If you're looking to have a direct impact on school policies in your particular area, there's always the option to join a school board. It does require preparation and sacrifice, but you'll have success with this particular goal if you do the following things.

Talk to the Board President

At the top of a school board will be the president. They are in charge of a lot of key matters, and because of their hierarchy within this system, it's a good idea to consult with them when looking to join one of these boards. You can then ask them relevant questions like how their school board is run, when new members can join, and ways to improve your chances of being accepted.

You'll also make a good impression meeting with this president because it shows initiative and proves you're interested in making a difference in a particular school district. Then you can prepare more effectively for this position going forward.

Make Sure You Have the Time

Something very important to consider early on when thinking about becoming a qualified school board candidate is your commitment to this endeavor. Serving on one of these boards requires a lot of time because of the many roles you'll be asked to fulfill. 

You thus need to honestly assess your ability to give your time to work on this board. Not everyone can and you thus need to decide this early on so that you don't waste any of your time. Having an open schedule also shows the board you're ready to commit to this position completely.

Think About Changes You Would Make

School boards are always looking for ways to improve and they'll even ask candidates what they would do differently if they were selected to serve on this board. As such, it helps to think about this question well before you apply so that you can give a concise, effective answer.

Maybe there's a school issue that you see isn't being addressed or is inefficiently being addressed or with the school board. You can bring your thoughts on change to the interview process and thus help yourself stand out among all the other candidates.

If you're passionate about school policy and want to get more involved in it, you can apply for open school board positions. As long as you take this application process seriously and bring the right things to the table, your efforts can pay off pretty quickly.