The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) promotes and implements the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Secretary’s critical agenda and functions that support the improvement of the nation’s K-12 education system. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education serves as principal adviser to the Secretary on all matters related to elementary and secondary education. The Assistant Secretary is assisted by a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff who provide leadership, management, and day-to-day administration of OESE's nationwide elementary and secondary education programs and Deputy Assistant Secretaries who carry out oversight responsibilities for specific OESE organizational components.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary consists of:
- Assistant Secretary (AS)
- Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS)
- Chief of Staff (COS)
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Discretionary Grants and Innovation (DAS DGI)
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for State and Grantee Support Services (DAS SGSS)
- Division of Efficiency, Data Quality, and Special Projects
- Political Staff consisting of (Senior) Advisors, Special Assistants, and Confidential Assistant
The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary provides leadership and day to day administration of OESE's nationwide elementary and secondary education programs and leads the Deputy Assistant Secretaries who carry out oversight responsibilities for specific OESE organizational components.
The Chief of Staff is responsible for the management and day-to-day operations of OESE. This includes ensuring cohesive workflow in support of the Assistant Secretary and coordination with other Offices in the Department.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for State and Grantee Support Services (DAS SGSS) is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and direction for implementing effective and efficient policies, processes, and strategies related to the administration and management of formula grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and also discretionary grants, cooperative agreements, contracts and interagency agreements related to those formula grant programs.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Discretionary Grants and Innovation (DAS DGI) is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and direction for implementing effective and efficient policies, processes, and strategies related to the administration and management of the organization’s discretionary grants under the ESEA. The Office promotes the Secretary’s priorities and agenda through grant awards to qualified, eligible applicant entities and through interagency agreements related to those discretionary grant programs.