Department of Education.

Agency History

California's 1849 Constitution provided for the election of a state Superintendent of Public Instruction and for a system of common schools. Supervision of California's educational system was carried out by the State Board of Education with the Superintendent of Public Instruction acting as its executive officer. The first foundations of a State Department of Education were laid in 1913 when the Legislature provided for the appointment of three commissioners (in elementary, secondary, and vocational education) to assist the Superintendent ( Stats. 1913, ch. 694). An official Department of Education was created by law in 1921 succeeding to the powers and duties of the State Board of Education ( Stats. 1921, ch. 605). The State Board continued on as a governing body with the Superintendent acting as Director of Education. Initially the Department included Divisions of Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools, Physical Education, Normal and Special Schools, Immigrant Education, Statistics, Credentials, Attendance, and a Legal Division.

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