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Kathy ChristieEducation Commission of the States
Nevada Legislative Commission’s Committee to Study Governance and Oversight of K-12 Public Education
January 21, 2010
State Education Governance
• Professional vs. political • Level of governor’s leadership• System checks & balances• Level of citizenry (layperson) input• Independent oversight• Increasing levels of transparency (data)
Who Decides?Some Overarching Tensions
OtherOther Variations
No Black and White AnswersNo “Best” Model
More likely to be professional
educator
More likely to be in line with
governor’s vision
(CSSO)
Pros, Cons
Apply to other models as well
Choices That Matter
• Nominating and recruiting committeeo Broad-based membership to recruit potential board
candidates. o Prepares a list for the governor of at least three
candidates who possess outstanding professional qualifications related to the powers and duties of the state board (including but not requiring experience in areas outside of education)
o Section 20A-14-104
Potential to broaden input, deepen consideration &
improve pool
Example: Utah
Choices That Matter
Layperson influence
Less influence
You are here
Pros, Cons
Choices for Election of Boards
No authority over CSSO
Less likely to have ed.
background helpful in fully understanding complexities
Pros, Cons
In powerful role
Pros, Cons
No board Wisconsin - CSSO elected Minnesota - CSSO appt. by governor - Board abolished in 1998
Board advisory only New Mexico (2004) (Public Education Commission) - CSSO appt. by governor
State Board
Other Possibilities
• Louisianao 8 board members electedo 3 appointed by the governoro Board appoints chief
• Ohioo 11 board members electedo 8 appointed by the governoro Board appoints chief
Elected and Appointed State Board; Appointed Chief
• New Yorko Legislature appoints the boardo Board appoints the CSSO
• South Carolinao Legislature appoints the boardo CSSO is elected
Terms matter
Legislature Appoints State Board; Appointed or Elected Chief
• Mississippio Governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House
appoint memberso Board appoints CSSO
• Washingtono Board = 16 members
5 elected by district directors (3 for the western half of the state, 2 for the eastern)
1 at-large member elected by members of boards of directors of state-approved private schools
CSSO (who is elected) 7 members appointed by the governor 2 student members (non-voting)
Potential checks & balances
Joint Appointment of State Board; Appointed or Elected Chief
• Texaso Governor appoints CSSO o CSSO serves as executive secretary of the elected
state board
Elected Board; Governor Appointed Chief
• Appointed by governor (32 states) (appoints ALL voting
members in 23 states)
• Elected (9 states)
• Appointed and elected (2 states and D.C.)
• Appointed by legislature (2 states)
• Appointed by multiple authorities (2 states)
• No state board or advisory only (3 states and D.C.)
terms matter
State Boards
• Governor appoints 7-member Florida Board of Education with authority for PreK-graduate school. This change was the result of an amendment to the State Constitution adopted in 1998 (codified later as Florida Education Governance Reorganization Act of 2000).
• State board appoints CSSO. • Commissioner of Education is the chief educational officer of the state, the
sole custodian of the K-20 data warehouse, and is responsible for giving full assistance to the State Board of Education in K-20 education system in enforcing compliance with the mission and goals of the K-20 system except for the State University System.
• A 2002 constitutional amendment created the Board of Governors to oversee the state university system (codified in 2003). Roles continue to be sorted out in legislative and board actions.
• Board of Governors appoints a chancellor.
K-20 Governance - Florida
• Appointed by Governor (12 states and D.C.)
• Appointed by State Board of Education (24 states)
• Elected (14 states)
Chief State School Officers
• According to state Web sites, at least 25 governors appoint an education official to the executive cabinet. Such officials may be the superintendent or commissioner of education or the secretary of education.
Governors’ Cabinets with Education Representation
• Californiao Secretary of Educationo Superintendent of Public Instruction who serves on the governor’s
cabinet (not appointed by governor)
• Kentucky, Massachusettso Secretary of Educationo Commissioner of Education (not appointed by governor)
• Virginiao Secretary of Education (a cabinet position)o Superintendent of Public Instruction (not appointed by governor)
• District of Columbiao State Superintendent of Educationo Chancellor of Education (both appointed by the mayor)
Checks and Balances: Dual Offices for Education
• Vary widely in scope of duties and structure• Some have a very specific purview and limited
term of operation• Others broad in scope and ongoing• Most target accountability
Checks and Balances: Independent Oversight Commissions
Kentucky Office of Education Accountability
South Carolina Education Oversight Committee
• Subcommittee of the Legislative Research Commission
• Examines funding issues• Verifies accuracy of school,
district & state performance• Verifies accuracy of state dept.
reports• Conducts studies, evaluates data
on efficiencies• Advisory but can make
recommendations
• Independent, nonpartisan (18 members appointed by legislature and governor)
• Conducts regular review of improvement process
• Assesses how schools are doing
• Evaluates standards schools must meet
• Advisory but can make recommendations
Checks and Balances: Examples of Oversight and Transparency
“The drive can’t be a fad. It must be permanent and it must be irresistible.”
“It’s not important unless it’s important to the head of government.”
-- Dalton McGuintyPremier, Ontario
• Meets regularly with a cross-agency “results” team.
• Meets regularly with a group of 20 principals to get a sense of how all is working.
Lessons from Canada
Kathy ChristieChief of StaffEducation Commission of the [email protected]
