Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effect of the appointment of superintendents by local chief executives in institutional transition, using analysis of aggregate data and case studies. I focus on prefectures and designated cities as the sample.
The following is the finding of this research. Firstly, in most cases, the local chief executive decides to transit to the new board of education system depending on the following factors; their low share of the vote at the latest election, and also superintendents’ prior career being administrative officers.
Secondly, if the local chief executive wants to transit from the old board of education system to the new one, superintendents’ prior career will determine whether the mayor appoints the same person. In particular, in the case of the superintendents’ career as an administrative officer, the local chief executive will tend to appoint another person as superintendent. These appointments affect continuity of educational administration.
