The United States secretary of education is the head of the U.S. Department of Education. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States, and the federal government, on policies, programs, and activities related to all education in the United States. As a member of the Cabinet of the United States, the secretary is fifteenth in the line of succession to the presidency. The current secretary of education is Miguel Cardona, who was confirmed by the Senate on March 1, 2021.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE, was reorganized and established in its present form by the Omnibus State Reorganization Act of 1974. The department is primarily a service agency that works with school officials, legislators, government agencies, community leaders and citizens to maintain a strong public education system. Through its statewide school-improvement initiatives and its regulatory functions, the department strives to ensure all citizens have access to high-quality public education. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is the administrative arm of the State Board of Education. In addition to the commissioner of education, the department organization reflects functions under two divisions; Financial and Administrative Services and Learning Services.