The role of the State Board of Education is an important one, but what are its functions and members? Let’s find out. Let’s start with its mission and structure. Besides educating students, its members are also responsible for maintaining public education standards. These are some of the main objectives of the state board. The role of the State Board of Education is increasingly important in the United States. But how can it improve its effectiveness? To achieve this, it must improve its policies and practices.
Mission
The SBOE is a government body that makes policy for the education system. The Board is made up of 17 members elected from single-member districts. The governor appoints the Board’s chair, Keven Ellis. The Board holds meetings at least quarterly, usually in the William B. Travis State Office Building, which houses the Texas Education Agency. Meetings are open to the public except executive sessions. Those in attendance may participate in discussion or ask questions.
Structure
One change in the educational system has been the evolution of state boards. State board members have become more visible and prominent, and their status has increased. As a result, many state board members are now politically active and are often viewed as political agents by the governor. In this article, we explore the evolution of state boards and the political role of state board members. You will find that state boards vary greatly in their operational and structural makeup.
Functions
The State Board of Education serves as the citizen’s voice on state education. They focus on the long-term vision for public education and make policy based on the best interests of the public. Members of state boards are representative of diverse communities, with a passion for education and service to the public. Many state boards have volunteer members, and they often serve in an advisory capacity. In addition to governing the education system, the State Board of Education also sets standards for local school districts and teacher preparation programs.
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Members
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is made up of members elected from single-member districts in the state. The board’s chair is appointed by the governor, and officers are Keven Ellis, the superintendent of public instruction, and four lay members, one of whom may be a classroom teacher. The Board is required by law to meet at least quarterly. Its meetings are open to the public except for executive sessions. To serve on the State Board, a person must have graduated from a public or private school, but no other educational degree is required.
Meetings
The State Board of Education meets monthly and is comprised of two parts: business meetings and workshop sessions. The workshop session lasts nine hours while the business meeting runs for one hour and forty minutes. Agendas for business meetings and workshops are posted on this page when they are available. Meetings are held at the University of Maine at Farmington at Theodora Kalikow Education Center, 186 High Street. You can find previous agendas on the SBE’s website.
Diversity
In its work session on Tuesday, the state board of education of Alabama discussed a resolution supporting the inclusion of teachers of minority groups and LGBTQ people. The board’s current social studies standards include a discussion of racism and slavery in the U.S., but the new social studies standards call for a more diverse curriculum. The resolution’s language was criticized by some board members, including Gov. Kay Ivey, who opened the discussion by voicing her support for the resolution.
