OLYMPIA, Wash. –State Board of Education (SBE) Executive Director, Ben Rarick, has decided to resign in order to seek new opportunities, effective November 1. He submitted his resignation on September 18.

State Board Chair Kevin Laverty stated, “On the Board’s behalf, I want to acknowledge the valuable contribution that Ben has made to our organization and the K-12 education system in our state. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Under Rarick’s leadership over the past six years, the State Board has made great strides toward improving the state education system on behalf of the best interests of all students. The Board implemented the 24-credit graduation requirement, which is both rigorous and flexible to individual student interests, and will ensure that all students graduate prepared for college, career, and life.

Rarick also helped guide the construction of a statewide standards-based accountability framework, the Achievement Index, which created a unified system of increasing levels of support for schools in order to ensure all students receive an excellent and equitable education. SBE continues to advocate for a system of accountability with clear, appropriate indicators and measurements to monitor progress of all students in Washington’s K-12 educational system.

Currently, the Board is finalizing the process and timelines for recruiting a new executive director.

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About the State Board of Education: The State Board of Education provides advocacy and strategic oversight of public education. The Board comprises 16 members: five are elected by school board directors, seven are appointed by the Governor, two serve as student representatives, and one serves as a private school representative. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is also a member. For more information on the State Board of Education: www.sbe.wa.gov