The deputy secretary of education oversees and manages the development of policies in the United States Department of Education. The deputy secretary focuses primarily on K–12 education policy, such as No Child Left Behind, the High School Initiative, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The deputy secretary also has responsibility for carrying out the intergovernmental relations of the department. The deputy secretary becomes acting secretary of education in the event of the secretary's absence, disability, or a vacancy in the Office of Secretary.
The office of the deputy secretary coordinates the work of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Innovation and Improvement, the Office of English Language Acquisition, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. The deputy secretary also oversees the department's LEP Partnership, the Office for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the department's partnership with The History Channel.
The deputy secretary is nominated by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate. The deputy secretary is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule, meaning as of 2006, the deputy secretary receives a basic annual salary of $162,000.
List of deputy secretaries of education # Image Name Term began Term ended President(s) served under 1 David T. Kearns May 31, 1991 January 20, 1993 George H. W. Bush 2 Madeleine M. Kunin January 1993 August 1996Bill Clinton 3 Marshall S. Smith 1997 1999 4 Frank Holleman December 28, 1999 January 20, 2001 5 William D. Hansen May 28, 2001 October 5, 2003George W. Bush 6 Eugene W. Hickok October 5, 2003 January 20, 2005 7 Raymond Simon May 26, 2005 January 20, 2009 8 Anthony Wilder Miller July 24, 2009 July 2013Barack Obama 9 James H. Shelton III July 2013 January 4, 2015U.S. Deputy Ed. Secretary Jim Shelton to Step Down – John King Jr.Acting, Sr. Advisor January 4, 2015 March 14, 2016Diane Ravitch – James Cole Jr.Acting March 14, 2016 January 20, 2017 10 Mick Zais May 17, 2018 January 20, 2021 Donald Trump – Denise L. CarterActing January 20, 2021 May 18, 2021Joe Biden11 Cindy Marten May 18, 2021 January 20, 2025 – Richard SmithActing January 20, 2025 February 5, 2026Donald Trump – Nicholas KentActing February 5, 2026 Incumbent
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