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| Board of Elementary and Secondary Education | |
|---|---|
| Name | Board of Elementary and Secondary Education |
| Type | State-level education authority |
| Jurisdiction | State governments |
| Headquarters | State capitol buildings |
| Formed | Varies by state |
| Website | Official state education agency pages |
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is a state-level policy body that sets standards for primary and secondary public school systems, approves curricula, and oversees implementation of statewide assessments and accountability frameworks. It interacts with state chief superintendents, governors, legislative education committees, and local school districts to align statutes, fiscal policies, and instructional standards. Membership, powers, and procedures differ widely among states, reflecting diverse constitutional frameworks, judicial decisions, and administrative traditions.
Boards function as statutory authorities created by state constitutions or statutes such as the Massachusetts General Court reforms, the Texas Education Agency enabling acts, or the California Education Code, and they operate within systems influenced by landmark rulings like Brown v. Board of Education, San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, and Goss v. Lopez. Typical tasks include adopting content standards similar to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, approving graduation requirements akin to those in Florida, and overseeing assessments modeled after the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium or the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. Boards liaise with entities such as the U.S. Department of Education, state departments of public instruction, teachers' unions like the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, and philanthropy organizations exemplified by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Origins trace to early state-level efforts in the 19th century, paralleling institutions like the Massachusetts Board of Education founded by Horace Mann and later reforms inspired by Progressive Era figures including John Dewey. Twentieth-century developments reflected responses to court decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education and federal statutes like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as well as policy initiatives led by commissions including the National Commission on Excellence in Education that produced "A Nation at Risk". Expansion of responsibilities occurred after federal acts such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, while state responses were shaped by governors like Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama who advanced varying accountability regimes.
Composition varies: some boards are appointed by governors, as with appointments by Jerry Brown in California or Rick Scott in Florida, while others are elected in states that follow models like Kansas or Virginia. Boards often include representatives from districts, higher education institutions such as the University of California or the University of Texas, business leaders connected to chambers like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and teacher representatives from affiliates of the American Federation of Teachers. Terms, quorum rules, and officer roles can reference procedures similar to those used by the New York State Board of Regents or the Kentucky Board of Education, and meetings are sometimes governed by open meetings laws inspired by the federal Freedom of Information Act and state sunshine statutes.
Typical statutory powers include adopting statewide standards and graduation requirements comparable to Common Core adoptions, approving instructional materials as in Texas textbook reviews, setting statewide assessment schedules consistent with PARCC or Smarter Balanced consortia, and allocating state categorical funding tied to statutes like the Every Student Succeeds Act. Boards may license educators in coordination with agencies such as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, issue waivers similar to those granted under federal waivers during the No Child Left Behind era, and enforce compliance with civil rights mandates deriving from decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education and statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Boards engage in standards adoption debates involving the Common Core State Standards Initiative, curricular initiatives influenced by reports from the National Academy of Sciences, science standards controversies echoing cases like the Kansas evolution hearings, and career and technical education partnerships modeled on programs at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Community Colleges. They launch professional development initiatives in collaboration with teacher preparation programs at universities such as Harvard University, implement early childhood policies akin to initiatives in Vermont and North Carolina, and promote STEM pipelines partnering with agencies like the National Science Foundation and corporate actors such as Microsoft and Google.
Boards establish accountability frameworks employing metrics similar to those used under the Every Student Succeeds Act, including subgroup performance measures echoing provisions in No Child Left Behind, graduation rate analyses comparable to federal data collections, and school improvement plans informed by regional education labs such as those funded by the Institute of Education Sciences. Judicial oversight arises from cases in state and federal courts like decisions from the United States Supreme Court and state supreme courts, while legislative actions by bodies such as state legislatures can alter board powers through statutes or budget allocations.
Boards have been focal points for disputes over standards like Common Core, textbook approval conflicts seen in Texas and Florida, governance challenges during superintendents' tenures such as contentious appointments in states like New Jersey or Michigan, and debates over charter school authorization linked to policies in Arizona and Indiana. Critics cite politicization linked to gubernatorial appointments observed during administrations of figures like Scott Walker and Andrew Cuomo, legal challenges invoking equal protection in rulings akin to San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, and concerns about influence from philanthropic organizations exemplified by the Gates Foundation and Walton Family Foundation.
Category:State education agencies