What is Local Education Agency (LEA)

This chapter investigates how school-based agricultural education systems and FFA programs have been structured, organized, and administered in the United States. Specifically, the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local education authorities are described and how school-based agricultural education (SBAE) and FFA programs operate within those sectors. The chapter also chronicles how supervision models have evolved and changed after the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917. Agricultural education stakeholder groups driving policy at the state level were also explored. Finally, an emphasis is placed on the diversity of each state and local entity's structure and organization throughout the chapter.