Amid mounting criticism of Gov. Rick Scott's handling of Florida's school system, Republican lawmakers have filed measures to provide for an elected education commissioner, a reorganization that would strip the governor's office of its control over the state Department of Education.

The legislation, SJR 942 and HJR 767, would place an amendment on the 2016 general election ballot asking voters to make the state's education commissioner, who oversees student, teacher and school evaluations, an elected official. The post became an appointed position in 2003 under voter-approved reforms championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Under Scott, Florida has had four education commissioners in five years, with the latest commissioner, Pam Stewart, coming under fire for a botched rollout of a new state-designed student assessment. The test was prompted by the governor's refusal to sign on to a multi-state assessment linked to the national Common Core education standards.

The emergence of an elected education commissioner could carry some risk for Republicans, who currently control every statewide elected office in Tallahassee. The Democratic-leaning state teacher union would almost certainly play an aggressive role in mobilizing teachers to vote for a progressive candidate, giving Democrats a strong shot at winning a post that would also have a vote on the powerful Florida Cabinet.

Union officials, however, argue the calls for an elected education commissioner are less about politics and more about growing frustration, as evidenced by Republicans sponsoring the legislation.

"When you have school boards and superintendents telling the state they're taking the wrong approach and nothing's happening, you would think that an education commissioner who would be listening to not only those administrators but also to the public would be more accountable," said Mark Pudlow of the Florida Education Association.