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U.S. NETWORK FOR EDUCATION INFORMATION | ||||
Primary and Secondary EducationState governments have the authority to regulate public preschool, primary and secondary education; license private preschool, primary, and secondary schools; and license or otherwise regulate parents providing home schooling. They also, in many cases, establish and oversee curricula, standards, and procedures. Most state governance occurs via state departments and boards of education, but certain other aspects are often regulated through specialized agencies (see Other State Education Authorities). State Boards of EducationState boards of education are bodies of prominent citizens appointed by either the legislature or the governor for fixed terms, whose job it is to conduct oversight of statewide educational policies and operations, determine budget priorities, approve new policies and guidelines (such as for curricula), approve certain professional appointments and new schools, consider requests from local education agencies, and investigate problems. In some cases the state board is responsible for all levels of education, but in most states the board concentrates on education at the primary and secondary levels. State boards exercise close governance of state education agencies and the state superintendent usually reports to them.State Student Assistance AgenciesBoth state and federal student financial assistance programs are required to be administered by public authorities that can account for the monies distributed as loans and grants and for the repayment of loans. The National Association of State Student Grant-in-Aid Programs is the association representing state directors of state-based student financial assistance programs. State Federal Loan Guaranty Agencies are the state agencies designated to guarantee federal student financial assistance loans distributed in each state. State School ExecutivesState superintendents or commissioners are the highest education officials in state government, and are usually appointed by the state board of education or the governor (a few states elect the superintendent). The generic name for such positions is chief state school officer. These individuals manage the day-to-day affairs of state education agencies and report periodically to the state board, the legislature, and the governor. In some states the laws provide for certain specialized types of education, such as vocational training, to be managed by a separate chief executive. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is the national membership association representing the head officials of state education agencies. It provides an extensive array of professional resources and links to state agencies. National Association of State Directors of Vocational/Technical Education Consortium (NASDVTEC) is the national membership association representing the state officials responsible for administering vocational training programs. State Tech-Prep Coordinators are the designated state level officials who oversee federally and business sponsored school-to-work programs designed to assist non-college bound youth in obtaining the training needed to enter the high-tech workforce and be prepared for possible further postsecondary education. EROD's State Education Agencies provides links to the state departments of education as well as other contact information. |
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