Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Agency overview
Jurisdiction State government of Pennsylvania
Employees over 600 (2013)
Agency executive
Website www.education.pa.gov

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with publicly funded preschool, K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by the governor appointed Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education. The agency is headquartered at 333 Market Street in Harrisburg.[1] The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees 500 public school districts public school districts of Pennsylvania, over 170 public charter schools (2014), 14 public cyber charter schools, Career and Technology Centers/Vocational Technical schools, 29 public Intermediate Units, the education of youth in State Juvenile Correctional Institutions, Head Starts and publicly funded preschools in the Commonwealth (PreK Counts Keystone Stars) and 22 community colleges. In 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Education employs approximately 600 persons.[2]

The agency maintains a database of all education institutions in the Commonwealth with associated data. EdNA These entities include school districts and their schools, intermediate units, area vocational technical schools, charter schools, nonpublic and private schools, higher education institutions and more.

History

Following passage and signing of the Free School Law on April 1, 1834, the Secretary of the Commonwealth acted as head of the Common School System until 1837. In that year a separate Department of Schools was created with a Superintendent of Common Schools as its chief officer. In 1873, the title was changed to Superintendent of Public Instruction, and greater responsibilities were assigned to that official and to the Department. In 1969, the name of the Department of Public Instruction was changed to the Department of Education, with the title of Superintendent of Public Instruction changed to the Secretary of Education. It previously ran the Pennsylvania State Board of Censors.[3]

Current Secretary of Education

Purpose

The mission statement of the Pennsylvania Department of Education is "to assist the General Assembly, the Governor, the Secretary of Education and Pennsylvania educators in providing for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of education." The Department has broad discretionary powers in both the development and administration of educational policies which enhance the educational experience and quality in Pennsylvania. The Department also works as an ongoing study of the educational process within the state, conducting studies and programs designed to evaluate specific needs or qualities of the system. In doing so, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will recommend changes and improvements to the Governor, the Board of Education, and the General Assembly.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education also oversees policies of public libraries, academic libraries, and the State Library of Pennsylvania located in Harrisburg. It provides policy of equal opportunity in the educational system, with special regard to nonpublic education and state policy of education. It is within the Pennsylvania Department of Education's mission to collaborate with other state educational departments in an effort to create a cohesive and dynamic learning environment.

Offices and sub groups

The Pennsylvania Department of Education operates a plethora of offices and participates in many state related agencies/Boards.[4]

Enrollment

Public school kindergarten-12th grade enrollment as reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as of October 1 in each school year.

Past Secretaries of Education

Source:[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Department Information", Pennsylvania Department of Education. Retrieved on April 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Employment Opportunities, March 2014
  3. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "About PDE".
  4. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 21, 2014). "Pennsylvania Department of Education Departmental Offices".
  5. ↑ News and Media (2014). "PDE News and Media".
  6. ↑ PDE, Enrollment by County 2013-14, 2014
  7. ↑ "Pennsylvania Manual" (PDF). Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "About Secretary Dumaresq". Pennsylvania Department of Education. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
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