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Arkansas Commissioner of Education
| Arkansas Commissioner of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $250,000 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $6,079,185,512 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 11, Section 102 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by State Board of Education, approved by governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Arkansas Commissioner of Education
Jacob Oliva | |
| Other Arkansas Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of State Lands • Natural Resources Exec. Director • Labor Director • Public Service Commission | |
The Arkansas Commissioner of Education is a state executive position in the Arkansas state government. The commissioner is a cabinet-level executive official that oversees the operations of the state Department of Education, which runs Arkansas' public school system. He or she serves under the purview of the Arkansas Board of Education, which appoints the commissioner subject to the approval of the governor.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Arkansas Commissioner of Education is Jacob Oliva (nonpartisan). Oliva assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of commissioner is authorized by Arkansas statute.[1]
Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 11, Section 102
| Subject to confirmation by the Governor, the State Board of Education is empowered to employ a person to act as the Commissioner of Education and who shall be the administrative head of the Department of Education. |
Qualifications
Arkansas law requires that the commissioner be "a person of good moral character, recognized as a leader in the field of education, and qualified technically and by experience to direct the work of the department." Specifically, he or she must hold a master's degree, have had ten years' experience as a teacher and five in educational administration, and possess a valid state teacher's certificate.[1] Senate Bill 681: To Modify The Qualifications For A Person To Serve As The Commissioner Of Education; To Declare An Emergency (SB681) modified these provisions, to include that the commissioner must hold these qualifications unless a deputy commissioner holds a master's degree, has had ten years' experience as a teacher and five in educational administration, and possess a valid state teacher's license. If a deputy commissioner holds those requirements, the commissioner is absolved of the obligation.[2] Additionally, the appointee may not be related to any member of the State Board of Education "within the fourth degree of consanguinity."[1]
SB681 was introduced at the request of Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on March 2, 2015 in the Arkansas State Senate by state Sen. Alan Clark.[3]
Commissioners of education must also fulfill the standard requirements for office under the Arkansas Constitution—they may not have been convicted of felons and must be at least 18 years old, and a resident of Arkansas.[4]
Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 11, Section 102(c)(1)
| The person selected as the commissioner must: (A) Be a person of good moral character, recognized as a leader in the field of education, and qualified technically and by experience to direct the work of the department; and
(2) No person who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity to any member of the state board shall be eligible to serve as commissioner. |
Appointments
The commissioner of education is appointed by the state Board of Education with the approval of the governor and serves at the latter's pleasure.[1]
Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 11, Section 102
| (1) Subject to confirmation by the Governor, the State Board of Education is empowered to employ a person to act as the Commissioner of Education and who shall be the administrative head of the Department of Education. (2) The commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. |
Term limits
There are no term limits associated with the office of commissioner.
Vacancies
State law does not provide any particular guidance for dealing with vacancies in the office of commissioner.
Duties
The commissioner serves as the administrative head of the Department of Education. He or she acts as an agent of the state Board of Education and implements the board's policies. The board itself is responsible for recommending courses of study, establishing standardized test rules and requirements, issuing teaching certificates, and supervising school budgets. It is also empowered to take other such action as it may deem necessary to promote the physical welfare of school children and organizational efficiency of schools.[5]
State budget
- See also: Arkansas state budget and finances
The budget for the State Department of Education in fiscal year 2025 was $6,079,185,512.[6]
Compensation
As the commissioner is not a part of the state's executive department, his or her salary is determined by the state's Office of Personnel and Management. The OPM has classified the commissioner under class code "U033U" for the purposes of determining compensation.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $250,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $239,361, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $239,361, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $239,361 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $235,823 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $233,488 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $233,488 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $233,488 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $231,177 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $228,888 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $224,400 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the commissioner received a salary of $219,999 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Arkansas Commissioner of Education has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Arkansas State Education Commissioner Johnny Key. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Physical address:
Four Capitol Mall, Room 304-A
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-4203
See also
| Arkansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Arkansas Code, "Title 6, Chapter 11, Section 102," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 681," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Open States, "SB 681," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Constitution, "Article 19, Section 3; Article 51, Section 6; Article 5, Section 9," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 6, Chapter 11, Section 105," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, "Funded Budget - Fiscal Year 2025," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010, Table 4.11," accessed May 20, 2011
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