Giving Guidance to Our Work
The mission of the State Board of Education is to provide policy leadership, support, advocacy, and oversight of public education to ensure that every student is valued and learns the skills and knowledge necessary to become informed, competent, and contributing global citizens.
In support of this mission, the State Board has established the following three priorities to guide its activities for the board term ending December 31, 2026:
Ensure Safety and Support for All Students
Strengthen physical and psychological safety for all students by identifying key drivers of harm and partnering with experts, community voices, and education leaders to promote well-being before, during, and after the school day.
Strategic Initiatives
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Update Bullying Definition
Examine whether the definition of bullying needs to be expanded and modernized, and work with District Government partners to reestablish the Youth Bullying Prevention Task Force.
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Champion Student Safety Report
Partner with the Office of the Student Advocate (OSA) on their annual student safety report and elevate its findings and recommendations via State Resolution and possible legislation.
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Elevate Student Voice
Partner with the Student Advisory Committee (SAC) to highlight holistic wellbeing resources for students across the district.
Promote Excellence and Opportunity for All Students
Drive bold improvements in academic excellence and equitable opportunity by advocating for rigorous standards, inclusive pathways, and strong community partnerships that ensure all students are ready to succeed in college, career, and civic life.
Strategic Initiatives
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Modernize High School Graduation Requirements
Facilitate a cross-sector task force to review and provide feedback on the Office of the State Superintendent of Education's proposed updates to high school graduation requirements.
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Create Implementation Feedback Loops for Education Standards
Conduct targeted site visits to develop actionable recommendations that strengthen the fidelity of education standards implementation across schools.
Support Early-career Teachers
Support and advise local education agencies (LEAs) on early career teacher retention strategies and promote statewide guidance to develop teacher practice.
Strategic Initiatives
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Develop Educator-informed Recommendations
Conduct and publish research on early-career teacher trends, experiences, and needs, leveraging key findings to form advocacy efforts (potentially inclusive of efforts related to standardized induction frameworks) for the remainder of the year.
“These priorities are the outcome of months-long deliberations among us board members about critical areas we believe must be addressed to ensure our students get the education and preparation they need to succeed,” says State Board president Jacque Patterson. “They are the lodestones toward which we will direct the bulk of our work in the upcoming year, which we will pursue with vigor and heart.”
