California Department of Education

The California Department of Education is a California agency that oversees public education. The Department oversees funding, testing, and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement. It's stated mission "is to provide leadership, assistance, oversight, and resources so that every Californian has access to an education that meets world-class standards."[1]

The department is headed by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, or SPI, which is a nonpartisan elected executive office position; superintendents serve four-year terms. The current Superintendent of Public Instruction is Jack O'Connell. The position is a former partisan position. The Superintendent serves as the state’s chief spokesperson for public schools, and provides education policy and direction to local school districts. He also serves as an ex-officio member of governing boards of the state’s higher education system.

List of California Superintendents of Public Instruction

Name Party Date Assumed Office John G. Marvin D Jan. 1, 1851 Paul K. Hubbs D Jan. 1, 1854 Andrew J. Moulder D Jan. 1, 1857 John Swett Un Jan. 2, 1863 Oscar Penn FitzgeraldD Dec. 2, 1867 Henry N. BolanderR Dec. 4, 1871 Ezra S. Carr R Dec. 6, 1875 Frederick M. Campbell R Jan. 5, 1880 William T. Welcker D Jan. 8, 1883 Ira G. Hoitt R Jan. 3, 1887 J.W. Anderson R Jan. 5, 1891 Samuel T. Black R Jan. 7, 1895 Charles T. Meredith D Sep. 24, 1898 Thomas J. Kirk R Jan. 2, 1899 Edward Hyatt R Jan. 7, 1907 Will C. Wood NP Jan. 6, 1919 William John Cooper NP Jan. 20, 1927 Vierling C. Kersey NP Feb. 11, 1929 Walter F. Dexter NP Feb. 1, 1937 Roy E. Simpson NP Nov. 13, 1945 Max RaffertyNP Jan. 7, 1963 Wilson C. Riles NP Jan. 4, 1971 Bill Honig NP Jan. 3, 1983 Vacancy Feb. 24, 1993 Delaine EastinNP Jan. 2, 1995 Jack O'ConnellNP Jan. 5, 2003