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Kansas Commissioner of Education
| Kansas Commissioner of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $253,575 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $6,600,711,054 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serve at the pleasure of the Kansas Board of Education |
| Authority: | Kansas Constitution, Article 6, Section 4 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the Kansas Board of Education |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Kansas Commissioner of Education
Randy Watson | |
| Other Kansas Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Wildlife and Parks Secretary • Labor Secretary • Corporation Commission | |
The Kansas Commissioner of Education is a state executive position in the Kansas state government. The commissioner is appointed by the State Board of Education and oversees the day-to-day administrations of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The KSDE oversees the state’s K-12 education system, including standards and assessments, special education services, child nutrition and wellness, title programs and services, career and technical education, and financial aid.[1][2]
Current officeholder
The current Kansas Commissioner of Education is Randy Watson (nonpartisan). Watson assumed office in 2015.
Authority
The Kansas Constitution addresses the office of the Commissioner of Education in Article 6, Education.
Under Article 6, Section 4:
|
The state board of education shall appoint a commissioner of education who shall serve at the pleasure of the board as its executive officer. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for the office of Kansas Commissioner of Education.[1]
Appointments
Chapter 72, Article 76 of the Kansas Statutes addresses the method for selecting education commissioners:
(a) The state board shall appoint a commissioner of education as is provided by section 4 of article 6 of the constitution. The commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the state board and perform such duties as are prescribed by law or by the state board.[1]
Vacancies
According to Kansas statute, "The state board may appoint a person to be the acting commissioner of education in any interim in which the office of commissioner of education is vacant."[1]
Duties
The commissioner provides guidance for the Kansas Department of Education's implementation of state and federal law in the state's 286 unified school districts.[3]
Divisions
As of January 25, 2021, the Kansas Office of the Commissioner of Education contains the following divisions:
- Fiscal and Administrative Services
- Learning Services[4]
State budget
- See also: Kansas state budget and finances
The Department of Education's budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $6,600,711,054.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $253,575, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $230,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $230,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner’s salary was $230,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner’s salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner’s salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner’s salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2011
In 2011, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, 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 Kansas 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 Kansas Commissioner Education. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Randy Watson
Kansas Commissioner of Education
Phone: (785) 296-3202
Email: rwatson@ksde.org
Penny Rice
Administrative Officer
Phone: (785) 296-3202
Email: price@ksde.org
See also
| Kansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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- Superintendent of Schools
- Kansas school districts
- Kansas Department of Education
- Public education in Kansas
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "Kansas Statutes Chapter 72 - Schools," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "About us," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Kansas Division of the Budget, "FY 2021 Governor’s Budget Report Volume 1," accessed January 24, 2021
- ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "About us," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Kansas Division of the Budget, "2025 comparison report," accessed January 17, 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, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 25, 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 States 2011- Table 4.11," accessed January 15, 2015
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