Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction

The Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected state executive position in the Arizona state government. The superintendent oversees the state of Arizona's public school system and directs the state's Department of Education.

The state superintendent's powers are mostly administrative, with little influence over education policy. While the superintendent oversees teacher certification and administers state policy, other officials and boards exert control over most substantive aspects of education in the state. For example, school funding formulas and appropriations are set by law (as determined by the Arizona Legislature and governor of Arizona, or by voters in ballot questions). The State Board of Education sets curricular and academic standards. The superintendent serves ex officio as one member of the State Board of Education and State Board for Charter Schools, but the other board members are appointed by the governor to staggered terms. Thus, the extent of the state superintendent's influence over state education policy largely depends on his or her ability to persuade the governor, the state boards, and the Legislature.

As of 2017, Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction is the lowest paid state education administrator in the United States, being paid $85,000 compared to the national average of $174,000.

The current superintendent is Tom Horne.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is fourth (behind the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer, respectively) in the line of succession to the office of Governor of Arizona.

The Superintendent of Public Education is an ex officio member of the Arizona Board of Regents which oversees public universities in the state.