Kansas Commissioner of Education

General information
Office Type: | Nonpartisan
Office website: | Official Link
Compensation: | $230,000
2021 FY Budget: | $5,672,204,775
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

Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson
Nonpartisan
Assumed office: 2015-07-01

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

## Contents

* 1 Current officeholder
* 2 Authority
* 3 Qualifications
* 4 Appointments
* 4.1 Vacancies
* 5 Duties
* 6 Divisions
* 7 State budget
* 8 Compensation
* 8.1 2020
* 8.2 2019
* 8.3 2018
* 8.4 2017
* 8.5 2016
* 8.6 2015
* 8.7 2014
* 8.8 2013
* 8.9 2011
* 9 Historical officeholders
* 10 Recent news
* 11 Contact information
* 12 See also
* 13 External links
* 14 Footnotes

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[edit]

The current officeholder is Randy Watson.[3] Watson took office July 1, 2015, relieving Deputy Commissioner Brad Neuenswander of his role as interim commissioner. Neuenswander filled in for former Commissioner Diane DeBacker, who resigned in April 2014.[4][5][6]

## Authority[edit]

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[edit]

There are no specific qualifications for the office of Kansas Commissioner of Education.[1]

## Appointments[edit]

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[edit]

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]

Click here to view a larger-scale image of the Kansas Department of Education Organizational Chart as of June 2012.

## Duties[edit]

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.[7]

## Divisions[edit]

As of January 25, 2021, the Kansas Office of the Commissioner of Education contains the following divisions:

* Fiscal and Administrative Services
* Learning Services[8]

## State budget[edit]

See also: Kansas state budget and finances

The Department of Education's budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 was $5,672,204,775.[9]

## Compensation[edit]

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

### 2020[edit]

In 2020, the commissioner’s salary was $230,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

### 2019[edit]

In 2019, the commissioner’s salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

### 2018[edit]

In 2018, the commissioner’s salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

### 2017[edit]

In 2017, the commissioner’s salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

### 2016[edit]

In 2016, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

### 2015[edit]

In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

### 2014[edit]

In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]

### 2013[edit]

In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

### 2011[edit]

In 2011, the commissioner received a salary of $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]

## Historical officeholders[edit]

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[edit]

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.

Kansas Commissioner of Education - Google News

## Contact information[edit]

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

* Online contact form

## See also[edit]

Kansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis

|
|

Kansas State Executive Offices Kansas State Legislature Kansas Courts |  2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 Kansas elections: 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 |  Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

* Superintendent of Schools
* Kansas school districts
* Kansas Department of Education
* Public education in Kansas

## External links[edit]

| Suggest a link

|

* Kansas Commissioner of Education

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "Kansas Statutes Chapter 72 - Schools," accessed January 25, 2021
2. ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "About us," accessed January 25, 2021
3. ↑ Kansas Department of Education, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed January 25, 2021
4. ↑ Kansas Department of Education, "Commissioner of Education," accessed June 21, 2013
5. ↑ The Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kansas Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker resigns for Abu Dhabi ed council," April 9, 2014
6. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Kansas ed board meeting seeks opinions on qualities for new commissioner," May 22, 2014
7. ↑ Kansas Division of the Budget, "FY 2021 Governor’s Budget Report Volume 1," accessed January 24, 2021
8. ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "About us," accessed January 25, 2021
9. ↑ Kansas Legislative Research Department, "FY2021 Appropriations Report," accessed January 24, 2021
10. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 25, 2021
11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 25, 2021
12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 25, 2021
13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 25, 2021
14. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
16. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
17. ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
18. ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of States 2011- Table 4.11," accessed January 15, 2015

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