United States Secretary of Education

United States Secretary of Education. The United States Secretary of Education is a member of the Cabinet of the United States and is the head of the United States Department of Education. The Secretary is responsible for implementing Federal law related to education policy in the United States, working closely with the President of the United States, United States Congress, and other Federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The Secretary also works with State governments, local governments, and educational institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

● History of

the Position The position of United States Secretary of Education was created on October 17, 1979, when the United States Department of Education was established by the Department of Education Organization Act, signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. Prior to this, education policy was handled by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, led by the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, which included notable secretaries such as John W. Gardner and Wilbur J. Cohen. The creation of the United States Department of Education was supported by teachers' unions such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, as well as by civil rights organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union. The first United States Secretary of Education was Shirley Hufstedler, who served under President Jimmy Carter and worked closely with Congressional leaders such as Senator Ted Kennedy and Representative Carl Perkins.

● Responsibilities and Authorities

The United States Secretary of Education is responsible for implementing Federal law related to education policy, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act of 1965. The Secretary works closely with the President of the United States, United States Congress, and other Federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health to develop and implement education policy. The Secretary also has the authority to distribute Federal funding to State governments and educational institutions such as community colleges and universities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities such as Howard University and Tuskegee University. The Secretary works with State governments and local governments to implement education reform initiatives, such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, which were supported by organizations such as the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

● List of Secretaries of Education

The following is a list of United States Secretaries of Education: * Shirley Hufstedler (1979-1981) under President Jimmy Carter * Terrel Bell (1981-1985) under President Ronald Reagan * William Bennett (1985-1988) under President Ronald Reagan * Lauro Cavazos (1988-1990) under President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush * Lamar Alexander (1991-1993) under President George H.W. Bush * Richard Riley (1993-2001) under President Bill Clinton * Rod Paige (2001-2005) under President George W. Bush * Margaret Spellings (2005-2009) under President George W. Bush * Arne Duncan (2009-2015) under President Barack Obama * John King Jr. (2016-2017) under President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump * Betsy DeVos (2017-2021) under President Donald Trump * Miguel Cardona (2021-present) under President Joe Biden

● Nomination and Confirmation

The United States Secretary of Education is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The nomination and confirmation process typically involves a review of the nominee's background and qualifications by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which is chaired by Senator Patty Murray and includes members such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren. The nominee must also undergo a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and provide financial disclosure statements to the Office of Government Ethics.

● Organizational Structure

The United States Department of Education is organized into several offices and divisions, including the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Office of Postsecondary Education. The Department also includes several institutes and centers, such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. The Department is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has regional offices located in Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California.

● Notable Secretaries of Education

Several United States Secretaries of Education have gone on to pursue notable careers in politics and education policy. For example, Lamar Alexander served as Governor of Tennessee and United States Senator from Tennessee, while Richard Riley served as Governor of South Carolina. Arne Duncan has worked as a managing partner at EmblemHealth and has served on the board of directors of organizations such as the National Park Foundation and the Chicago Cubs. Betsy DeVos has continued to be involved in education policy through her work with organizations such as the American Federation for Children and the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which was founded by Jeb Bush. Miguel Cardona has worked as a professor at University of Connecticut and has served on the board of directors of organizations such as the Connecticut Association of Schools and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.