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.

[1] The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania, over 170 public charter schools (2019), Career and Technology Centers/Vocational Technical schools, 29 Intermediate Units, the education of youth in State Juvenile Correctional Institutions, and publicly funded preschools (Head Start and PreK Counts Keystone Stars).

[2] The agency maintains a database of all education institutions in the Commonwealth with associated data.

In 1873, the title was changed to Superintendent of Public Instruction, and greater responsibilities were assigned to that official and to the department.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education operates several offices and participates in many state related agencies/Boards.