Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Governor Josh Shapiro’s nomination of Dr. Carrie Rowe as Pennsylvania’s new Secretary of Education in a bipartisan vote. With this confirmation vote, every member of Governor Shapiro’s cabinet has been confirmed by a bipartisan majority in the state Senate.
“Secretary Rowe has spent her entire career serving students, teachers, and parents – creating real opportunities for our young people at every level of Pennsylvania’s education system. No one is more qualified to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education and I’m proud that she has been confirmed by a bipartisan majority in the state Senate,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Under Secretary Rowe’s leadership, my Administration will continue to support our students’ success by investing historic resources in education, expanding workforce development opportunities, and ensuring every young Pennsylvanian has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.”
“As a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania and a product of its public schools and universities, this moment carries deep personal meaning. My story is not unique, but it is emblematic of what is possible when public education is well-resourced, inclusive, and grounded in purpose,” said Secretary Dr. Rowe. “I share Governor Shapiro’s belief that every student deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed, and I am eager to work in close partnership with the General Assembly and others to make that vision a reality. Together, we can modernize our systems, empower our educators, and ensure that Pennsylvania remains a beacon for what public education can and should be.”
A visionary leader in public education, Dr. Carrie Rowe brings 25 years of public education experience to her role as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). In this role, she provides guidance, support, and oversight to partners in the pre-K–12 field on topics ranging from structured literacy, educational stability, workforce needs, teacher recruitment and retention, and student mental health and well-being. Dr. Rowe advocates for policies and programs that provide college and career pathways for every student, especially those that include access to expansive dual credit opportunities, high-intensity summer learning, and multilingual programs.
Before taking a position with the PDE, Dr. Rowe served as a Superintendent of Schools in the western region of the state. Her decades-long career has focused on ensuring fairness and justice in resource allocation and eliminating institutional barriers to access and opportunity.
Her work continues the efforts of Governor Shapiro who has secured nearly $3 billion in additional funding for K-12 public education since taking office. As a result, for the first time ever, the Commonwealth is investing nearly $12 billion this year in its public schools. The Shapiro Administration also secured a new funding formula to distribute these resources to the schools that need it most — ensuring every student, in every zip code, has access to a high-quality public education.
The 2025-26 budget builds on that progress and delivers for families, schools, and communities by providing an overall increase in education funding totaling more than $900 million, including a $565 million increase in public school adequacy funding, $105 million for Basic Education Funding, and a $40 million increase for Special Education Funding. It also includes a $125 million investment in school infrastructure, and continues funding for universal free breakfast and mental health in schools.
Since February, Secretary Rowe has overseen a number of initiatives at PDE, including:
Providing $1 million in funding to 14 postsecondary institutions to enroll 110 teachers in the second cohort of the Accelerated Special Education Teacher Certification Program. Earlier this year, the first cohort of 142 students successfully completed the accelerated program, graduating with specialized skills to support students with disabilities and help them thrive in the classroom and beyond.
Awarding more than $4 million in funding to 11 libraries in eight counties for the construction and rehabilitation of public library facilities.
Awarding $14 million in grant funding to 15 public institutions of higher education to enable more high school students to enroll in dual credit programs across the Commonwealth, giving them more opportunities to chart their own course and prepare for successful careers.
Providing $1.5 million in grant funding to help Pennsylvania parents achieve their goal of attending college and earning a credential, a critical component of Governor Josh Shapiro’s plan to make higher education more accessible and affordable to Pennsylvanians.
Awarding more than $332,000 in grant funding to 12 local education agencies (LEA) across the Commonwealth to purchase new food service equipment for their cafeterias.
Launching the newly refreshed Teach in PA website—a resource for individuals interested in obtaining a career in education. The revamped site includes a user-friendly navigation feature that allows individuals to more easily find opportunities relevant to their needs, experiences, and preferences.
Providing $2 million for Pennsylvania residents to take a high school equivalency exam free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Concluding Receivership for Harrisburg City School District, which entered Financial Recovery in December 2012 and entered Receivership in June 2019.
Awarding $3.6 million to 14 education entities, including colleges and universities, school districts, community-based organizations, intermediate units (IUs) and more, to support access to literacy services for adult learners and families across the Commonwealth.
PDE oversees 500 public school districts, more than 170 public charter schools, public cyber charter schools, Career and Technology Centers/Vocational Technical schools, public Intermediate Units, the education of youth in State Juvenile Correctional Institutions, Head Starts and publicly funded preschools, and community colleges. PDE also oversees policies related to public, academic, and school libraries, and the State Library of Pennsylvania.
PDE’s mission is to ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. Further, the Department seeks to establish a culture that is committed to improving opportunities throughout the commonwealth by ensuring that technical support, resources, and optimal learning environments are available for all students, whether children or adults.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the Department's website or follow PDE on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Pinterest.
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