Republican Dave Reichert and Democrat Bob Ferguson are competing in Washington’s 2024 governor’s race. Both candidates agree that public education could improve if the superintendent of public instruction was appointed by the governor, instead of being elected. Ferguson even plans to amend the state constitution to make this change by January 2029.
Current Superintendent Chris Reykdal, running for a third term, supports the idea of making the role appointed, while his opponent, David Olson, opposes it. Ferguson included this proposal in his education plan, along with efforts to streamline education efforts at all levels and ensure coordination from early childhood to career.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible for overseeing education policies, distributing funds, and setting standards for over 1 million students across the state. By eliminating the elected role, Ferguson and Reichert believe governors could play a more direct role in shaping education policy and managing funding.
Former governor Chris Gregoire proposed a similar change in 2011, aiming to appoint a secretary of education, but the idea faced opposition from the Washington Education Association and other education groups. Reykdal argues that the change would make the system more efficient, while Olson believes such an important position should remain in the hands of voters, not the governor.