The Mission of the Indiana State Board of Education is to fulfill its statutory responsibility by establishing policies that promote excellence in learning for all students. The Board shall provide Leadership, Vision, and Advocacy to secure optimum educational opportunity and benefit to the citizens of Indiana.
Adopted: April 9, 1998

Established by the General Assembly, the 11-member State Board of Education oversees state education policy-making.

Its major responsibilities, set by statute, are to:

• establish the educational goals of the state, developing standards and objectives for local school corporations;
• assess the attainment of the established goals;
• assure the compliance with established standards and objectives; and
• make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on the educational needs of the state, including financial needs.

On a more specific basis, the State Board of Education has authority over areas such as distribution of state funds, accreditation of local schools, and adoption of textbooks for use in the schools.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is a voting member and chairs the Board. The remaining 10 members are appointed by the Governor, one from each of the state's congressional districts. No more than six of the 10 appointed members may be from the same political party, and at least four must be educators.

In addition, an advisory committee on textbook adoptions assists the State Board of Education. Its seven members are appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.