Susan Castillo was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in May 2002, and sworn in to office on January 6, 2003, to a four-year term. As Superintendent, she provides leadership for all elementary and secondary students in Oregon's public schools and education service districts. She is responsible for statewide curriculum and instruction programs, school improvement efforts, and Oregon's statewide assessment testing system. Her leadership also extends to public preschool programs, the state Schools for the Blind and the Deaf, regional programs for children with disabilities and education programs in Oregon youth corrections facilities. In addition, the Oregon Department of Education acts as a liaison and monitors implementation for a variety of state and federal programs, including the No Child Left Behind Act.