The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is a state government agency of Michigan in the United States. The MDE oversees public school districts in the state. The department is governed by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education was first provided for in the Constitution of 1850 and currently exists through the provisions of Article VIII, Section 3, of the Constitution of 1963.
The state board is composed of eight members State Board of Education Members. Michigan Department of Education. Retrieved on January 9, 2019. nominated by party conventions and elected at-large for terms of eight years, with two members being elected at each biennial state general election. The governor is authorized to fill vacancies on the state board and also serves as an ex officio member of the state board, without the right to vote. The superintendent of public instruction is appointed by the board for a term to be determined by the board, to serve as its chair, without the right to vote.
As the principal executive officer of the Department of Education, the superintendent sits on the Governor's Cabinet, the State Administrative Board, and acts as chair and a non-voting member of the State Board of Education. The superintendent advises the legislature on education policy and funding needs, as defined by the State Board of Education. The superintendent is responsible for the implementation of bills passed by the legislature and policies established by the State Board of Education. The superintendent is a spokesperson for education in the state. The superintendent also is the primary liaison to the United States Department of Education and other federal agencies.MDE - Superintendent. Michigan Department of Education. Retrieved on August 1, 2019 The department is led by Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenn Maleyko, who assumed the role on December 8, 2025.
Major departmental responsibilities include: educator preparation and certification; providing technical assistance to schools in the areas of education improvement and innovation, special education, grants, transportation, health and food programs; statewide student assessment; school accountability; career and technical education; early childhood learning; distribution of state school aid; and overseeing the distribution and use of federal education program funding. The department also operates the Library of Michigan and the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint.
Elected Boards State Board of Education + Members of the Michigan State Board of EducationNameStartNext ElectionParty, treasurer (appointed)2028Democratic, co-vice president2028Democratic2032Republican, secretary2026Democratic, president2030Democratic, NASBE delegate2030Democratic2032Republican, co-vice president2026Democratic, governor (ex officio)2026Democratic, superintendent (ex officio)N/AN/A
Michigan State University Board of Trustees NameStartNext ElectionParty2032Democratic2032Republican2026Democratic2030Democratic, vice chair (appointed)2030Democratic (appointed)2028Democratic, chair2026Democratic2028Democratic, president (ex officio)
University of Michigan Board of Regents
Wayne State University Board of Governors NameStartNext ElectionParty2030Democratic, chair2026 (retiring)Democratic2032Republican2030Democratic2026 (retiring)Democratic2028Republican2032Republican (appointed)2028Democratic, president (ex officio)
List of superintendents of public instruction
The following is a list of those who have served as Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Superintendent Term Notes John Davis Pierce 1836–1841 Franklin Sawyer Jr. 1841–1843 Oliver C. Comstock 1843–1845 Ira Mayhew 1845–1849 Francis W. Shearman 1849–1854 Ira Mayhew 1855–1858 John Milton Gregory 1859–1864 Oramel Hosford 1865–1872 Daniel B. Briggs 1873–1876 Horace S. Tarbell 1877–1878 Resigned. Cornelius A. Gower 1878–1881 Resigned. Varnum B. Cochran 1881–1883 Resigned. Herschel R. Gass 1883–1885 Resigned. Theodore Nelson 1885–1886 Joseph Estabrook 1887–1890 Ferris S. Fitch Jr. 1891–1892 Henry R. Pattengill 1893–1896 Jason E. Hammond 1897–1900 Delos Fall 1901–1904 Patrick H. Kelley 1905–1906 Luther L. Wright 1907–1913 Resigned. Fred L. Keeler 1913–1919 Died in office. Thomas E. Johnson 1919–1926 Removed by governor. Wilford L. Coffey 1926–1927 Webster H. Pearce 1927–1933 Paul F. Voelker 1933–1935 Maurice R. Keyworth Died before taking office. Eugene B. Elliott 1935–1948 Resigned. Lee M. Thurston 1948–1953 Resigned. Clair L. Taylor 1953–1957 Lynn M. Bartlett 1957–1965 Alexander J. Kloster 1965–1966 Acting superintendent. Ira Polley 1966–1969 John W. Porter 1969–1979 Resigned. Eugene T. Paslov 1979–1980 Interim superintendent. Phillip E. Runkel 1980–1987 Gary D. Hawks 1987–1988 Interim superintendent. Donald L. Bemis 1988–1991 Resigned. Gary D. Hawks 1991 Interim superintendent. Robert E. Schiller 1991–1995 Arthur E. Ellis 1995–2001 Thomas D. Watkins Jr. 2001–2005 Jeremy Hughes 2005 Interim superintendent. Michael P. Flanagan 2005–2015 Brian J. Whiston 2015–2018 Died in office. Sheila A. Alles 2018–2019 Interim superintendent. Michael F. Rice 2019–2025 Sue C. Carnell 2025 Interim superintendent.Glenn Maleyko2025–present
References
External links Michigan Department of Education