Chris Reykdal says he will not seek another term as schools chief in 2028

Washington’s public schools chief, Chris Reykdal, says he will not seek a fourth term as superintendent of public instruction in 2028.

In a statement released Monday, Nov. 9, Reykdal said he intends to serve the next two years while weighing what comes next. His options include running for a different statewide office in 2028, seeking federal office or leaving elected office.

He said his main reason for ruling out another superintendent campaign is a belief that public institutions benefit from new leadership. His next step remains undecided, and he said he and his wife, Kim, will consider those choices in the coming months.

For now, Reykdal said his focus remains on school funding, student well-being, academic achievement and opportunities for young people after high school. He is currently serving his third term.

What the statewide office does

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, usually called OSPI, oversees public K–12 education in Washington. It works with school districts and state-tribal education compact schools, allocates funding and provides resources and technical assistance.

For local families and educators, the announcement concerns who will lead that state agency after the next superintendent election. Reykdal’s statement sets out his plans to continue the work of his current term.