California Department of Education

California Department of Education

Agency overview
Annual budget	US$ 53.2 billion (2011)
Agency executive	Tom Torlakson, Superintendent
Website	www.cde.ca.gov

The California Department of Education is an agency within the Government of California that oversees public education. Its headquarters are located in the state's capital city of Sacramento.

The department oversees funding and testing, and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement. Its stated mission is to provide leadership, assistance, oversight, and resources (via teaching and teaching material) so that every Californian has access to a good education.

The State Board of Education is the governing and policy-making body, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is the nonpartisan (originally partisan) elected executive officer. Superintendents serve four-year terms. The current Superintendent of Public Instruction is Tom Torlakson. The Superintendent serves as the state's chief spokesperson for public schools, and provides education policy and direction to local school districts. He also serves as an ex officio member of governing boards of the state's higher education system.

See also

• California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
• California State Board of Education
• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• School accreditation
• List of school districts in California
• List of school districts in California by county

Colleges and Universities

• California Community Colleges System
• California State University System
• University of California System
• List of colleges and universities in California

External links

• California Department of Education official website
• California teacher's credentials database
• California Department of Education Statistics and Schools