This November, Hillsborough County voters will decide whether to change how the superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools is selected.
HB 4027 was approved by the Florida Legislature in 2026.
This measure places a referendum before Hillsborough County voters in the November 2026 general election on whether to change the superintendent from a professionally appointed position to a partisan elected office. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the first election for superintendent would take place in 2028.
The ballot measure will read:
Hillsborough Education Foundation opposes this measure and encourages Hillsborough County voters to vote no to maintain the current appointed superintendent model.
Why HEF Supports an Appointed Superintendent:
Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of the largest and most complex school districts in the nation, serving more than 200,000 students, employing approximately 22,000 people, and managing a $4 billion budget. Leading an organization of this size requires extensive professional experience in education, finance, operations, and organizational leadership.
Under the current model, Hillsborough County voters elect School Board members to represent the community and oversee the school district. The School Board can then conduct a broad search for superintendent candidates, establish professional qualifications, thoroughly vet applicants, and select the candidate it determines is best qualified to lead the district.
This structure provides a clear and direct line of accountability. Voters hold School Board members accountable, and the School Board is responsible for selecting, evaluating, and overseeing the superintendent. The current model also gives the School Board the ability to respond if district leadership does not meet established expectations.
Under the proposed model, the superintendent would be chosen in a countywide partisan election every four years. Instead of being selected through a professional search and hiring process, candidates would campaign for office, and voters would determine the outcome of a partisan race.
HEF believes the superintendent should remain a professional leadership position focused on providing the best possible educational experience for Hillsborough County students, not a partisan political position.
The appointed model allows the School Board to prioritize qualifications, experience and demonstrated leadership when selecting a superintendent. It allows the superintendent to focus on students, teachers, schools, and district performance without the unnecessary pressures of political campaigns and election cycles.
For these reasons, Hillsborough Education Foundation encourages Hillsborough County voters to vote no on the November referendum and keep the superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools an appointed, professional position.
Key Considerations:
Professional experience and qualifications: Leading Hillsborough County Public Schools requires extensive experience in education, finance, operations, and large-scale organizational leadership. The appointed model allows the School Board to conduct a broad search, thoroughly vet candidates and select a highly qualified leader based on experience and demonstrated ability.
Florida’s largest school districts use appointed superintendents: Only two states allow for an elected superintendent model – Florida and Alabama. In Florida, 39 of the state’s 67 school districts elect their superintendents, while 28 use an appointed model. However, Florida’s largest school districts, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Pinellas and Duval, use appointed superintendents. For large and complex school systems like Hillsborough, the appointed model allows the School Board to conduct a broad search and select a leader based on the professional qualifications and experience required for the role.
Partisan elections and district leadership: The proposed change would make the superintendent a partisan elected position, bringing political affiliation, campaigning, and election cycles into the process for selecting the district’s chief executive. HEF believes the superintendent’s focus should remain on making decisions that support strong student outcomes and serve the best interests of students, teachers, and schools.
A clear line of accountability: Under the current model, voters elect School Board members to oversee the district, and the School Board is responsible for selecting, evaluating, and holding the superintendent accountable for results. This creates a clear line of responsibility from voters to the School Board to the superintendent.
A focus on students and schools: The superintendent’s primary focus should be providing the best possible educational experience for Hillsborough County students. HEF believes maintaining an appointed superintendent helps keep district leadership focused on students, educators, schools, and strong educational outcomes.
frequently asked questions
A: Hillsborough County Public Schools currently has an appointed superintendent selected by the elected School Board. The School Board establishes qualifications, can conduct a broad search for candidates, evaluates applicants, and selects the professional it determines is best qualified to lead the district.
A: Hillsborough County voters will decide whether to change the superintendent from an appointed professional position to a partisan elected office.
If approved, candidates for superintendent would run in a partisan election and Hillsborough County voters would elect the superintendent to a four-year term beginning with the 2028 general election.
A: Yes. The referendum specifically provides that the superintendent would be elected in a partisan race beginning in 2028.
That represents a crucial difference from the current system. Instead of being selected through a professional appointment process, candidates would campaign for elected office as partisan candidates.
A: Voters already have a direct voice in school district governance by electing School Board members.
Those elected representatives are responsible for overseeing the district and selecting and evaluating the superintendent. This creates a clear line of accountability: voters hold School Board members accountable, and the School Board holds the superintendent accountable for district leadership and performance.
A: The superintendent makes decisions that directly affect students, teachers, schools, and the learning environment across Hillsborough County.
HEF believes those decisions should be guided by educational expertise, student needs and what will produce the best outcomes for students, not political affiliation, campaign considerations, or election cycles.
The superintendent’s professional focus should be on leading Hillsborough County Public Schools and creating the best possible educational experience for every student.
A: Yes, but with more difficulty than current rules allow. Unlike an appointed superintendent, the School Board cannot remove an elected superintendent. Only the governor will have the authority to remove an elected superintendent.
A: Florida uses both appointed and elected superintendent models. However, other large Florida districts, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Duval, Orange and Pinellas, use appointed superintendents.
HEF believes Hillsborough should continue using a professional leadership model suited to the size and complexity of one of the nation’s largest school districts.
A: The referendum will appear on the November 2026 general election ballot. If approved by a simple majority of Hillsborough County voters, the superintendent would become a partisan elected position beginning with the 2028 general election.
