# Miguel Cardona

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American educator (born 1975)

Miguel Cardona Official portrait, 2021 12th United States Secretary of Education In office March 2, 2021 – January 20, 2025 President Joe Biden Deputy Cindy Marten Preceded by Betsy DeVos Succeeded by Linda McMahon Education Commissioner of Connecticut In office August 8, 2019 – March 1, 2021 Governor Ned Lamont Preceded by Dianna Wentzell Succeeded by Charlene Russell-Tucker Personal details Born Miguel Angel Cardona (1975-07-11) July 11, 1975 (age 50) Meriden, Connecticut, U.S. Party Democratic Spouse Marissa Pérez ​ (m. 2002)​ Children 2 Education Central Connecticut State University (BS) University of Connecticut (MS, SYC, EdD) Cardona's voice Cardona on his vision for the Education Department post-COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded January 27, 2022

**Miguel Angel Cardona** (born July 11, 1975) is an American educator who served as the 12th [United States Secretary of Education](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_Education) under [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden) from March 2, 2021 to January 20, 2025. A member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he was confirmed by the [U.S. Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) by a vote of 64–33 on March 1, 2021.[1] Cardona previously served as commissioner of the [Connecticut State Department of Education](/source/Connecticut_State_Department_of_Education) from 2019 to 2021.

A native of [Meriden, Connecticut](/source/Meriden%2C_Connecticut), Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden. In 2003, at the age of twenty-seven, he was named principal of Meriden's Hanover School, making him the youngest principal in the state.[2][3]

## Early life and education

Miguel Cardona was born on July 11, 1975, in [Meriden, Connecticut](/source/Meriden%2C_Connecticut), to [Puerto Rican](/source/Puerto_Rican_people) parents.[4][5] Cardona grew up speaking Spanish as his [first language](/source/First_language) and started to learn English when entering [kindergarten](/source/Kindergarten).[6][7] His father is a retired police officer in Meriden.[8] Cardona was raised in a [housing project](/source/Housing_project) in Meriden and graduated from the [H.C. Wilcox Technical High School](/source/H.C._Wilcox_Technical_High_School), where he was a part of the automotive studies program. He visits his Alma Mater frequently, recently being the guest speaker for the class of 2023.[9][10][11]

Cardona earned a Bachelor of Science in education from [Central Connecticut State University](/source/Central_Connecticut_State_University) in New Britain, CT in 1997. He obtained a Master of Science in bilingual and bicultural education at [University of Connecticut](/source/University_of_Connecticut) (UConn) in 2001. In 2004, he completed a professional [sixth year certification](/source/Educational_specialist) at UConn where he earned a [doctor of education](/source/Doctor_of_Education) in 2011.[12][13]

Cardona's dissertation, titled *Sharpening the Focus of Political Will to Address Achievement Disparities*, studied the gaps between [English-language learners](/source/English-language_learner) and their classmates.[13][6] His doctoral major advisor was Barry G. Sheckley and his associate advisor was Casey D. Cobb.[13]

## Career

Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in [Meriden, Connecticut](/source/Meriden%2C_Connecticut). In 2003, at Hanover Elementary School, he was promoted and made the youngest [principal](/source/Head_teacher) in the state's history for ten years. From 2015 to 2019, Cardona served as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in his home town.[14][15]

Cardona was also an adjunct professor of education in the University of Connecticut's Department of Educational Leadership.[16] During his career, he has focused on closing gaps between English-language learners and their peers.[6]

In August 2019, Governor [Ned Lamont](/source/Ned_Lamont) appointed Cardona as [commissioner of education](/source/Connecticut_State_Department_of_Education); Cardona was the first Latino to hold the position.[12][11] During his tenure, Cardona helped oversee state schools' response to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Connecticut), where he expressed concerns over the long-term mental health impacts of [remote education](/source/Remote_education) on students.[8]

## Secretary of Education (2021–2025)

### Nomination and confirmation

In December 2020, Cardona emerged as a candidate for [United States secretary of education](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_Education) in [Joe Biden's cabinet](/source/Cabinet_of_Joe_Biden). Biden began to lean toward Cardona over two other "high-profile" teachers' union leaders, [Lily Eskelsen García](/source/Lily_Eskelsen_Garc%C3%ADa) and [Randi Weingarten](/source/Randi_Weingarten). By choosing Cardona over the two, Biden "appeared to have sidestepped any sibling rivalry between the [NEA](/source/National_Education_Association) and [AFT.](/source/American_Federation_of_Teachers)"[17][18]

Cardona talks with reporters during a press briefing on August 5, 2021, at the White House.

Cardona was brought to the attention of Biden by [Linda Darling-Hammond](/source/Linda_Darling-Hammond), the leader of the transition's education secretary search efforts, a role she also filled for [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) in 2008. Darling-Hammond and Cardona had worked together on numerous projects.[11] *[Politico](/source/Politico)* noted that "[Hispanic](/source/Hispanic) lawmakers are stressing in particular the need for a Latina to join the administration."[19]

Cardona appeared before the [Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions](/source/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Health%2C_Education%2C_Labor_and_Pensions) on February 3, 2021.[20] On February 25, his nomination was advanced by the Senate on a [cloture](/source/Cloture) vote of 66–32.[21] Cardona was confirmed on March 1, 2021, by a 64–33 vote. Cardona took his oath of office on March 1, 2021, and was ceremonially sworn in by Vice President [Kamala Harris](/source/Kamala_Harris) on March 2, 2021.[22]

### Tenure

Cardona speaks on a panel hosted by *[The Atlantic](/source/The_Atlantic)* in December 2023.

Throughout his tenure as Secretary of Education, Cardona has been responsible for implementing several forms of forgiveness for [student loans](/source/Student_loans_in_the_United_States).[23] The administration's most sweeping attempt to do so, which would have forgiven about $430 billion in student loan principles, was struck down by the [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States) on June 30, 2023, in *[Biden v. Nebraska](/source/Biden_v._Nebraska)*.[24] Since the *Biden v. Nebraska* decision, Cardona has announced a series of smaller and more targeted student loan forgiveness programs, and the Department of Education has reemphasized the [Public Service Loan Forgiveness](/source/Public_Service_Loan_Forgiveness) program to reduce the student debt of people working full-time in [public service](/source/Public_service).[23][25][26] In December 2023, Cardona announced that the administration had forgiven about $132 billion of student debt in its first three years.[23] At President [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden)’s [2024 State of The Union](/source/2024_State_of_the_Union_Address), Cardona was the [designated survivor](/source/Designated_survivor).[27]

In December 2023, simplified [Free Application for Federal Student Aid](/source/Free_Application_for_Federal_Student_Aid) (FAFSA) forms were released after a two-month delay.[28] By late March 2024, there was a backlog of 6 million applications.[29] On April 26, the Education Department announced that the top official in charge of federal financial student aid would step down.[30] Colleges across the country were obliged to delay their decision deadlines as students were still waiting for financial aid offers. On April 30, Cardona was questioned at a congressional hearing about the troubled introduction of the new form.[31] On May 7, Cardona apologized at another congressional hearing.[32]

## Personal life

In 2002, Cardona married Marissa Pérez, a [family-school liaison](/source/School_social_worker).[33] Pérez was named [Miss Connecticut](/source/Miss_Connecticut) in 2001 and [Miss Connecticut Teen USA](/source/Miss_Connecticut_Teen_USA) in 1996.[34][33] Cardona and his wife have two children: a son, Miguel Jr., and a daughter, Celine.[12] Cardona is [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church).[35]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["On the Nomination (Confirmation: Miguel A. Cardona, of Connecticut, to be Secretary of Education)"](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00068). *U.S. Senate*. March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Makwana, Rachel R. (May 22, 2003). ["New principal is popular pick"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65431196/). *[Record-Journal](/source/Record-Journal)*. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved December 16, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Megan, Kathleen (August 21, 2019). ["The state's new education commissioner: collaborator, listener, hard worker"](https://ctmirror.org/2019/08/21/the-states-new-education-commissioner-collaborator-listener-hard-worker/). *[The Connecticut Mirror](/source/The_Connecticut_Mirror)*. Retrieved December 16, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_4-0)** ["Biden To Pick Connecticut Schools Chief Miguel Cardona As Education Secretary"](https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/12/22/949114642/biden-to-pick-connecticut-schools-chief-miguel-cardona-as-education-secretary). *NPR.org*. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Registered Voters in the State of Connecticut, U.S.A."](https://web.archive.org/web/20210111152126/https://connvoters.com/by_number/0003/27157_miguel_angel_cardona.html) *connvoters.com*. Archived from [the original](https://connvoters.com/by_number/0003/27157_miguel_angel_cardona.html) on January 11, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_6-2) Binkley, Collin; Jaffe, Alexandra; Lemire, Jonathan (December 22, 2020). ["Biden picks Connecticut schools chief as education secretary"](https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-race-and-ethnicity-connecticut-coronavirus-pandemic-db2814d3527838d5633648d408d7fab3). *Associated Press*. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Tough Topics with the Sec. of Education | LX News*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89n_TCw4z9s), retrieved May 27, 2023

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_8-1) Blair, Russell (December 22, 2020). ["Who is Miguel Cardona? The Connecticut education commissioner is President-elect Joe Biden's pick for U.S. education secretary"](https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-who-is-miguel-cardona-20201222-t3ok4evvobfhrgwyesjql67vny-story.html). *Hartford Courant*. Retrieved April 7, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Biden selects CT's Miguel Cardona to lead the U.S. Department of Education"](http://ctmirror.org/2020/12/22/biden-selects-cts-miguel-cardona-to-lead-the-u-s-department-of-education/). *The CT Mirror*. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["About CSDE--Commissioner"](https://portal.ct.gov/sde/about/commissioner). *CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website*. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ctmirror.org_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ctmirror.org_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ctmirror.org_11-2) ["Connecticut's Miguel Cardona in the mix for Biden's education secretary"](http://ctmirror.org/2020/12/16/connecticuts-miguel-cardona-in-the-mix-for-bidens-education-secretary/). *The CT Mirror*. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-csde_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-csde_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-csde_12-2) ["About CSDE--Commissioner"](https://portal.ct.gov/sde/about/commissioner). *CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website*. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_13-2) Cardona, Miguel Angel (2011). ["Sharpening the focus of political will to address achievement disparities"](https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/AAI3468062/). *Doctoral Dissertations*. University of Connecticut: 1–72. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1196370756](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1196370756).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Miguel A. Cardona"](https://www.ct.edu/regents/members/miguel_cardona). *www.ct.edu*. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Two outsiders emerge as top contenders for Biden's education secretary (Meckler, Strauss)"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/biden-education-secretary-fenwick-cardona/2020/12/16/5811142e-3fb4-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Biden to pick Connecticut education commissioner for top schools post"](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/22/biden-connecticut-schools-chief-education-secretary-449808). *POLITICO*. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Nichols, Hans (December 21, 2020). ["Biden leaning toward Miguel Cardona for education secretary"](https://www.axios.com/miguel-cardona-biden-education-secretary-4b05f071-8b96-4141-8f11-b695d48648aa.html). *Axios*. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["DOMESTIC NOMINEES AND APPOINTEES"](https://buildbackbetter.gov/nominees-and-appointees/dr-miguel-cardona/). *Biden-Harris transition*. Retrieved December 23, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Barrón-López, Laura (December 19, 2020). ["Hispanic Caucus presses Biden to appoint Latinos to lead Education, Small Business"](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/19/hispanic-caucus-biden-cabinet-448698). *POLITICO*. Retrieved December 21, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Committee hearing for Meriden resident Miguel Cardona's nomination as U.S. Secretary of Education set for Wednesday"](https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/Cardona-nomination-for-US-Secretary-of-Ed-to-be-heard-by-Senate-HELP-Committee-Feb-3.html). myrecordjournal.com. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Manu Raju (February 25, 2021). ["Senate Democrats break GOP filibuster to advance Miguel Cardona's nomination to run the Education Department"](https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1365028993993478144). Twitter. Retrieved February 25, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Miguel Cardona to be sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Education"](https://edsource.org/2021/miguel-cardona-confirmed-by-senate-as-u-s-secretary-of-education/650310). *EdSource*. March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_23-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_23-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_23-2) Cory Turner (December 6, 2022). ["Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers"](https://www.npr.org/2023/12/06/1217552875/government-efforts-to-erase-student-loan-debt-have-now-reached-3-6-million-borro). *[NPR](/source/NPR)*. Retrieved December 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Liptak, Adam (June 30, 2022). ["Student Loan Forgiveness Supreme Court Rules 6 to 3 Against Biden Plan"](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/30/us/student-loans-supreme-court-biden). *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Kate Lobosco (December 6, 2022). ["Biden administration cancels nearly $5 billion more in student loan debt"](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/06/politics/student-loan-forgiveness-biden/index.html). *[CNN](/source/CNN)*. Retrieved December 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Minsky, Adam (October 28, 2023). ["Check Your Email: 50,000 Borrowers Get Student Loan Forgiveness Notices, And Yes, They're Real"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2023/10/28/check-your-email-50000-borrowers-get-student-loan-forgiveness-notices-and-yes-its-real/?sh=ca8451825a6b). *[Forbes](/source/Forbes)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Klein, Betsy (March 8, 2024). ["Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is the designated survivor for the State of the Union | CNN Politics"](https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/07/politics/designated-survivor-state-of-the-union-2024/index.html). *CNN*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Lonas, Lexi (December 29, 2023). ["New FAFSA forms aim to make college applications easier. Here's what to know"](https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4381682-new-fafsa-forms-college-applications/). *The Hill*. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Quilantan, Bianca (March 22, 2024). ["Education Department sparks new GOP anger as Cardona pivots on financial aid blunder"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240407094756/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/22/cardona-federal-student-aid-blame-00148547). *Politico*. Archived from [the original](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/22/cardona-federal-student-aid-blame-00148547) on April 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Schermele, Zachary; Wong, Alia (August 7, 2024). ["Top Education Department official steps down amid crisis over college financial aid"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/04/26/amid-fafsa-crisis-richard-corday-steps-down/73469057007/). *USA Today*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** Connell, Jordan (April 30, 2024). ["'Inexcusable': Senators grill Education secretary over botched FAFSA roll out"](https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4633533-inexcusable-senators-grill-education-secretary-over-botched-fafsa-roll-out/). *The Hill*. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Schermele, Zachary (May 7, 2024). ["Biden's education secretary apologizes for FAFSA rollout amid new concerns about next year"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/05/07/fafsa-miguel-cardona-rollout/73599215007/). *USA Today*. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Alverio_33-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Alverio_33-1) Alverio, Diane (July 2, 2015). ["Meriden's Dr. Miguel Cardona: From Student To Administrator"](https://ctlatinonews.com/dr-miguel-cardona-leading-the-way/). *CT Latino News*. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["Perez–Cardona"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65816122/). *[Record-Journal](/source/Record-Journal)*. May 19, 2002. p. 17. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Miguel Cardona: Biden's pick for Education is a teacher – and unifier"](https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2021/0301/Miguel-Cardona-Biden-s-pick-for-Education-is-a-teacher-and-unifier). *Christian Science Monitor*. March 1, 2021. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0882-7729](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0882-7729). Retrieved October 8, 2022.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Miguel Cardona](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Miguel_Cardona).

English [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article:

**[Miguel Cardona](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Author:Miguel_Angel_Cardona)**

- [Biography](https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html) at the [United States Department of Education](/source/United_States_Department_of_Education)

- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?128828) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)

Political offices Preceded by Dianna Wentzell Education Commissioner of Connecticut 2019–2021 Succeeded by Charlene Russell-Tucker Preceded by Betsy DeVos United States Secretary of Education 2021–2025 Succeeded by Linda McMahon U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded by Jennifer Granholm as Former U.S. Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Cabinet Member Succeeded by Gina Raimondo as Former U.S. Cabinet Member

v t e United States secretaries of education Hufstedler Bell Bennett Cavazos Alexander Riley Paige Spellings Duncan King DeVos Cardona McMahon

v t e Cabinet of President Joe Biden (2021–2025) Cabinet Vice President Kamala Harris (2021–2025) Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2021–2025) Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen (2021–2025) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (2021–2025) Attorney General Merrick Garland (2021–2025) Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (2021–2025) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (2021–2025) Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo (2021–2025) Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh (2021–2023) Julie Su (acting) (2023–2025) Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra (2021–2025) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge (2021–2024) Adrianne Todman (acting) (2024–2025) Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (2021–2025) Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (2021–2025) Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (2021–2025) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough (2021–2025) Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas (2021–2025) Cabinet-level Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Michael S. Regan (2021–2024) Jane Nishida (acting) (2025) Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young (2021–2025) Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (2021–2025) Director of the Central Intelligence Agency William J. Burns (2023–2025) Trade Representative Katherine Tai (2021–2025) Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield (2021–2025) Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse (2021–2023) Jared Bernstein (2023–2025) Administrator of the Small Business Administration Isabel Guzman (2021–2025) Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Eric Lander (2021–2022) Arati Prabhakar (2022–2025) White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain (2021–2023) Jeff Zients (2023–2025) See also: Political appointments by Joe Biden

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Other SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Miguel Cardona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Cardona) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Cardona?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.