With origins predating statehood, the 16-member State Board of Education (SBE) is comprised of five members elected by geographic regions by school directors, one member elected by private school directors, seven members appointed by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and two non-voting student members. Eight voting members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the SBE.
The SBE has various duties and powers prescribed in statute, including:
Voting authority is extended to the two student members of the SBE, but they must excuse themselves from voting on matters directly relating to graduation requirement changes that apply to their school and graduating class.
With the change in voting membership, the number of SBE members constituting a quorum is increased from eight to nine. However, if one or more student member of the SBE is excused from voting on a matter directly relating to graduation requirement changes, eight voting members of the SBE constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.