Washington state Superintendent Chris Reykdal will run for re-election in 2024
Washington state's superintendent of public education, Chris Reykdal, is running for re-election in 2024.
“To be the best, we have to keep innovating, transforming, and developing systems that support the unique needs of every single learner,” Reykdal said in a statement. “I can’t wait to lean into this work in the next phase of developing our excellent public school system.”
Reykdal announced this week that he is aiming for his third term in the office that oversees K-12 schools throughout the state. His current term ends at the start of 2025.
“Washington is recognized as one of the best states to raise a family, start a business, and thrive,” Reykdal said. “One of the reasons we rank so high is our outstanding public schools. In six years, despite a pandemic, we are near record highs in graduation rates; assessment scores are rising once again; enrollments are re-accelerating, we have expanded access to college credit while in high school; increased options to become a bilingual learner; added record investments to support students with disabilities; and we have opened up robust pathways that empower students to focus on college, apprenticeships, military service, or straight to work after high school.”
In his campaign announcement, Reykdal said he wants to build upon his listed achievements with a new agenda, including more mental health in schools; career and technical education in high school; universal nutritious meals; reforming student transportation; and more education for financial literacy, media literacy, civility, and computer sciences.
Reykdal was first elected to the post in 2016 (with 51% of the vote), then re-elected in 2020 (with 55% of the vote). He presided over the state's educational system as schools locally and across the country weathered the pandemic, controversies surrounding mask mandates, and online learning.
At one point, Reykdal had plans to withhold state and federal funding from any school district that knowingly violated the face mask requirement in schools.
