Opinion ID: 77050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Degree of Control by the State

Text: 15 The degree of control exercised by the state, acting through the State Board of Education, weighs heavily in favor of concluding that a community college is an arm of the state for two reasons. First, the State Board of Education exercises substantial control over community colleges. Second, members of the board of trustees of community colleges are appointed by state officials. 16 The State of Florida maintains substantial control over its educational system, including community colleges. See Fla. Stat. §§ 1000.02(1)(e) & 1000.03(1). The state controls community colleges through the State Board of Education, an entity that is clearly an arm of the state. As the chief implementing and coordinating body of public education in Florida, id. § 1001.02(1), the State Board oversees the enforcement of all laws and rules, and the timely provision of direction, resources, assistance, intervention when needed, and strong incentives and disincentives to force accountability for results. Id. § 1000.03(2)(b). 17 The specific powers given to the community colleges and their boards of trustees are restricted by the State Board of Education. See id. § 1000.64. The definition of a community college reflects these restrictions: community colleges are operated by a board of trustees under statutory authority and rules of the State Board of Education. Id. § 1004.65(1). The powers and duties of the board of trustees are routinely limited by reference to the rules of the State Board of Education. See id. §§ 1001.64(1), (2), (4)(b), (8)(a), (8)(d), (8)(g), (12), (14), (18), (36), (42). The powers and duties of the presidents of community colleges are also limited by reference to the rules of the State Board of Education. Id. §§ 1001.65(1)-(5), (7), (23). 18 Florida, acting through the State Board of Education, remains responsible for K-12 and community college education. NAACP, Inc. v. Fla. Bd. of Regents, 876 So.2d 636, 640 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004). There are many examples of the control exercised by the State Board of Education over community colleges: the State Board of Education adopts and modifies minimum and uniform standards, Fla. Stat. § 1001.02(2)(d); the State Board adopts and submits a proposed budget to the governor and state legislature, id. § 1001.02(2)(e); the State Board adopts a system-wide strategic plan that provides goals and objectives for state universities and community colleges, id. § 1001.02(5)(a); the State Board provides for each community college educational training and service programs, id. § 1001.02(7)(a); the State Board establishes criteria for making recommendations for the establishment of additional community college centers or campuses, id. § 1001.02(7)(e); the State Board examines the annual administrative review of each community college, id. § 1001.02(7)(f); the State Board reviews and administers state programs of support for community colleges, including tuition and out-of-state fees, id. § 1001.02(8); and the State Board sets minimum standards, definitions, and guidelines for community colleges, id. § 1001.02(9). 19 In addition, the process used to select members of the board of trustees of community colleges in Florida is under state control. See Harden v. Adams, 760 F.2d 1158, 1163-64 (11th Cir.1985). The governor appoints the members of the board of trustees of a community college, and the senate confirms the appointees. Id. § 1001.61(2). There is no local control or governance of community colleges.