country through our nationally recognized amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs. NSBA’s powerful legal voice is heard and highly regarded by the Supreme Court and extends beyond the courtroom to the court of public opinion and into the halls of Congress and the offices of federal regulators.

NSBA’s unique position in the world of public education as a representative of elected officials whose sole interest is the education of our children has allowed it to articulate perspectives and offer views that influence the national discourse, impact policy, and provide weight to judicial consideration of issues that will affect public schools.

NSBA exercises its legal voice on a range of important topics from state sales tax revenue to the education of undocumented youth, proposed procedures for sexual harassment complaints to the importance of an accurate Census count for public schools.

Person writing on a legal document

Legal Briefs and Guides

NSBA files nationally recognized amicus briefs and produces legal guides to help state associations and their local school boards navigate the complex legal issues of the day.


Learn More

Flag in front of a government building

Comments and Letters to Federal Policymakers

Through our member state school board associations, NSBA offers federal decision-makers practical implications of proposed or current policies on school district operations.


Learn More

People meeting at a table

Council of School Attorneys

The Council of School Attorneys (COSA) supports school attorneys in their representation of school boards and in their legal advocacy on behalf of public education.


Learn More