Secretary of Education (United States)

Secretary of Education (United States)
Post	Secretary of Education
Body	United States
Incumbent	Miguel Cardona
Incumbentsince	March 2, 2021
Department	United States Department of Education
Style	Madam Secretary / Mr. Secretary
Reports to	President of the United States
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	President of the United States
Formation	October 17, 1979
First	Shirley Hufstedler

Secretary of Education (United States) The Secretary of Education is the head of the United States Department of Education and a member of the President's Cabinet, charged with overseeing federal involvement in elementary and higher matters and representing U.S. interests in international OECD and UNESCO discussions. The office interfaces with the White House, the United States Congress, federal agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services, and with state and local systems like the California Department of Education and the New York City Department of Education.

Role and Responsibilities

The Secretary administers the United States Department of Education, implements statutes such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, supervises programs tied to the Pell Grant and Federal Student Aid, and advises the President of the United States on education policy, liaising with stakeholders including the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Business Roundtable. Responsibilities include enforcing federal civil rights laws like the Title IX provisions and coordinating with agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Special Education Programs while interacting with universities such as Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and Howard University.

History and Creation of the Department

The position was established when Congress created the Department of Education in 1979 during the administration of Jimmy Carter following earlier cabinet-level proposals from presidents including Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. The inaugural Secretary, Shirley Hufstedler, transitioned functions from predecessors in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and from agencies such as the Office of Education. Over decades Secretaries like Terrel Bell, William Bennett, Rod Paige, Arne Duncan, Betsy DeVos, and John King Jr. have shaped policy amid landmark events including the passage of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Appointment, Confirmation, and Term

The Secretary is nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate under the Advice and Consent clause; confirmations have involved hearings before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and sometimes filibusters or voice votes in the Senate Majority Leader's jurisdiction. There is no fixed term; Secretaries serve at the pleasure of the President and can be replaced during administrations such as those of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Acting Secretaries have sometimes been designated under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Duties and Policy Influence

The Secretary crafts regulatory guidance, issues rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act, administers grant programs such as the Title I program and TRIO initiatives, and influences policy debates over student loan programs administered by Federal Student Aid and institutions like the U.S. Department of Justice when legal matters arise. The office shapes standards through interactions with the Common Core State Standards Initiative, accrediting agencies like the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and research entities such as the Institute of Education Sciences and the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Organizational Structure and Officeholders

The Department includes offices such as the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Postsecondary Education, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Office for Civil Rights, managed by Deputy Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries who have included leaders drawn from organizations like the Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute, Teach For America, and universities including Stanford University and Georgetown University. Notable officeholders have included Shirley Hufstedler, Terrel Bell, Lamar Alexander, Richard Riley, Rod Paige, Margaret Spellings, Arne Duncan, John King Jr., and Betsy DeVos.

Major Initiatives and Controversies

Secretaries have led initiatives such as the publishing of national reports like the A Nation at Risk commission, the implementation of No Child Left Behind Act under George W. Bush, the expansion of Race to the Top grants during Barack Obama's administration, and regulatory rollbacks under Donald Trump. Controversies have involved debates over school choice with proponents like the American Federation for Children, litigation including cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, enforcement actions tied to Title IX interpretations, and disputes over the handling of student debt involving groups such as Student Loan Servicing Alliance.

Relationship with Federal, State, and Local Education Entities

The Secretary collaborates with governors and state agencies such as the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, provides conditional funding to state education agencies like the Texas Education Agency and local education agencies such as the Chicago Public Schools, and coordinates with tribal authorities including the Bureau of Indian Education and with territorial departments like the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Interactions extend to philanthropic partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, labor groups like the American Federation of Teachers, and research partners including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Category:United States Cabinet