Connecticut Commissioner of Education
| Connecticut Commissioner of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $230,958 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $3,381,949,629 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years coterminous with the governor's |
| Authority: | General Statutes of Connecticut, 10-163-3a |
| Selection Method: | Recommended by the State Board of Education for gubernatorial appointment |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Connecticut Commissioner of Education
Charlene Russell-Tucker | |
| Other Connecticut Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Comptroller•Commissioner of Education•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Public Utilities Regulatory Authority | |
The Connecticut Commissioner of Education is a state executive position in the Connecticut state government. The commissioner acts as the administrative head of the Connecticut Department of Education, which runs the state's public schools.
Current officeholder
The current Connecticut Commissioner of Education is Charlene Russell-Tucker (nonpartisan). Russell-Tucker assumed office in 2022.
Authority
The office of commissioner is established by state law.[1]
General Statutes of Connecticut, 10-163-3a
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There shall be a Department of Education which shall serve as the administrative arm of the State Board of Education. The department shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Education... |
Qualifications
State law requires that the commissioner be "qualified by training and experience for the duties of his office," but does not establish any specific requirements.[2]
General Statutes of Connecticut, 4-46-8
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Each department head shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of his office. |
Appointments
The commissioner of education is recommended by the state board of education and formally appointed by the governor.[1]
General Statutes of Connecticut, 4-46-8
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The department shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Education, whose appointment shall be recommended to the Governor by the State Board of Education for a term of four years to be coterminous with the term of the Governor. Such appointment shall be in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-7, inclusive. The Commissioner of Education shall be the administrative officer of the department and shall administer, coordinate and supervise the activities of the department in accordance with the policies established by the board. |
Term limits
There are no term limits associated with the office of commissioner of education.
Vacancies
As with all state appointive offices, vacancies in the office of education commissioner are filled by the governor and approved by a majority vote in both houses of the legislature. If a vacancy occurs while the legislature is not in session, the governor may appoint a replacement to serve until the sixth Wednesday of the next legislative session.[3]
Duties
The commissioner is the administrative officer of the Department of Education and is directed by law to "administer, coordinate and supervise the activities of the department in accordance with the policies established by the State Board of Education."[1]
Divisions
As of January 25, 2022, divisions within the Department of Education included:[4]
- Academic Office
- Bureau of Special Education
- Finance and Internal Operations
- Legal and Governmental Affairs
- Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships
- Performance Office
- Office of Student Supports and Organizational Effectiveness
- Talent Office
- Turnaround Office
State budget
- See also: Connecticut state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Education in the 2025 fiscal year was $3,381,949,629.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The commissioner's salary is determined by law.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $230,958, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $192,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $192,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $192,500 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $192,500 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $192,500 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $192,500 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $192,500 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary $185,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $185,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $185,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2012
In 2012, the commissioner received a salary of $185,000 according to the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Connecticut 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.
- Miguel Cardona (2019-2021)
Contact info
Address:
450 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 713-6543
See also
| Connecticut | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 General Statutes of Connecticut, "10-163-3a," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "4-46-8," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "4-46-7," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Connecticut State Department of Education, "Home," accessed January 25, 2022
- ↑ Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "2024-2025 Biennial Budget," accessed January 16, 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 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 13, 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
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