Pennsylvania Secretary of Education
| Pennsylvania Secretary of Education | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $183,712 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $17,582,223,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 year term from the time of state Senate confirmation |
| Authority: | Pennsylvania Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education
Carrie Rowe | |
| Other Pennsylvania Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Pennsylvania Secretary of Education is a state executive position in the Pennsylvania state government. The secretary is appointed by the governor, with the confirmation of the state Senate.[1]
Current officeholder
The acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education is Carrie Rowe (nonpartisan). Rowe assumed office in 2025.
Authority
Article IV, Section 1 creates an executive department of the state government that includes a superintendent of public instruction:
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The Executive Department of this Commonwealth shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction and such other officers as the General Assembly may from time to time prescribe.[1] |
In 1834, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Free School Law, designating the Secretary of the Commonwealth as acting head of the Common School System. Three years later, the legislature created both a separate Department of Schools and its chief officer, the Superintendent of Common Schools were created. Since its inception, the precise title for chief of schools in Pennsylvania has undergone several changes, but it has been "Secretary of Education" since 1969.[2]
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education.[1]
Appointments
The secretary of education is not an elected position in Pennsylvania. The governor nominates a candidate to the state Senate, which confirms the nominee by a two-thirds majority before the candidate takes the oath of office.[1]
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution grants the governor the power to appoint officers to fill vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary of education, the governor nominates a successor. This nomination must be made to the commonwealth senate within 90 days of the vacancy. The senate must then take action (confirming or not confirming the nomination) within 25 legislative days.[3][1]
Duties
The secretary of education works together with the General Assembly, the governor, and Pennsylvania teachers and school administrators to deliver and improve the public education services available to the children of the Commonwealth.[4]
Divisions
As of February 2, 2021, the department of education is divided into the following main sections:
- Elementary/Secondary Education
- Administration
- Commonwealth Libraries
- Postsecondary/Higher Education
- Child Development and Early Learning[5]
State budget
- See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances
The budget for the Pennsylvania Department of Education in Fiscal Year 2025 was $17,582,223,000.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $183,712, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $170,419, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $161,382, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the secretary received a salary of $161,382, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the secretary received a salary of $155,879, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the secretary received a salary of $155,879, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the secretary received a salary of $154,642, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the secretary received a salary of $152,657, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the secretary received a salary of $152,657, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the secretary was paid an estimated $150,253, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $149,804, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the secretary was paid an estimated $139,931, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact information
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717-787-6788
TTY: 717-783-8445
Email: Webmaster
Department Directory
See also
| Pennsylvania | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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- Superintendent of Schools
- Pennsylvania school districts
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Public education in Pennsylvania
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, "About," February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Legislature, "Executive branch," February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, "Mission and Values" accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Office of Administration, "Organization Charts," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "2024-25 Enacted General Fund Tracking Run," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments Book of the States, Chapter 4, Table 4.11," accessed June14, 2011
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