Summary of State Selection of School Boards

Summary of State Selection of School Boards

Entire System Fixed by Law

· Alabama (The Legislature decides the entire process)

· Alaska (The Legislature decides the entire process)

· Arkansas: Supervision of schools vested and confided to the General Assembly

· Connecticut: General Assembly decides the process

· Delaware: General Assembly decides the process

· Idaho: Process prescribed by law

· Illinois: Process prescribed by law

· Indiana: Process prescribed by law

· Kentucky: Process prescribed by law

· Maine: Process prescribed by law

· Maryland: Process prescribed by law

· Massachusetts: Process prescribed by law

· Nevada: Process prescribed by law

· New Hampshire: Process prescribed by law

· New York: Process prescribed by law

· Ohio: Process prescribed by law

· Oklahoma: Process prescribed by law

· Pennsylvania: General Assembly decides the process

· Rhode Island: Process prescribed by law

· South Dakota: Process prescribed by law

· Tennessee: Process prescribed by law

· Texas: Process prescribed by law

· Utah: Process prescribed by law

· Virginia: Process prescribed by law through vague references to the promotion of literature

· Washington: Process prescribed by law

· Wyoming: Process prescribed by law

Governor Appoints

· Arizona: Governor appoints members with consent of the state senate; powers and duties prescribed by law

· Florida: Governor appoints the Board of Education, all with staggered four year terms; all subject to confirmation by the state senate

· Georgia: One superintendent from each Congressional district, appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation of the state senate.

· Hawaii: Governor appoints, state senate confirms

· Kansas:

o Process prescribed by law; 10 members on the state school board, each with overlapping terms;

o Legislature will establish 10 districts, each comprising of four Senate districts;

o Members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate.

o One member shall be appointed from each congressional district with the remaining members appointed at large, however, no two members shall reside in the same county at the time of their appointment.

o Vacancies occurring on the board shall be filled by appointment by the governor as provided by law.

· Louisiana (Election & Governor appoints):

o The board of eleven members, eight of whom shall be elected from single-member districts, determined by law; and three of whom shall be appointed by the governor from the state at large, with consent of the Senate. Terms of four years, which shall be concurrent with the term of the governor.

· Missouri: Eight members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the senate. Eight-year terms.

· Montana: State BOE composed of the Board of Regents and Board of public education. Board of Public Education consists of seven members appointed by the governor, confirmed by Senate

· North Carolina:

o The State Board of Education shall consist of the Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, and eleven members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly in joint session.

o General Assembly shall divide the State into eight educational districts. Of the appointive members of the Board, one shall be appointed from each of the eight educational districts and three shall be appointed from the State at large. Appointments shall be for overlapping terms of eight years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made by the Governor for the unexpired terms and shall not be subject to confirmation.

· North Dakota: State BOE consists of eight members. Seven are appointments subject to confirmation by the Senate. The governor shall appoint as the eighth member of the board a full-time resident student in good academic standing at an institution under the jurisdiction of the state board

· West Virginia:

o BOE consists of nine members appointed by the Governor for the advice and consent of the Senate for overlapping terms of nine years

o No more than five members of the board shall belong to the same political party,

o Legislature may provided for additional qualifications

o No member of the board may be removed from office by the governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty, or gross immorality, and then only in the manner prescribed by law for the removal by the governor of state elective officers.

Constitutionally Provides an Election

· California: Superintendent elected, no more than 2 terms;

· Colorado: Provides that the school board is elected. One for each Congressional district

· Louisiana (Election & Governor appoints):

· Michigan:

o Eight members elected at large, terms of eight years

o The governor shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the unexpired term. The governor shall be ex-officio a member of the state board of education without the right to vote.

· Mississippi: Elected at the same time and in the same manner as the Governor, state school board members hold office for four years. ***State superintendent appointed by the BOE with the consent of the Senate. Further and frankly, incredibly complicated system contained in Section 203

· Nebraska: BOE composed of eight members, elected from eight districts of “substantially equal population as provided by the Legislature.” Term of four years, duties provided by the Legislature

· New Mexico: BOE composed of 10 members with staggered four year terms; Commission members shall be residents of the public education commission district

· South Carolina (Election and Appointment by Governor)

o One BOE member from each of the judicial circuits

o One member appointed by the Governor

o General Assembly specifies the policy

· Wisconsin:

o Constitution partly provides for the legislature shall direct the qualifications and duties by law.

o State Superintendent elected by the electorate at the same time and manner as the Supreme Court for a term of four years

Governor is the Superintendent:

· Oregon

No statute on point:

· Iowa: Abolished relevant provisions

· Minnesota

· New Jersey

· Vermont