North Carolina State Board of Education
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina State Board of Education, established by Article 9 of the North Carolina Constitution
, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina
. The board sets policy and general procedures for public school systems across the state, including teacher pay and qualifications, course content, testing requirements, and manages state education funds.
The North Carolina State Board of Education consists of the Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer
, and 11 members appointed by the Governor
for eight-year terms (three at-large, eight from designated educational districts across the state). The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
serves as the board's secretary. In 2009, Gov. Beverly Perdue asked the board "to redefine the duties of its chair to include the responsibilities of the newly created Chief Executive Officer, who will manage operations of the public school system." Superintendent June Atkinson
filed a lawsuit against the governor, which resulted in a judge's ruling that the superintendent had the constitutional authority to run the system.
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The board sets policy and general procedures for public school systems across the state, including teacher pay and qualifications, course content, testing requirements, and manages state education funds.
The North Carolina State Board of Education consists of the Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer
North Carolina State Treasurer
The North Carolina State Treasurer is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of North Carolina responsible for overseeing the financial operations of state government. The current state treasurer is Janet Cowell....
, and 11 members appointed by the Governor
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
for eight-year terms (three at-large, eight from designated educational districts across the state). The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is the elected head of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and oversees the public school systems of the state. The Superintendent is currently an elected member of the North Carolina Council of State, chosen in a partisan...
serves as the board's secretary. In 2009, Gov. Beverly Perdue asked the board "to redefine the duties of its chair to include the responsibilities of the newly created Chief Executive Officer, who will manage operations of the public school system." Superintendent June Atkinson
June Atkinson
June St. Clair Atkinson was elected North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 3, 2004, in a race that was decided by the North Carolina General Assembly on August 23, 2005. She was re-elected in 2008. Dr...
filed a lawsuit against the governor, which resulted in a judge's ruling that the superintendent had the constitutional authority to run the system.
Current members
- William C. HarrisonWilliam C. HarrisonWilliam C. "Bill" Harrison is the chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education, which sets policy for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. He was the first person to serve as both State Board of Education Chairman and as "chief executive officer," a position created by Gov...
(at-large, appointed 2009), chairman - Jean Woolard (1st district)
- Reginald Kenan (2nd district)
- Kevin HowellKevin HowellKevin Howell is an author, political science professor, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He is of mixed Mexican, Spanish, German, and English heritage.-Education:...
(3rd district) - Shirley E. Harris (4th district)
- Chris Greene (5th district)
- John A. Tate, III (6th district, appointed 2009, previously at-large, 2003-09)
- Robert Thomas Speed (7th district, appointed 2003)
- Wayne McDevitt (8th district, appointed 2001)
- Melissa E. Bartlett (at-large)
- Patricia N. WilloughbyPatricia N. WilloughbyPatricia N. Willoughby is a North Carolina educator. She was appointed by Governor Mike Easley as the interim North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction in September 2004, following the resignation of Mike Ward, and served the remaining months of Ward's term.A new superintendent was to...
(at-large)
- Walter H. DaltonWalter H. DaltonWalter H. Dalton is a Democratic politician from North Carolina and the state's current Lieutenant Governor. Prior to his election to that office, he was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's forty-sixth Senate district, including constituents in Cleveland and...
(lieutenant governor, ex officio) - Janet CowellJanet CowellJanet Cowell was elected North Carolina State Treasurer in 2008. She is North Carolina's first woman State Treasurer. She was previously a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate ....
(state treasurerNorth Carolina State TreasurerThe North Carolina State Treasurer is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of North Carolina responsible for overseeing the financial operations of state government. The current state treasurer is Janet Cowell....
, ex officio) - June AtkinsonJune AtkinsonJune St. Clair Atkinson was elected North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 3, 2004, in a race that was decided by the North Carolina General Assembly on August 23, 2005. She was re-elected in 2008. Dr...
(North Carolina Superintendent of Public InstructionNorth Carolina Superintendent of Public InstructionThe North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is the elected head of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and oversees the public school systems of the state. The Superintendent is currently an elected member of the North Carolina Council of State, chosen in a partisan...
, ex officio), secretary