Kansas. State Board of Education

The first Kansas State Board of Education, made up of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the presidents of the four state colleges/universities, was created in 1873, but it was not given policy-making authority. It was to certify teachers and to administer teaching exams, and in 1893 it was authorized to accredit schools of education. The State Superintendent presented to this Board for its approval or rejection school textbook recommendations, courses of study and curriculum, plans and rules, and regulations covering certification of teachers. In 1945 the Board of Education was again reorganized to include seven members (not professional educators) appointed by the Governor, including members of the two major political parties and representing the several congressional districts. The Board acted in an advisory capacity to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. All textbooks adopted by the Board were selected from lists of texts recommended by Textbooks Advisory Committees. The Board, through the Department of Education and later the Department of Public Instruction, prescribed courses of study for public schools, including common or district schools, graded schools and high schools, and normal institutes; made rules and regulations regarding courses; and issued state teachers' certificates. By the 1960s, a constitutional amendment shifted general supervision of public schools to an elected, ten-member State Board, marking the beginning of an entirely different philosophy of school governance. The State Board was to appoint a Commissioner of Education (instead of a Superintendent of Public Instruction) to serve at the pleasure of the Board as its executive officer. Until this time, the office of State Superintendent had been elected and the Board had been politically appointed. Now the Board could work more independently. The current Kansas State Department of Education, working under the leadership of the Kansas State Board of Education, promotes student learning in Kansas. ["Education, Kansas State Department of (KSDE)." http://www.kspace.org/handle/1984/382 (accessed 2 January 2009).] [Martinez, Dr. Sherrill and Lue Ann Snider. "History of Kansas Education." http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=AoIWidQDVkc%3D&tabid=232&mid=670 (accessed 2 January 2009). Kansas State Department of Education: September 2001.] [Wilder, Bessie. Governmental Agencies of the State of Kansas, 1861-1956. Lawrence: University of Kansas Publications, 1957.]