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North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
| North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $130,323 |
| 2023-25 FY Budget: | $3,073,075,858 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | North Dakota Constitution, Article V, Section 2 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Kirsten Baesler | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 7, 2028 |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Other North Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Tax Commissioner | |
The North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected state executive position in the North Dakota state government. The superintendent is the state's chief education officer and the administrator of the Department of Public Instruction. The office is responsible for drafting and communicating state education policy, providing assistance to school districts, and overseeing elementary and secondary education in the state.[1]
The superintendent serves a four-year term and is popularly elected during presidential election years.[2]
Current officeholder
The current North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction is Kirsten Baesler (nonpartisan). Baesler assumed office in 2013.
Authority
The auditor's authority is derived from Article V, Section 2 of the North Dakota Constitution.
Article V, Section 2:
| The qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative assembly shall choose a governor, lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner, attorney general, auditor, insurance commissioner, three public service commissioners, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, tax commissioner, and treasurer. ...[2] |
Qualifications
Chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes the qualifications of the office:
| The qualified electors of this state shall elect a superintendent of public instruction at the appropriate general election. The superintendent must be at least twenty-five years of age on the day of the election and have the qualifications of an elector for that office at all times during the superintendent's term of office.[3] |
- Qualified North Dakota voter
- At least 25 years old
Vacancies
Article V, Section 8 addresses vacancies in state executive offices. In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints a successor. Once appointed, the individual serves the remainder of the unexpired term.[2] If a vacancy occurs within 95 days before a regularly-scheduled election for the position, the office must remain vacant.[4]
Duties
The superintendent is the state's chief education officer and the administrator of the Department of Public Instruction. The office is responsible for drafting and communicating state education policy, providing assistance to school districts, and overseeing elementary and secondary education in the state.[1] Additional duties of the office include, but are not limited to:[5]
- Enforcing relevant state laws and regulations regarding education;
- Supervising the development of course content standards;
- Serving as an ex officio member of the board of university and school lands;
- Directing school district annexation, reorganization, and dissolution; and,
- Administering a student loan forgiveness program for individuals teaching at grade levels, subject areas, and in geographical locations identified as having a shortage.
Elections
The superintendent of public instruction in North Dakota is popularly elected every four years in presidential election years. The term of office is four years.[2]
2024
General election
General election for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler defeated Jason Heitkamp in the general election for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kirsten Baesler (Nonpartisan) | 56.9 | 185,318 |
 | Jason Heitkamp (Nonpartisan) | 42.4 | 138,085 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 2,316 | ||
| Total votes: 325,719 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler and Jason Heitkamp defeated Jim Bartlett and Darko Draganic in the primary for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 11, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kirsten Baesler (Nonpartisan) | 54.9 | 59,170 |
| ✔ | | Jason Heitkamp (Nonpartisan) | 22.1 | 23,837 |
 | Jim Bartlett (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 21,216 | |
 | Darko Draganic (Nonpartisan) | 3.1 | 3,320 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 280 | ||
| Total votes: 107,823 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2020
General election
General election for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler defeated Brandt Dick and Charles Tuttle in the general election for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kirsten Baesler (Nonpartisan) | 59.1 | 192,835 |
 | Brandt Dick (Nonpartisan) | 39.9 | 130,280 | |
 | Charles Tuttle (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 3,005 | ||
| Total votes: 326,120 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler and Brandt Dick defeated Charles Tuttle in the primary for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kirsten Baesler (Nonpartisan) | 54.2 | 76,987 |
| ✔ | | Brandt Dick (Nonpartisan) | 25.8 | 36,733 |
| Charles Tuttle (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 27,929 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 456 | ||
| Total votes: 142,105 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Past elections
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 North Dakota 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: North Dakota state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Public Instruction for the 2023-25 biennium was $3,073,075,858.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction is entitled to an annual salary in accordance with Title 15 of the North Dakota Century Code.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $130,323, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $127,766, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the superintendent received a salary of $125,882, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the superintendent received a salary of $122,810, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the superintendent received a salary of $120,410, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the superintendent received a salary of $120,410, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the superintendent received a salary of $120,410, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the superintendent received a salary of $116,903, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the superintendent received a salary of $113,498, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the superintendent received a salary of $110,192, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the superintendent received a salary of $105,954, according the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the superintendent received a salary of $95,112, 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Mailing Address:
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0440
Phone: 701-328-2260
Fax: 701-328-4770
Email: dpi@nd.gov
See also
| North Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, "About Us," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 North Dakota Legislative Branch, "Constitution," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "Chapter 15.1-02," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "Chapter 44-02," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "Chapter 15.1-02," accessed Feb. 3, 2021
- ↑ North Dakota Legislature, "68th Legislative Assembly State Budget Actions for the 2023-25 Biennium," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 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 28, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed December 3, 2017
- ↑ 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 December 4, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 27, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
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