Functional Statements > Office of the Deputy Secretary

Sections

• Duties and Functions of the Deputy Secretary​
  
• Duties and Functions of the Performance Improvement Office
• Duties and Functions of the Office of Non-Public Education

I. Duties and Functions of the Deputy Secretary

The Office of the Deputy Secretary, under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary, assists the Secretary in the discharge of Secretarial duties and responsibilities.  The Deputy Secretary serves as Acting Secretary in the absence of the Secretary. 

The Deputy Secretary coordinates policies, programs, and activities related to educational equity, elementary and secondary education, special education and rehabilitative services, and the education of students with linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds.

Under the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, the Deputy Secretary serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Department. As such, the Deputy Secretary acts on behalf of the Secretary with senior Department leaders in developing and executing effective managemen​t and in identifying key organizational vulnerabilities and executing effective approaches to manage risks across the Department's programs, grants, loans, contracts, information technology, and related services. The Deputy Secretary leads implementation of critical change efforts across the Department.

Additionally, the Deputy Secretary has responsibility for the conduct of the intergovernmental relations of the Department in accordance with 20 U.S.C. 3412(a) (2) (A), the Department of Education Organization Act, as amended.

The Performance Improvement Office and the Office of Non-Public Education report directly to the Deputy Secretary.

II. Duties and Functions of the Performance Improvement Office

The PIO provides overall organization management to improve agency performance and to achieve the mission and goals of the agency through the use of strategic and performance planning, measurement, analysis, regular assessment of progress, and the use of performance information to improve the results achieved. To that end, the PIO oversees the development and implementation of the Department's strategic plan, annual performance plans, and annual performance reporting. In addition, the PIO advises the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on the selection of agency goals, including opportunities to collaborate with other agencies on common goals.

III. Office of Non-Public Education

The Office of Non-Public Education is responsible for ensuring maximum participation of private students and teachers in all Federal education programs for which they are eligible. The Office reviews Department policy concerning education services to private school students and teachers, reviews Department programs and procedures to make certain that services required by law are provided, and recommends to the Secretary possible changes in laws, regulations, or policies that would increase the availability of these services.

In performing its responsibilities, the Office:

1. Designs formal processes securing cooperation, coordination, and review of program operations to assure maximum participation by private school students.

2. Identifies data needs that describe the extent of private school student and teacher participation in federal programs and the relationship to ED programs and policies; analyzes the data; and provides information to program offices.

3. Develops guidelines and specific procedures to assure uniform application and consistent administration of statutory bypass activities and reviews all contracts for bypass services to private school students.