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P-16/P-20 Councils: Advisory Only or Has Authority

Councils in 31 states are advisory only, while councils in three states (North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee) have administrative authority over state programs or the authority to require change from other agencies. The power of the P-16/P-20 council is unclear in four states, as of May 2008.

Why does it matter?

  • While there's nothing wrong with being advisory, and while "advisory only" status may be conducive to less constrained thinking, when councils have authority, they don't need to take an idea to another policymaking entity for it to be acted upon.

Sources for all data points are accessible through this link.

Methodology: ECS performed an initial search of statutes, regulations and executive orders. However, because many P-16 and P-20 councils are established independently of these means, ECS conducted interviews with and had all data verified by at least one contact in the state (typically a P-16 or P-20 council member or staff member supporting the council).

Last update: May 28, 2008

This database was compiled by Jennifer Dounay, project manager, ECS High School Policy Center. For questions, additions or corrections: 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org.

Advisory only or has authority
Arizona Advisory only
Arkansas Advisory only
California Advisory only
Colorado Advisory only
Connecticut To be determined
Delaware Advisory only
Georgia Advisory only
Hawaii Advisory only
Illinois Advisory only
Indiana Advisory only
Kansas Advisory only
Kentucky Advisory only
Louisiana Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence: Advisory only

High School Redesign Commission: Advisory only
Maine No information available as of May 2008.
Maryland Advisory only
Minnesota Advisory only
Mississippi
Missouri Advisory only
Montana Advisory only
Nebraska Advisory only
Nevada Advisory only
New Hampshire Advisory only
North Carolina Authority to require change. Statute provides the Education Cabinet with authority for specific components of  policy across the education continuum. The cabinet also oversees NC Virtual.
Ohio Advisory only
Oklahoma Advisory only
Oregon Authority–policies approved by the Joint Boards apply to all sectors K-16 and must be adopted by the K-12 and postsecondary governing board in the state.
Pennsylvania STEM: Advisory only
PASSHE Regional Councils: Advisory only
Rhode Island Advisory only
South Carolina Advisory only
South Dakota Advisory only
Tennessee Authority to require change. 2007 H.B. 99 gives oversight of cooperative innovative high school programs (such as early college high schools) to the "consortium for cooperative innovative education." The P-16 council serves as this consortium.
Texas Advisory only
Utah Advisory only
Virginia Advisory only
Washington Advisory only
West Virginia Advisory only
Wisconsin Advisory only
Wyoming Advisory only


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