Governors Make the Grade: Growing Gubernatorial Influence in State Education Policy

Abstract

Since the 1970s, American governors have become increasingly active in education politics. Where they once told state education chiefs to “make me the best education governor ever,” they now demand control of state boards of education, push for state control of school funding, and urge statewide standards for teacher evaluation. This article surveys the growth of gubernatorial interest in education in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Florida. It argues that sustained financial pressure on state budgets and widespread calls for educational equity have undercut both school districts and legislatures as effective arbiters of education policy. These twin pressures have forced governors, who have a statewide political constituency and are responsible for the state budget, to accept greater control over education policy.