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Colorado Commissioner of Education
| Colorado Commissioner of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $300,684 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $7,805,228,556 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves as the pleasure of the Board of Education |
| Authority: | Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 22-2-110 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the Colorado Board of Education |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Colorado Commissioner of Education
Susana Cordova | |
| Other Colorado Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Controller • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Exec. Director • Labor Executive Director • Public Utilities Commission • Colorado State Board of Regents | |
The Colorado Commissioner of Education is a state executive position in the Colorado state government. The commissioner is the chief state school officer and executive officer of the department of education.[1] The commissioner is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Colorado Board of Education.
Current officeholder
The current Colorado Commissioner of Education is Susana Cordova (nonpartisan). Cordova assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of superintendent is established by Colorado law as executive officer of the state department of education.[2]
Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 22-2-110
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(1) The commissioner of education shall be the chief state school officer and executive officer of the department of education. |
Qualifications
By law, commissioners must have demonstrated personal and professional leadership, preferably in the administration of public education, and must possess an advanced degree, preferably in education.[2]
Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 22-2-110
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(4) The person appointed to the office of commissioner of education by the state board pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall, at a minimum, satisfy the following professional qualifications. |
Appointments
Commissioners of education are appointed by the Colorado Board of Education and serve at its pleasure.[2]
Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 22-2-110
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(2) The commissioner shall be appointed by the state board, serve at the pleasure of the board, and receive such compensation as may be determined by the board. |
Term limits
This office does not have term limits.
Vacancies
There is no particular procedure for dealing with vacancies in the office of commissioner.
Duties
The commissioner oversees the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the administrative arm of the Colorado State Board of Education, which makes policy for the state's public schools. The CDE's official website lists its main responsibilities as follows:[3]
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Divisions
As of January 12, 2021, divisions within the Department of Education included:[5]
- Field Services
- Communications
- Information Management Services
- Assessment
- Student Learning
- School Quality & Support
- School Finance and Operations
- Educator Talent
- Deputy Commissioner
State budget
- See also: Colorado state budget and finances
The budget for the Colorado Department of Education in the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year was $7,805,228,556.[6]
Compensation
The commissioner's compensation is determined by the state board of education.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $300,684, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $291,924, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $283,416, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $283,416 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $262,656 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $255,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $245,688 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $245,688 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary $225,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $225,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $225,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2011
In 2011, the commissioner received a salary of $223,860 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
There have been 18 Colorado Commissioners of Education since 1950.
| List of officeholders from 1950-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | |||
| 1 | Nettie S. Freed | 1950-1951 | |||
| 2 | J. Burton Vasche | 1951-1952 | |||
| 3 | Burtis E. Taylor (Interim) | 1952-1953 | |||
| 4 | H. Grant Vest | 1953-1959 | |||
| 5 | John H. Swenson (Interim) | 1959-1960 | |||
| 6 | Byron W. Hansford | 1960-1971 | |||
| 7 | E. Dean Coon (Interim) | 1971 | |||
| 8 | Donald D. Woodington | 1971-1973 | |||
| 9 | Calvin M. Frazier | 1973-1987 | |||
| 10 | William T. Randall | 1988-1997 | |||
| 11 | Richard A. Laughlin (Interim) | 1997 | |||
| 12 | William J. Moloney | 1997-2007 | |||
| 13 | Dwight D. Jones | 2007-2010 | |||
| 14 | Robert Hammond | 2010 - 2015 | |||
| 15 | Elliott Asp (Interim) | 2015 | |||
| 16 | Richard Crandall | 2016 | |||
| 17 | Katy Anthes | 2016-2023 | |||
| 18 | Susana Cordova | 2023-Present | |||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Colorado Education Commissioner. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Physical address:
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-6600
Fax: (303) 830-0793
See also
| Colorado | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "22-2-110," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Colorado Revised Statutes, "22-2-110," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Department of Education, "CDE's Tasks and Responsibilities," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Colorado Department of Education, "Organizational Structure," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Colorado General Assembly, "Appropriations Report Fiscal Year 2024-25," accessed January 15, 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, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 12, 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, "The Book of the States 2010 -- Table 4.11," accessed July 15, 2011
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