The National School Boards Association (NSBA) is a nonprofit educational organization operating as a federation of state associations of school boards across the United States. Founded in 1940, NSBA represents state school boards associations and their more than 90,000 local school board members. It argues that education is a civil right and that public education is America's most vital institution. During the first years of the organization, it was expected that members would serve on state boards of education for several years. However, the average term of service turned to four years in the late 1980s and the 1990s. The organization's concentration shifted to enhancing the professional development of board members, training in policy development, and information dissemination.