Agency History
The State Board of Education is the governing and policy-making body of the Department of Education. First created in 1852 ( Stats. 1852, ch. 52) the Board initially consisted of the Governor, the Surveyor General, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction who also served as its secretary and executive officer. In 1866, the Board was enlarged ( Stats. 1865-66, ch. 342) to include the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Principal of the State Normal School, the Superintendents of Common Schools of San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and San Joaquin Counties, and two professional teachers nominated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Superintendents of Common Schools of Alameda and Sonoma Counties were added in 1870. A constitutional amendment in 1884 set up a new Board consisting of the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Principals of the State Normal Schools ( Const. 1879, Art. IX, sec. 7, amended 1884). The President of the University of California and a professor of pedagogy were added to the Board in 1894.
The Constitution was again amended in 1912 to provide that the Legislature should decide on the appointment or election of the Board ( Const. 1879, Art. IX, sec. 7, amended 1912). Under this constitutional amendment, the Legislature, in 1913, created a State Board of Education with seven members who were appointed by the Governor for four year terms ( Stats. 1913, ch. 328). When the Department of Education was created in 1921, the Board continued in force as the governing body of the Department with the Superintendent as its ex-officio secretary. In 1927 the Board completely reorganized with the passage of a law changing the membership from seven to ten members to be appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate ( Stats. 1927, ch. 453).
The Board as organized in 1975 determined all questions of policy within its powers and adopted rules and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the state to govern itself, its appointees and employees, elementary and secondary schools of California, and other schools receiving financial support from the state.
From the guide to the California State Board of Education Records, 1866-2004, (California State Archives)
