Who We Are

Education Commission of the States is the essential, indispensable member of any team addressing education policy at the state level.

What We Do

We provide personalized support and services to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories to help education leaders gain the insight and experience needed to create effective education policy for their constituents. Our expertise spans across the spectrum from early care and education to workforce development.

In 1967, Education Commission of the States opened its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The organization was created after the establishment of the Compact for Education in 1965 that highlighted the need for an organization that connects state policymakers and supports education policymaking.

Learn more about our history below

The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee provides strategic direction and oversight for the management, operations and financial policies of Education Commission of the States. It also hires and manages the President. Members of the Executive Committee serve two-year terms.

The chair is a governor, and the position alternates between Democratic and Republican every two years.

The vice chair is a state legislator who is from the opposite party of the chair.

Board

Laura-Kelly

Chair

Laura Kelly

Governor, Kansas

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Immediate Past Chair

Asa Hutchinson

Former Governor, Arkansas

Vice Chair

Don Schaible

Senator, North Dakota

Interim President

Matt Padilla

Interim President, Education Commission of the States

President

José Muñoz

President, Education Commission of the States

Treasurer

Charlene Russell-Tucker

Commissioner of Education, Connecticut

Members

Madeleine Bayard

Senior Vice President of Rodel Foundation, Delaware

Sydnee Dickson

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah

Stephanie Bell

State Board of Education Member, Alabama

Aaron Thompson

President of Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky

Peter Blake

Director of State Council of Higher Education, Virginia

Members

Madeleine Bayard

Senior Vice President of Rodel Foundation, Delaware

Sydnee Dickson

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah

Stephanie Bell

State Board of Education Member, Alabama

Aaron Thompson

President of Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky

Peter Blake

Director of State Council of Higher Education, Virginia

Our Commitment to Inclusive Language and Design

We know that language and design choices have profound effects on how our research and information is interpreted, applied and shared. Because of that, we are intentional in our efforts to use inclusive and accurate language and designs that recognize people’s strengths and put the onus on systems and institutions to create the spaces and policies that allow people to thrive instead of individuals themselves.

Annual Reports

Find yearly overviews of organizational accomplishments and financial information. For archived annual reports, please contact us

Detailed history of Education Commission

Compact for 
Education

Download PDF

Transcript
of Proceedings

Download PDF

Legislative Education Staff Network

The Legislative Education Staff Network exists to strengthen the capabilities of legislative education staff to support legislatures and individual legislators in developing P-20 education and workforce development state laws and policies, both fiscal and programmatic, which support student success.

 

LESN is a coordinated network of professional and knowledgeable legislative staff from across the country who work on education policy. It is governed by a steering committee appointed by ECS and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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