The deputy secretary focuses primarily on K–12 education policy, such as No Child Left Behind, the High School Initiative, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

[1] The deputy secretary also has responsibility for carrying out the intergovernmental relations of the department.

The deputy secretary also oversees the department's LEP Partnership, the Office for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the department's partnership with The History Channel.

[1] The deputy secretary is appointed by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate.

[1][2] The deputy secretary is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule,[3] meaning as of 2006, the deputy secretary receives a basic annual salary of $162,000.