Education governance.

(1) Existing law establishes the State Board of Education to adopt policies, and to establish rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the state, to govern the public elementary and secondary schools of the state. Existing law provides that the state board consists of 10 members, who are appointed by the Governor to 4-year terms with the advice and consent of 23 of the Senate. Existing law also provides for the appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of 23 of the Senate, of a student member to a single one-year term commencing on August 1. Existing law authorizes the state board to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses before the board, or before any member of the board, in the same manner as any court in the state. This bill would require that the 10 nonstudent appointees to the state board represent, and reside in, different geographical areas of the state, reflect the ethnic and gender diversity of the state's population, and represent the various disciplines active in the public education system. The bill would eliminate the authority of the state board to establish statewide educational policy and issue rules and regulations for the governance of public elementary and secondary schools. The bill would instead provide that the state board, working with the Secretary for Education, whose office would be established by this bill, would advise the Governor on education policy. The bill would eliminate the authority of the state board to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses. (2) Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, among other things, to execute, under the direction of the State Board of Education, the policies decided upon by the state board. This bill would eliminate the requirement that the Superintendent of Public Instruction execute policies of the State Board of Education. The bill would instead define the function of the Superintendent as ensuring the delivery of high-quality education to the pupils of the state who attend preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The bill would establish the Secretary for Education as a cabinet-level officer, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of 23 of the Senate, who would work together with the state board to advise the Governor on education policy.