North Carolina's kindergarten through 12th grade public school system is the 11th largest in student population in the country. It consists of approximately 2,000 schools in 117 school systems. Local boards have general control and supervision of all matters pertaining to the public schools in their administrative unit and elect a superintendent to preside over each school system. The State Board of Education is responsible for supervising and administering the state's elementary and secondary public school system, subject to laws enacted by the General Assembly. The State Board of Education consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the State Treasurer, and eleven members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly.
Appointments are for overlapping terms of eight years.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction serves as secretary and chief administrative officer to the State Board of Education. The State Superintendent, elected by the people of North Carolina for a four-year term, is responsible for organizing and administering the Department of Public Instruction. The major program of the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction is the statewide school-based accountability plan for public schools, known as the ABCs of Public Education. Enacted by the 1996 Session of the General Assembly, the ABCs focuses on strong accountability with an emphasis on high educational standards, teaching the basics, and maximum local control. An accountability model for elementary and middle schools was implemented in 1996-97.