Education Commission of the States is the essential, indispensable member of any team addressing education policy at the state level.
We provide personalized support and services to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories to help education leaders gain the insight and experience needed to create effective education policy for their constituents. Our expertise spans across the spectrum from early care and education to workforce development.
In 1967, Education Commission of the States opened its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The organization was created after the establishment of the Compact for Education in 1965 that highlighted the need for an organization that connects state policymakers and supports education policymaking.
The Executive Committee provides strategic direction and oversight for the management, operations and financial policies of Education Commission of the States. It also hires and manages the President. Members of the Executive Committee serve two-year terms.
The chair is a governor, and the position alternates between Democratic and Republican every two years. The vice chair is a state legislator who is from the opposite party of the chair. To see a list of current and past chairs, please click here. Education Commission of the States is privileged to have the following individuals provide leadership for our organization.
2023-25 Chair’s Initiative on Education Access for Justice-Impacted Individuals
Chair
Governor, Kansas
Immediate Past Chair
Former Governor, Arkansas
Vice Chair
Senator, North Dakota
President
President, Education Commission of the States
Treasurer
Commissioner of Education, Connecticut
Senior Vice President of Rodel Foundation, Delaware
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah
State Board of Education Member, Alabama
President of Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky
Senior Vice President of Rodel Foundation, Delaware
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah
State Board of Education Member, Alabama
President of Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky
Director of State Council of Higher Education, Virginia
The Legislative Education Staff Network exists to strengthen the capabilities of legislative education staff to support legislatures and individual legislators in developing P-20 education and workforce development state laws and policies, both fiscal and programmatic, which support student success.
LESN is a coordinated network of professional and knowledgeable legislative staff from across the country who work on education policy. It is governed by a steering committee appointed by ECS and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The Arts Education Partnership is a national network of more than 200 organizations dedicated to advancing arts education. It is the nation’s hub for arts and education leaders, building their leadership capacity to support students, educators and learning environments.
Visit Arts Education Partnership
Founded in 2018, Strong Start to Finish is a network of policy and research partners, institution and systems leaders and foundations advancing system reforms in developmental education. Strong Start to Finish works to scale the use of proven, proactive strategies that remove barriers that typically impede students who are racially-minoritized, have low incomes and/or are returning adults.
Visit Strong Start to Finish
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