Transcript State Education Governance - Education Commission of the

Kathy Christie
Education Commission of the States
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Professional vs. political
Level of governor’s leadership
System checks & balances
Level of citizenry (layperson) input
Independent oversight
Increasing levels of transparency (data)
Other
Other
O
variations
More likely to
be in line with
governor’s
vision
More likely to
be professional
educator
(CSSO)
Risk: Perception of partisanship
Appointees answer to the governor
(or not)
Governor has greater influence
w/board; indirect influence on chief
Apply to other
models as well
Does governor appoint all or some?
Does legislature confirm?
Are board terms staggered? (limits
# appointed by particular governor)
Any criteria for board members or
recruitment strategies?
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Nominating and recruiting committee
◦ Broad-based membership to recruit potential board
candidates.
◦ 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)
◦ Section 20A-14-104
Potential to broaden
input, deepen
consideration &
improve pool
Does the chief’s term end with the
governor’s term?
Are appointments made with advice
and consent of the Senate &/or
House?
Does CSSO need to meet certain
criteria (i.e., former educator)
Layperson
influence
Less
influence
You are
here
Perception that CSSO
less political
Board holds chief
accountable (or not)
Might lack political
backing to make reforms
Partisan or nonpartisan on
ballot?
State board candidates
elected at large or by district?
Staggered terms? Length of
terms? Number?
Less likely to
have ed.
background
helpful in fully
understanding
complexities
No authority
over CSSO
Provides greater checks and
balances but board and chief might
not share vision
Board cannot hold chief
accountable (greater independence
for CSSO)
Board policy likely to echo
governor’s vision
In powerful
role
Governor in strong position but
could get at odds with legislature
Risk perception of partisanship
Greater likelihood that governor,
board and CSSO support same
direction. Does citizenry?
State
Board
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
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Louisiana
◦ 8 board members elected
◦ 3 appointed by the governor
◦ Board appoints chief
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Ohio
◦ 11 board members elected
◦ 8 appointed by the governor
◦ Board appoints chief
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New York
◦ Legislature appoints the board
◦ Board appoints the CSSO
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South Carolina
◦ Legislature appoints the board
◦ CSSO is elected
Terms matter
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Mississippi
◦ Governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House
appoint members
Potential checks &
◦ Board appoints CSSO
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Washington
balances
◦ 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)
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Texas
◦ Governor appoints CSSO
◦ CSSO serves as executive secretary of the elected
state board
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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
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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.
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Appointed by Governor (12 states and D.C.)
Appointed by State Board of Education (24
states)
Elected (14 states)
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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.
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California
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Kentucky, Massachusetts
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Virginia
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District of Columbia
◦ Secretary of Education
◦ Superintendent of Public Instruction who serves on the
governor’s cabinet (not appointed by governor)
◦ Secretary of Education
◦ Commissioner of Education (not appointed by governor)
◦ Secretary of Education (a cabinet position)
◦ Superintendent of Public Instruction (not appointed by
governor)
◦ State Superintendent of Education
◦ Chancellor of Education (both appointed by the mayor)
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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
◦ 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
Kentucky Office of
Education Accountability
◦ 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
South Carolina Education
Oversight Committee
Lessons from Canada
“It’s not important unless it’s important to the
head of government.”
-- Dalton McGuinty
Premier, Ontario
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Meets regularly with a cross-agency
“results” team.
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Meets regularly with a group of 20 principals
to get a sense of how all is working.
“The drive can’t be a fad. It must be
permanent and it must be
irresistible.”
Kathy Christie
Chief of Staff
Education Commission of the States
303-299-3613
[email protected]
www.ecs.org