(1) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.—In accordance with s. 2, Art. IX of the State Constitution, the State Board of Education is a body corporate and must supervise the system of free public education as is provided by law. The State Board of Education is the head of the Department of Education.

(2) COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.—The Commissioner of Education is appointed by the State Board of Education and serves as the Executive Director of the Department of Education.

(3) DIVISIONS.—The following divisions of the Department of Education are established:

(a) Division of Florida Colleges.

(b) Division of Public Schools.

(c) Division of Career and Adult Education.

(d) Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

(e) Division of Blind Services.

(f) Division of Accountability, Research, and Measurement.

(g) Division of Finance and Operations.

(h) Office of K-20 Articulation.

(i) The Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, which must include the following offices:

1. The Office of Early Learning, which shall be administered by an executive director who is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The executive director shall, pursuant to s. 1001.213, administer the early learning programs, including the school readiness program and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at the state level.

2. The Office of K-12 School Choice, which shall be administered by an executive director who is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education.

(j) The Office of Safe Schools.

(4) DIRECTORS.—The directors of all divisions shall be appointed by the commissioner subject to approval by the state board. The director of each division may be designated as “Deputy Commissioner” or “Chancellor.”

(5) POWERS AND DUTIES.—The State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education shall assign to the divisions such powers, duties, responsibilities, and functions as are necessary to ensure the greatest possible coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of education for students in K-20 education under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education.

(6) COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES.—Notwithstanding anything contained in law to the contrary, the commissioner shall appoint all members of all councils and committees of the Department of Education, except the Commission for Independent Education and the Education Practices Commission.

(7) BOARDS.—Notwithstanding anything contained in law to the contrary, all members of the Florida College System institution boards of trustees must be appointed according to chapter 1001.

(8) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Department of Education shall continue to provide support to the Board of Governors of the State University System. At a minimum, support services provided to the Board of Governors shall include accounting, printing, computer and Internet support, personnel and human resources support, support for accountability initiatives, and administrative support as needed for trust funds under the jurisdiction of the Board of Governors.

History.—s. 15, ch. 69-106; s. 33, ch. 75-48; s. 1, ch. 75-302; ss. 2, 3, ch. 77-123; s. 1, ch. 77-259; s. 104, ch. 79-222; s. 1, ch. 81-56; s. 10, ch. 81-259; s. 9, ch. 83-326; s. 106, ch. 84-336; s. 25, ch. 86-225; s. 1, ch. 87-76; s. 4, ch. 91-45; s. 1, ch. 91-182; s. 13, ch. 94-232; s. 1316, ch. 95-147; s. 51, ch. 95-280; ss. 2, 3, ch. 95-327; s. 72, ch. 97-190; s. 7, ch. 97-307; s. 14, ch. 98-281; s. 26, ch. 98-421; ss. 2, 42, ch. 99-240; s. 21, ch. 99-398; s. 52, ch. 2000-165; s. 2, ch. 2000-301; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321; s. 4, ch. 2001-60; s. 1, ch. 2002-22; s. 881, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2006-74; s. 2, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2007-234; s. 1, ch. 2009-40; s. 1, ch. 2009-228; s. 12, ch. 2011-142; s. 2, ch. 2013-15; s. 2, ch. 2013-51; s. 20, ch. 2013-252; s. 4, ch. 2018-3.

Note.—Paragraph (3)(e) former s. 20.171(5)(c).