New Jersey Commissioner of Education
| New Jersey Commissioner of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $175,000 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $19,896,999,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Kevin Dehmer | |
| Other New Jersey Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Comptroller• Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of Environmental Protection • Labor Commissioner • Public Utilities Board | |
The New Jersey Commissioner of Education is the chief executive school officer of New Jersey and oversees all public schools. Additionally, the commissioner serves as secretary to the state Board of Education, develops code proposals, apportions state aid to local districts, and conducts statewide tests.[1]
Current officeholder
The acting New Jersey Commissioner of Education is Kevin Dehmer (nonpartisan). Dehmer assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The authority of the commissioner is established in Title 18a of the New Jersey Statutes:[2]
"18A:6-7.2a. Authority of commissioner
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Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for the office of New Jersey Commissioner of Education.[3]
Appointments
The commissioner of education is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate.[3]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the New Jersey Commissioner of Education has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The commissioner has the following duties:[4]
- Serves as secretary to the State Board of Education;
- Develops code proposals for state board discussion and consideration;
- Apportions state aid to local districts;
- Administers regulations for classifying students with disabilities;
- Ensures that local districts adhere to all legal and state board requirements relating to school district operation; and
- Conducts statewide tests.
Divisions
As of February 2, 2021, the department of education contains the following divisions:[5]
- Division of Academics and Performance
- Division of Early Childhood Education
- Division of Executive Services
- Division of Field Services
- Division of Finance
- Division of Student Services
State budget
- See also: New Jersey state budget and finances
The budget for the New Jersey Department of Education in Fiscal Year 2024 was $19,896,999,000.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of state executive officials are determined by the New Jersey State Legislature. State executive officers, along with judicial and legislative officials, have not received salary increases since 2002. A seven-member salary commission determined annual pay for state officials from its creation in 1999 until legislators eliminated the commission in 2014. All cabinet officials under the governor's office receive annual salaries of $141,000 as legislators have not approved pay increases since the commission's elimination.[7][8][9]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2010
In 2010, the commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
Superintendents surveyed
In the first survey of its kind commissioned by the Department of Education, the majority of school superintendents criticized the state for not adequately helping to raise achievement or prepare students for college and careers. The 66 question survey was sent out to all 580 superintendents in 2011, of which 408 were returned during May and June.
Former Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf, indicating he took the concerns seriously, said in a letter to the superintendents, “The main takeaway for me is that our work at the Department too often strays from our No. 1 priority: to help all students in New Jersey graduate from high school ready for college and a career.” He plans to repeat the survey annually and alter the department accordingly.[21]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the New Jersey Commissioner of Education has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact information
New Jersey Department of Education
100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Telephone: (609) 292-4450
Fax: (609) 777-4099
See also
| New Jersey | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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- Superintendent of Schools
- New Jersey school districts
- New Jersey Department of Education
- Public education in New Jersey
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Jersey Department of Education, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "18A:6-7.2a. Authority of commissioner," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 New Jersey Department of Education, "Public Education in New Jersey," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ New Jersey Department of Education, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ New Jersey Department of Education, "Divisions and Offices," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ State of New Jersey, "Appropriations Handbook: Fiscal Year 2023-2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ NJ.com, "N.J. Republican leaders block pay raises for top state officials," September 28, 2011
- ↑ New Jersey State Legislature, "Joint Resolution No. 1," March 5, 1999
- ↑ LegiScan, "Assembly, No. 3067," February 7, 2013
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 22, 2011
- ↑ New York Times, "New Jersey Superintendents Call State Agency Ineffective," August 15, 2011
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