Oklahoma legislators are considering a plan to remove the six appointed members of the state board of education and replace them with the governor, the attorney general, and the secretary of state.
Every state but two—Minnesota and Wisconsin—has a governing board that oversees its education department and, in some states, regulates local school districts.
The Oklahoma proposal was approved by the state Senate and sent to the House. A separate bill in the House aims to reduce the state board’s authority. Both plans were introduced following a power struggle between the six board members appointed by former Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, and newly elected state schools Superintendent Janet Barresi, a Republican.
