Florida Commissioner of Education

The Commissioner of Education is the chief educational officer in Florida and is the person responsible for assisting the State Board of Education in enforcing compliance with the mission and goals of Florida’s preK-20 education system. The Commissioner is responsible to the State Board of Education and reports to the Governor as the agency head for the Florida Department of Education.

History

Since Reconstruction, the Commissioner of Education was a Cabinet level position, elected by the people, and responsible for 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 Secretary of State and Commissioner of Education became appointed positions and their respective agencies became the 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 to oversee the Department of Education.

Responsibilities

The Commissioner operates all statewide functions necessary to support the State Board of Education and the K-20 education system, including strategic planning and budget development, assessment and accountability, advocacy and coordination, and general administration. The Commissioner provides leadership, policy direction, accountability, and oversight on behalf of the State Board of Education (SBE), the Governor, the citizens, and the Department of Education in accordance with the Education Code, Title XLVIII, Chapters 1000-1013, Florida Statutes, including the following general powers and duties:

trategic Planning and Budget Development

*Develop and recommend a coordinated preK-20 education budget that estimates the expenditures for the SBE, including the Department of Education, the Commissioner of Education, and all entities under the supervision of the SBE.
*Develop and implement a plan for cooperating with the Federal Government in carrying out mandated educational programs and recommend policies for administering Federal funds apportioned to the state for educational purposes.
*Implement a program of school improvement and education accountability designed to provide all students the opportunity to make adequate learning gains each year, based on the achievement of state education goals.
*Recommend to the SBE performance goals addressing the educational needs of the state.
*Work with the Legislature to recommend funding priorities for the distribution of capital outlay funds for public postsecondary educational institutions.

Assessment and Accountability

*Serve as the primary source of information for the Legislature and Florida constituencies concerning the State Board of Education and Florida’s preK-20 education system.
*Develop and implement an integrated preK-20 computer information system for educational management.
*Implement and maintain a statewide program of educational assessment that provides information to improve the operation and management of all public schools, including schools providing educational services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
*Implement and maintain a system of school improvement and educational accountability.

Advocacy and Coordination

*Determine and advocate student-centered policies and decisions.
*Advocate and lobby priority policies of the State Board of Education and Governor before the Florida Legislature and other decision-making bodies.
*Cooperate with other public and nonpublic agencies in planning and implementing improvements in the educational program.
*Inform members of school boards, community college boards of trustees, and state university boards of trustees of information related to current and pending SBE policies.
*Serve as a member of the Florida Board of Governors and ensure alignment of initiatives with state policy goals.

General Administration

*Advise and counsel with the SBE on all educational matters; recommend actions and policies; and execute all approved acts and policies.
*Maintain oversight and manage the staffing and operations of all units, human and material resources of the Florida Department of Education.
*Perform required technical assistance and compliance monitoring to ensure appropriate and consistent interpretation of applicable law. [ [http://www.fldoe.org/board/meetings/2007_02_20/FloridaCommJobDesc.pdf Florida Department of Education website: Board of Education-Commissioner Job Description] ]

Current Commissioner

Eric J. Smith began his education career in Florida at Winter Park High School in 1982 as a classroom teacher. He received his Educational Doctorate from the University of Florida in 1984 and held several administrative positions in Florida school districts. For 16 years he served as district superintendent in Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools in North Carolina and Anne Arundel County in Maryland. Dr. Smith is past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The College Board. [ [http://news.education.ufl.edu/news/uf-alum-chosen-floridas-commissioner-education University of Florida College of Education: News-UF alum chosen as Florida's Commissioner of Education] ] He was offered the Florida Education Commissioner position by the State Board of Education and appointed in 2007 by Governor Charlie Crist. Prior to his appointment, he was Senior Vice President of College Readiness for the College Board where he was responsible for leading the EXCELerator project. [ [http://www.flbog.org/about/board/smith.php Florida Board of Governors: New Commissioner of Education] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.fldoe.org/ Florida Department of Education website]
* [http://www.fldoe.org/commissioner/ Florida Commissioner of Education homepage]
* [http://www.fldoe.org/commissioner/cbio.asp Dr. Eric J. Smith biography]