THE EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS' PARTICIPATION IN DIFFERENT SCHOOL-INITIATED ACTIVITIES AS INPUTS FOR AN ENHANCED SCHOOL-BASED MANAGEMENT LEVEL OF PRACTICE

School-Based Management (SBM) fosters collaboration between schools and communities, enabling shared governance to fulfill educational mandates and goals, particularly under the decentralized management framework of the Department of Education (DepEd). However, many schools face challenges in achieving recognition and validation for their SBM level of practice, often due to insufficient stakeholder involvement. This issue is particularly prevalent in the San Mariano I & II Districts, where none of the 42 elementary schools were validated for SBM recognition. Despite implementing various strategies, these schools struggle to secure adequate support from internal and external stakeholders in fulfilling the SBM principles: Leadership and Governance, Curriculum and Learning, Accountability and Continuous Improvement, and Management of Resources. The lack of stakeholder participation hampers the school's ability to meet the required standards for SBM validation, as indicated by the limited means of verification. This study aims to assess the level of stakeholder involvement in school-initiated activities and its correlation with SBM performance. Using documentary analysis and survey methods, the research evaluates participation across key SBM dimensions and explores the relationship between stakeholder engagement and SBM outcomes. The findings will inform strategies to enhance stakeholder collaboration, ultimately improving the SBM level of practice and strengthening shared governance in schools.