The State School System Structure

Every state school system is put together in order to best benefit the students being taught under that system. As a teacher, understanding the purpose of each level gives you an understanding of what part you play and what part others play as well. For the purposes of understanding the job of each level, think of your state school system as a kerosene lamp. In order for things to run smoothly, each part must do its job.

The State Constitution is the base of the lamp. It provides a foundation for everything else within your system. It sets the groundwork and determines how everyone else does their part in they system. The State Board of Education is like the globe of the lamp. The globe creates the standard for how much light shines through, while the State Board of Education enforces minimum standards for the operation of all phases of the school system. The State Superintendent is the Rim of the Globe. The Rim of the Globe is at the top of the lamp. It provides the most supervision in how much light gets through. The State Superintendent is at the top of the State Board of Education. This person has the better part of the responsibility when it comes to things such as organizing programs and revising curriculum. The State Department is the burner of the lamp. The knob on the burner controls how much fire is produces and the State Department of Education controls the decisions made by the Board. In any situation they can decide to turn the heat up or down.

Local School Districts are like the design on the globe. The design of the globe makes each one different. In Local School Districts they are all responsible for carrying out state law but each district has a different feel to it. The Local Superintendent is the base that supports the globe. The Local Superintendent is responsible for supporting the Local School District. This responsibility includes the responsibility to the community and upholding state laws. Kerosene fuels the lamp and the principal fuels the school. His fuel comes in the form of management, supervision, and inspection. Without the wick, what good would the lamp be? Without a teacher how much would the children learn? The wick provides the kerosene for the lamp just as teachers provide the knowledge for the students. The student is the flame that burns on the lamp. The flame is the entire reason that the lamp has been put together and the student is the entire reason that the school system has been put together. Once all of the parts of the school have been set in place then the student can be there to gather everything and learn.