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Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
| Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $128,690 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $94,050,500 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 |
| Authority: | Idaho Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Debbie Critchfield | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other Idaho Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Controller • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Director • Director of Lands • Labor Director • Public Utilities Commission | |
The Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction is a state executive position in the Idaho state government. The superintendent heads the Idaho Department of Education, which runs the state's public school system. The superintendent is a statewide constitutional officer elected by the people to four-year terms.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction is Debbie Critchfield (R). Critchfield assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of superintendent is established by the Idaho Constitution.
Idaho Constitution, Article IV, Section 1
|
The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, each of whom shall hold his office for four years |
Qualifications
There are no particular qualifications for the office of superintendent, though the officeholder must take an oath of office and is subject to a surety bond dependent on his good conduct. The bond's premiums are paid by the state treasury. In the case of misconduct, the bond is forfeited to the state.[2]
Elections
Idaho elects superintendents to four-year terms in federal midterm election years, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. Thus, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 are all election years. Winners take office on the first Monday in the January following an election. Thus, January 3, 2011, and January 5, 2015, are inaugural days.
If two candidates ever tie in the general election, a joint session of the legislature chooses the winner by a majority vote.
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
There are no term limits for this office.
2022
General election
General election for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Debbie Critchfield defeated Terry Gilbert in the general election for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Debbie Critchfield (R)  | 69.8 | 404,549 |
 | Terry Gilbert (D) | 30.2 | 175,076 | |
| Total votes: 579,625 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Terry Gilbert advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Terry Gilbert | 100.0 | 31,868 |
| Total votes: 31,868 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Debbie Critchfield defeated Branden Durst and incumbent Sherri Ybarra in the Republican primary for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Debbie Critchfield | 39.7 | 105,070 |
 | Branden Durst | 33.8 | 89,451 | |
 | Sherri Ybarra | 26.6 | 70,431 | |
| Total votes: 264,952 | |||
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Past elections
Vacancies
Per Article IV, Section 6 of the Idaho Constitution, the governor appoints a replacement to any state office where a vacancy occurs, subject to the approval of the Idaho Senate. The appointee serves until the next general election.
Duties
The superintendent is the administrative head of the Idaho Department of Education, which operates the state's public school system. They are also responsible for implementing the policies of the Idaho State Board of Education and are charged with appointing seven of the board's eight members.[3]
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: Idaho state budget and finances
The budget for public school support in Fiscal Year 2024 was $94,050,500.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of elected executives in Idaho are determined by the Idaho State Legislature. Salaries cannot be increased or decreased during the current terms of affected officers. In 2014, state legislators passed a bill authorizing annual salaries for executives from 2015 through 2018.[5]
2024
In 2024, the officer's salary was $128,690 according to the State of Idaho.[6]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $128,690, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $117,557, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the superintendent received a salary of $117,557, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the superintendent received a salary of $117,557, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the superintendent received a salary of $104,207, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the superintendent received a salary of $104,207, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the superintendent received a salary of $104,207, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the superintendent received a salary of $104,207, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the superintendent received a salary of $102,667, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the superintendent received a salary of $101,150, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the superintendent received a salary of $99,450, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction 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 Idaho Superintendent Public Instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Idaho | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "67-1501," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "67-1501," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Idaho State Board of Education "Board Facts," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "FY 2025 Idaho Legislative Budget Book," accessed January 16, 2025
- ↑ Idaho State Legislature, "Title 59: Public Officers in General," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ The State of Idaho, "Agency Head," accessed September 11, 2024
- ↑ 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, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 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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