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Indiana Secretary of Education
| Indiana Secretary of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $195,707 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $10,844,521,216 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Indiana Constitution, Article 8, Section 8 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Indiana Secretary of Education
Katie Jenner | |
| Other Indiana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Comptroller • Examiner • Secretary of Education • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Utility Regulatory Commission | |
The Indiana Secretary of Education is an appointed state executive position in the Indiana state government.
The secretary (formerly superintendent) was elected until January 11, 2021. In 2019, Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed House Bill 1005, which amended the date abolishing the office of the state superintendent of public instruction and creating the secretary of education to January 11, 2021.[1]
The secretary of education is the chief executive officer of the Indiana Department of Education and can choose to serve as chair of the Indiana Board of Education. The superintendent has additional authority over school lunch programs and the distribution of surplus agricultural commodities.[2] The job requires the superintendent to ensure the department's compliance with statutory duties and policies as determined by the Indiana Board of Education. Department duties include conducting education policy research and compiling basic statistics about the ethnicity, gender, and disability status of Indiana public school students.[3][4][5]
Current officeholder
The current Indiana Secretary of Education is Katie Jenner (nonpartisan). Jenner assumed office in 2021.
Authority
The Indiana Constitution addresses the office of the superintendent of public instruction in Article 8. Indiana's Code states, "For purposes of Article 5, Section 10 and Article 8, Section 8 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, the secretary of education is the state superintendent of public instruction."[5]
Under Article 8, Section 8:
|
There shall be a State Superintendent of Public Instruction, whose method of selection, tenure, duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law. |
Qualifications
20-19-1-1.1 of the Indiana Code lists the following qualifications for secretary of education:[5]
- Resides in Indiana for at least two (2) years before the appointment;
- Demonstrates personal and professional leadership success, preferably in the administration of public education;
- Possesses an earned advanced degree, preferably in education or educational administration, awarded from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university; and
- Either:
- At the time of taking office is licensed or otherwise employed as a teacher, principal, or superintendent;
- Has held a license as a teacher, superintendent, or principal, or any combination of these licenses, for at least five (5) years at any time before taking office; or
- Has a total of at least five (5) years of work experience as any of the following, or any combination of the following, before taking office:
- Teacher;
- Superintendent;
- Principal;
- Executive in the field of education.
Elections
Indiana elected superintendents of public instruction in the presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For Indiana 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 were all superintendent of public instruction election years. The four-year term began on the second Monday in January following the election.[6]
The superintendent was elected until January 11, 2021. In 2019, Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed House Bill 1005, which amended the date abolishing the office of the state superintendent of public instruction and creating the secretary of education to January 11, 2021.[1]
2016
The general election for superintendent of public instruction was held on November 8, 2016.
Jennifer McCormick defeated incumbent Glenda Ritz in the Indiana superintendent of schools election.
| Indiana Superintendent of Schools, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jennifer McCormick |
52.97% | 1,203,116 | |
| Democratic | Glenda Ritz Incumbent | 47.03% | 1,068,191 | |
| Total Votes | 2,271,307 | |||
| Source: Indiana Secretary of State | ||||
2012
Incumbent Tony Bennett (R) lost his bid for re-election to Glenda Ritz (D) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Glenda Ritz |
52.8% | 1,332,755 | |
| Republican | Tony Bennett Incumbent | 47.2% | 1,190,716 | |
| Total Votes | 2,523,471 | |||
| Election results via Indiana Secretary of State | ||||
2008
| Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Tony Bennett |
51% | 1,294,833 | |
| Democratic | Richard D. Wood | 49% | 1,243,693 | |
| Democratic | Kevin Brown | 0% | 180 | |
| Total Votes | 2,538,706 | |||
| Election results via Indiana Secretary of State | ||||
2004
| Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Suellen Reed |
56.1% | 1,317,612 | |
| Democratic | Susan Williams | 41% | 962,400 | |
| Libertarian | Joe Hauptmann | 2.9% | 67,419 | |
| Total Votes | 2,347,431 | |||
| Election results via Indiana Secretary of State | ||||
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Indiana Secretary of Education 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.
Duties
As head of the Indiana Department of Education, the secretary of education is responsible for ensuring the duties of the department are fulfilled. The department's duties include state statutes, as well as policies determined by the state board of education. Additionally, the department conducts research to aid in the development of educational policies, and compiles basic statistics about ethnicity, gender, and disability status of Indiana public school students. Enrollment numbers and number of suspensions and expulsions are also recorded by the department. Expulsions and suspensions are recorded according to their causes (i.e. alcohol, drugs, deadly weapons, etc.).[7]
The secretary of education has additional authority over school lunch programs and the distribution of surplus agricultural commodities.[8]
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 Indiana Secretary of Education 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: Indiana state budget and finances
The state budget for the Indiana Department of Education in Fiscal Year 2025 was $10,844,521,216.[9]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salary of the secretary of education is determined by the governor. Indiana Code 20-19-1-1.1 says the following:
| Text of IC 20-19-1-1.1 :
Secretary of Education The individual appointed under this section serves at the pleasure of and at a salary determined by the governor.[5] |
In 2007, the Indiana Senate passed SB 401, which tied annual salary increases to increases received by state employees. State executive officials are not eligible for salary increases if state employees do not receive increases to their salaries.[10]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $195,707, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $180,707, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $103,677, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2020
In 2020, the secretary's salary was increased to $103,677, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2019
In 2019, the secretary's salary was increased to $98,418, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2018
In 2018, the secretary's salary was increased to $98,418, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2017
In 2017, the secretary's salary was increased to $97,468, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2016
In 2016, the secretary's salary was increased to $94,538, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2015
In 2015, the secretary received a salary of $92,503, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $92,503, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $89,722, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2012
In 2012, the secretary received a salary of $87,790, 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 Indiana Secretary 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 Indiana Jenner Secretary Education. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Indiana Department of Education
151 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Phone: 317.232.6610
Fax: 317.232.8004
Email: webmaster@doe.in.gov
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Indiana General Assembly, "House Bill 1005," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Code, "IC 20-19," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Department of Education, " Superintendent," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Indianapolis Star, "What you need to know about Katie Jenner, Indiana's first Secretary of Education," November 20, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Indiana General Assembly, "2020 Code: Article 19. State Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Code, "IC 3-10-2-6 Year for election of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Code, "Chapter 3. Department of Education," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Code, "IC 20-19," accessed August 16, 2013
- ↑ Indiana State Budget Agency, "2023-2025 The Whole Budget Report," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Senate Enrolled Act No. 401," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ 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 21, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 21, 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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