Florida Board of Education

The Florida Board of Education also known as the "State Board of Education" (SBE) is an American committee composed of members appointed by the Florida Governor to guide and direct public K-12 & Community College education in Florida.

History

Since Reconstruction, the Commissioner of Education was a Cabinet level position, elected by the people and directly responsible for public education in Florida. The 1998 Constitutional Revision Commission proposed a rewrite of Article IV, Section IV of the Florida Constitution that reduced the Florida Cabinet from six elected officials to three. The voters approved the changes and it became effective January 7, 2003. The Florida Commissioner of Education became an appointed position and the FLDOE became the overall responsibility of the Governor. The revised constitution also created a new Florida Board of Education with seven members (one of whom is the Commissioner of Education), appointed by the Governor. The Florida Commissioner of Education manages the day-to-day operations of the FLDOE. The current commissioner is Dr. Eric J. Smith, appointed in 2007.

Mission

According to the Board’s website, their mission is to “increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by providing them with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities, and to maintain an accountability system that measures student progress toward the following goals: [ [http://www.fldoe.org/board/default.asp Florida Department of Education website: State Board of Education-Mission] ]
#Highest student achievement
#Seamless articulation and maximum access
#Skilled workforce and economic development
#Quality, efficient services

Responsibilities

*adopting system-wide rules and policies
*planning for the future needs of the State University System
*preparing the programmatic, financial and physical development of the system
*reviewing and evaluating the instructional, research, and service programs at the State universities
*coordinating program development among the State universities
*monitoring the fiscal performance of the Universities [ [http://www.flboe.org/board/meetings/Oct02/ResFBOE.pdf Florida Board of Education: December, 2002-Resolution in support of new housing at Florida Gulf Coast University] ]

Members

Meetings

The Florida Board of Education meets at least bi-monthly in Tallahassee; more often if issues require it. Public hearings are also held periodically at locations throughout the state.

References

External links

* [http://www.fldoe.org/ Florida Department of Education website]