Dive Brief:
- The role of state education chief is undergoing immense changes nationally, according to Education Week.
- Research conducted by the Council of Chief State School Officers indicates that the tenure of a state superintendent has taken a dip, from six years in 2008 to three in 2012 — putting it on par with the career lengths of urban district superintendents.
- While there may be more turnover, Education Week points out that values are also changing. In the past, ed chiefs were selected based on affiliations to national organizations, while leaders chosen in recent years have more direct ties to the state.
Dive Insight:
What's unclear is how these changes will affect policy in each state. The issue with high-turnover is that reforms that start aren't necessarily followed through on. Andrew R. Smarick of the Washington-based Bellwether Education Partners spoke with Education Week, explaining two possible consequences of the shift: Either governors won't put effort into new reforms because they are aware of the turnover, or policies will be so engrained that it won't matter.