ABSTRACT
The model of governance which best describes the decision-making hierarchy in this state is a governor-appointed authoritative board model (Campbell and Mazzoni, 1976). Under this model, the Governor appoints State Board of Education members who then have substantial policy-making authority to select and remove the Commissioner of Education, known in some other states as the Chief State School Officer. States vary in whether or not they elect or appoint both the State Board and the Commissioner. In this state the State Board works in conjunction with the Commissioner to oversee the educational agency and its personnel. The State Board of Education establishes policies based on input from the Commissioner and Department personnel in the areas of fiscal determinations, teacher certification, teacher education, curriculum standards, school boundaries, special education and other education-related issues. The Governor’s authority to make State Board appointments is usually subject to restrictions. Board members serve fixed terms which are staggered and often exceed the Governor’s term, and there are stipulations as to geographic representation and party balance. Thus, the Governor is closely linked with the State Board, but at the same time his influence in policy making is curtailed.
