The Tennessee Commissioner of Education is a state executive position in the Tennessee state government. This office oversees implementation of the state's education laws and assessment of school districts throughout the state.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Tennessee Commissioner of Education is Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds (nonpartisan). Gonzalez Reynolds assumed office in 2023.
Authority
Title 49, Chapter 1, Parts 1-101 and 1-102 of the Tennessee code establish the department of the education and the director of schools:
49-1-101:
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| System established. There is established a system of public education.[2]
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49-1-102:
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| Administration generally. (a) The system of public education in this state shall be governed in accordance with laws enacted by the general assembly and under policies, standards, and guidelines adopted by the state board of education that are necessary for the proper operation of public education in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12). The policies, standards and guidelines shall be formulated by the state board of education, with such assistance from the commissioner of education as the state board may request.[3]
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Qualifications
Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 802(b) of the Tennessee Code lays out the requirements for an individual to serve as commissioner of education:
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| (b) The commissioner shall be a person of literary and scientific attainments and of skill and experience in school administration. The commissioner shall also be qualified to teach in the school of the highest standing over which the commissioner has authority.[4]
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Elections
Tennessee state government organizational chart
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the method of selection and term limits (if any exist) for a state executive office. That information for the Tennessee Commissioner of Education has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify satisfactory 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.
Vacancies
Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 102 of the Tennessee code specifies that the education commissioner serves at the pleasure of the governor:
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(a) The commissioners shall be appointed by the governor for terms to expire with the beginning of the term of the governor next elected, or whenever their successors shall be appointed and qualified.
(b) Each commissioner shall hold office at the pleasure of the governor.[5]
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Duties
The commissioner of education's duties are laid out in Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 201 of the Tennessee Code and include:
- Implementing any laws or policies related to education that the state legislature or state board of education adopt.
- Attending all meetings of the state board of education, where the commissioner may speak and make recommendations.
- Managing the state department of education and fulfilling its mission to supervise education across the state.
| Click [show] to view the full text of the statute outlining the commissioner of education's duties | |
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(a) The commissioner of education is responsible for the implementation of law or policies established by the general assembly or the state board of education.
(b) The commissioner shall attend all meetings of the state board of education and may speak at the meetings and make recommendations. Any recommendations made by the commissioner shall be made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
(c) The commissioner shall provide direction through administrative and supervisory activities designed to build and maintain an effective organization as follows:
- (1) Employ and supervise the personnel within the department;
- (2) Collect and publish, in accordance with the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the state publications committee, statistics and other information relative to the public school system;
- (3) Make tours of inspection and survey among the public schools throughout the state and to direct supervision through the divisions of the department;
- (4) Require all teachers to attend county institutes or educational meetings on the date, at the hour and place designated by the county director of schools; provided, that schools shall not be suspended for more than ten (10) days in one (1) year; and provided further, that the place of the meeting shall be in the county where the school is located;
- (5) See that the school laws and the regulations of the state board of education are faithfully executed;
- (6) Prepare and distribute blank forms for all reports required by law or by the commissioner to be made by teachers, boards of education, directors of schools, county trustees and all other state, county and city officers;
- (7) Distribute in electronic format to the local boards of education, at the conclusion of each regular session of the general assembly, copies of newly enacted public chapters pertaining to public education;
- (8) Require all state and local public school officers and heads of state educational institutions under the department or the state board of education to submit detailed reports annually; and, in case of emergency, the commissioner may require special reports at any time of any officer connected with the public school system;
- (9) Appoint someone to make reports required to be made by the state or local public school officers and heads of state institutions named in this section when such officers fail to make full and accurate reports at the time designated, and to allow the appointee compensation not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) per day for the time actually employed in making the reports for the appointee's service, which shall be paid by the delinquent public school officer or the head of the state educational institution. Upon the refusal of the delinquent officer or head of the state educational institution to pay the compensation, the commissioner shall deduct that amount out of the state supplement to the delinquent officer's or head's salary or compensation and require the county trustee or other custodian of public school funds to withhold that amount out of any salary that may be due the delinquent officer;
- (10) Preserve in the commissioner's office all official documents and matters in relation to educational subjects that may come into it;
- (11) Report to the comptroller of the treasury, on July 1 of each year, the average daily attendance of the preceding year, as determined and taken from the daily attendance reports of the teachers and other officers of the various cities and counties, and on July 1 of odd years, biennially, the school census, as determined by the scholastic census enumeration;
- (12) Submit annually to the governor a detailed report of the commissioner's official acts for the year ending June 30 preceding, exhibiting a full statistical account of the receipts and disbursements of the public school funds, the condition and progress of the public schools and making recommendations for improvements of the public school system;
- (13) Prepare and furnish high school diplomas for graduates of senior, public high schools, approved by the state board of education;
- (14) Revoke, when charges are made and approved by the director of schools and local board of education upon sufficient evidence, the license of any teacher, principal, supervisor or other school official who is guilty of immoral conduct; provided, that the teacher, principal, supervisor or other official shall be given ten (10) days' notice in writing and an opportunity to appear in defense;
- (15)
- (A) Whenever it appears to the commissioner from the report of any school official or from any other reliable source that any portion of the school fund has been lost, misappropriated or in any way illegally disposed of or not collected, or is in danger of loss, misappropriation, illegal disposition or failure of collection, the commissioner may call upon the district attorney general, the county mayor or the county attorney to protect, recover or force collection of the funds; provided, that the governor shall first give approval to such action. This subdivision (c)(15)(A), however, shall not prohibit suits by one political subdivision against another political subdivision in the same county, or against the county, when the consent of the commissioner and the governor has not been obtained. The commissioner, with the consent of the governor and with the approval of the attorney general and reporter, is authorized to employ private legal counsel in order to protect, recover or force collection of any school funds; and
- (B) The commissioner has authority to send a supervisor or supervisors, as provided for in this section, to any local school system to make investigation of public school accounts, records and files of any official handling the school funds or administering the public school system, and to enforce all school laws and regulations of the commissioner; provided, that the duty of the commissioner shall not be exercised until the local board of education has requested the investigation;
- (16) Supervise high schools and furnish blank forms in accord with this title;
- (17) Prescribe regulations regarding the display of flags on public school buildings;
- (18) Require the heads of divisions under the commissioner's direction who handle state funds to give bonds sufficient to cover any liability to the state;
- (19) Inspect, approve and classify such private schools of grades one through twelve (1-12), as well as nursery schools or kindergartens, or any combination of these, as shall request such inspection, approval and classification; provided, that the same standards as are used for the approval and classification of the public schools shall be used for such inspection, approval and classification;
- (20)
- (A) Prepare and present to the state board of education for its approval, disapproval or amendment rules and regulations that are necessary to implement the policies, standards or guidelines of the state board or the education laws of the state;
- (B) In the absence of the state board, the commissioner shall have, if necessary, the emergency rulemaking authority provided for in the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5; and
- (C) The commissioner may prepare and promulgate, without board approval, rules and regulations that are solely necessary for the administrative operation and functions of the department; however, this authority shall not supersede the powers of the state board in policy matters and may be used only in performance of the commissioner's administrative responsibilities;
- (21) Conduct, subject to approval of the state board of education, a program of public information concerning public schools, kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12);
- (22) Approve evaluation plans developed by LEAs;
- (23) Inspect and approve child care centers operated by church-related schools, as defined by § 49-50-801, in accordance with the same health, fire and safety standards as are used in inspecting and approving child care centers operated in public schools;
- (24) Authorize and administer a contract between the department of education and Miss Tennessee regarding safe and drug-free schools, subject to availability of federal funds that may be used for this purpose; and
- (25) Require each LEA's director of schools to submit to the department of education an annual personnel report.
(d)
- (1) Upon application by the LEA for one (1) or more of its schools, the commissioner of education may waive any state board rule or statute that inhibits or hinders the LEA's ability to meet its goals or comply with its mission. However, the commissioner may not waive regulatory or statutory requirements related to:
- (A) Federal and state civil rights;
- (B) Federal, state and local health and safety;
- (C) Federal and state public records;
- (D) Immunizations;
- (E) Possession of weapons on school grounds;
- (F) Background checks and fingerprinting of personnel;
- (G) Federal and state special education services;
- (H) Student due process;
- (I) Parental rights;
- (J) Federal and state student assessment and accountability;
- (K) Open meetings;
- (L) Educators' due process rights;
- (M) Reductions in teachers' salaries;
- (N) Employee rights, salaries and benefits; and
- (O) Licensure of employees.
- (2) No provisions of subdivision (d)(1) shall be construed to impact memoranda of understanding under the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act of 2011, compiled in chapter 5, part 6 of this title.
(e)
- (1) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the state-level school safety team established under § 49-6-802, shall develop guidelines and training for all public school administrators and human resource personnel regarding the prevention of workplace violence. Such guidelines and training shall include outlines and related materials for use in the delivery of in-service training activities for teachers and other school personnel, and to further include materials and training or recognizing and responding to employee alcohol and substance abuse.
- (2) The commissioner is authorized to direct up to five percent (5%) of the funds appropriated for the Safe Schools Act of 1998, codified in § 49-6-4302(c), to the Tennessee school safety center for the development and delivery of training materials and guidelines as specified under § 49-6-4302(a).[6]
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Divisions
Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 202 of the Tennessee Code requires that there be a division of career and technical education within the department of education but otherwise leaves the department's structure up to the decision of the commissioner, with the approval of the governor:
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(a) The department of education shall be organized in divisions that the commissioner, with the approval of the governor, finds necessary, except that there shall be a division of career and technical education, the head of which shall be an assistant commissioner. The assistant commissioner for career and technical education shall be responsible for the management of all career and technical education matters as governed by federal and state policies, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
(b) All references to or duties or powers of the former division of vocational education or to the division of vocational-technical education shall be deemed to be references to or powers or duties of the division of career and technical education.[7]
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State budget
- See also: Tennessee state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Education in fiscal year 2024-2025 was $7,373,369,300.[8]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $212,160, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $212,160, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $200,004, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $211,408, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $208,284, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Tennessee 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 Tennessee Commissioner of Education. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Tennessee Department of Education
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-5158
See also
External links
- ↑ State of Tennessee, "About the Department," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 101," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 102," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tennessee Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 802(b)," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Lexis-Nexis, " Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-102," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 102," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 102," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee.gov, "Tennessee House Bill 2973," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ 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, 2020," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed February 2, 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 December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
