RE: Question I

The key is indeed "who is in charge".

If you want the focus to be on support for best student learning outcomes, and a focus on consistent support for the education process, you need an elected person whose only responsibility is education.

You only have to look at the current proposed state budget to see the lack of consistency. At the county offices and district levels, we work hard to implement the newest fix for education's perceived needs only to have them replaced by the next fix. The content subject matter projects which have increased the knowledge and teaching skills of many teachers, and produced leadership in each area will lose half their funding.  The Mathematics Professional Development Institues which have only been in place for about two years, will lose half their funding.  The K-12 University partnerships that have been supporting underperforming schools, and working with underserved populations of students will be eliminated.  Where is the consistency when the governor is responsible for education? Where is the consistency when the governor can be replaced at each election, for reasons having little to do with education?