Governance for K-12 education in California can be seen as having three levels:

• State - Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Board of Education, Secretary for Education, etc. (see list below chart)
• Intermediate - county offices of education
• Local - school districts

There are many relationships among these levels, but it is important to note that the structure is not hierarchical.

An overview of state-level governance is given in the chart and list below.

County offices provide direct administrative services for small school districts (about one third of all districts), including for example payroll services. County offices also provide programmatic assistance and fiscal oversight to all districts. In addition, they operate specialized programs for certain groups of students, such as those in juvenile court schools.

Local school districts provide centralized administration for their school sites. They apportion funding, and typically handle issues such as expulsions and salary schedules. Some examples of relationships between districts and a county office of education: a county office may maintain a curriculum library used by administrators and teachers in the districts in that county; county offices are sometimes the direct providers of special education. The relationships between districts and county offices depend greatly on the districts and county offices involved.

Functions

• Secretary for Education: Advises/makes recommendations to Governor
• Superintendent of Public Instruction: Heads Department of Education; serves as executive officer of the State Board of Education.
• Department of Education: Administers specific programs and apportions state funding to districts.

Additional Government Entities that make or impact
State-Level Education Policy

Legislature
State Controller
Office of Administrative Law
Department of Finance
    Education Unit
        Education Audit Appeals Panel
Department of General Services
    Office of Public School Construction
        State Allocations Board
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Public Employees Relations Board
Advisory Commission on Special Education
Curriculum Development/ Supplemental Materials Commission
Commission on Technology in Learning
Statewide Pupil Assessment Review Panel
Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team
Bureau of State Audits
"Little Hoover" Commission