Biographical Information: Cardona was born in Meriden, Conn. After earning a degree in bilingual bicultural education from Central Connecticut State University, he began his education career in 1998, working as a 4th-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden. In 2003, Cardona took the helm of Hanover Elementary School, becoming Connecticut鈥檚 youngest principal at age 28. Less than ten years later, in 2012, he was awarded the National Distinguished Principal Award for Connecticut. That same year he earned his doctorate from the University of Connecticut. He became a district administrator in 2013, working as the Meriden district鈥檚 performance and evaluation specialist. In 2019, Cardona became Connecticut鈥檚 state superintendent. In that role, he pushed for reopening schools during the pandemic.
Served Under: President Joe Biden
Dates of Tenure: 2021-2025
Fun Fact: Cardona sometimes played the bongo drums at events with his father and brother鈥檚 band.
Highlights of Tenure:
- Oversaw the distribution of much of the largest-ever, one-time infusion of federal funds to public schools鈥攖he Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. ESSER consisted of $190 billion sent in three rounds to help schools reopen from COVID-19 closures and aid students鈥� academic recovery from a pandemic-era dip in achievement.
- Oversaw the revision of regulations under Title IX, the nation鈥檚 landmark law barring sex discrimination in federally funded education programs. The new regulations explicitly prohibited discrimination against students based on sexuality or gender identity. However, 26 states sued to stop the rule and secured injunctions pausing its enforcement in those states and at individual schools and colleges in states that didn鈥檛 challenge the new regulation. A federal judge struck down the new regulation on Jan. 9, 2025.
- Oversaw the launch of a streamlined Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. However, the new form鈥檚 launch was delayed and riddled with glitches. High school seniors from lower-income families were the most likely to abandon financial aid applications as the result of a delayed and continuously botched rollout, a review by the Government Accountability Office found.
- The Education Department, under Cardona, was charged with carrying out many of the Biden administration鈥檚 attempts to cancel or reduce student loan debt, which were repeatedly thwarted by courts in response to lawsuits from Republican-led states.
Archives of Note:
Biden Picks Connecticut Schools Chief Miguel Cardona for Education Secretary
Cardona became head of the Connecticut Department of Education in 2019. He鈥檚 also been a teacher, principal, and district administrator. (Dec. 22, 2020)
Where Biden鈥檚 Choice for Education Secretary Stands on Key K-12 Issues
Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, Biden鈥檚 pick for education secretary, has taken positions on an array of K-12 issues. (Dec. 22, 2020)
Biden鈥檚 Pick for Ed. Secretary: U.S. Must Help Schools 鈥楩orge Opportunity Out of Crisis鈥�
President-elect Joe Biden introduced Connecticut schools chief Miguel Cardona as his choice for U.S. secretary of education Wednesday. (Dec. 23, 2020)
5 Things To Know About Dr. Miguel Cardona: Biden鈥檚 Choice for Ed. Secretary
Watch EdWeek politics reporters Andrew Ujifusa and Evie Blad as they discuss 5 key questions about Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden鈥檚 pick for Education Secretary. (Jan. 5, 2021)
Who Is Miguel Cardona? Education Secretary Pick Has Roots in Classroom, Principal鈥檚 Office
Many who鈥檝e worked with Joe Biden鈥檚 pick for education secretary say he鈥檚 ready for what would be a giant step up. (Jan. 14, 2021)
Miguel Cardona Pressed by Lawmakers on Tests, Reopening Schools, and Transgender Students
The nominee for secretary of education stressed the value of COVID-19 relief and that schools must be 鈥渇ree of harassment and discrimination.鈥� (Feb. 3, 2021)
Unpacking Cardona鈥檚 Confirmation Hearing: What We Learned
Education Week reporters Andrew Ujifusa and Evie Blad discuss key topics that arose during Miguel Cardona鈥檚 confirmation hearing, and what comes next. (Feb. 4, 2021)
Senate Confirms Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary
The former Connecticut education commissioner got his start as an elementary school teacher and was a principal and school administrator. (March 1, 2021)
EdWeek Q&A: Miguel Cardona Talks Summer Learning, Mental Health, and State Tests
In an interview after a school reopening summit, the education secretary also addressed teachers鈥� union concerns about CDC guidance. (March 24, 2021)
White House Launches Hispanic Education Initiative Led by Miguel Cardona
President Joe Biden said his administration intends to address the 鈥渟ystemic causes鈥� of educational disparities faced by Hispanic students. (Sept. 13, 2021)
Miguel Cardona Came in as a Teacher Champion. Has COVID Muted His Message?
The education secretary is taking heat from some who say his advocacy is overshadowed by Biden鈥檚 push to keep schools open. (Jan. 20, 2022)
Miguel Cardona Tells Teachers 鈥業 Know You鈥檙e Tired鈥� in Speech Outlining Major K-12 Goals
The education secretary outlined his vision for education and specific goals for schools, but COVID has complicated his work. (Jan. 27, 2022)
Education Secretary: 鈥楲et鈥檚 Transform Our Appreciation of Teachers to Action鈥�
Miguel Cardona shared strategies to help recruit, develop, and retain effective teachers. (June 9, 2022)
U.S. Education Secretary Cardona: How to Fix Teacher Shortages, Create Safe Schools
In an exclusive interview with Education Week, the secretary looks ahead to the challenges of this school year. (Aug. 23, 2022)
Teachers Need More Than Just Pay Raises, Secretary Cardona Says
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona sat down with Education Week to talk about the teaching profession, AI, and students鈥� mental health. (May 2, 2023)
Miguel Cardona: There鈥檚 No 鈥楳agic Strategy鈥� to Help Students Get Back on Track
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said he鈥檚 focused on supporting schools on work they鈥檙e already doing to help students achieve. (Oct. 19, 2023)
Here鈥檚 Why Miguel Cardona Is Pushing Multilingual Education
The education secretary outlines how the Education Department is investing in language learning. Will it work? (Nov. 17, 2023)
Arming Teachers Could Cause 鈥楢ccidents and More Tragedy,鈥� Miguel Cardona Says
鈥淭his is not in my opinion a smart option,鈥� the education secretary said at an EdWeek event. (May 2, 2024)
Miguel Cardona in the Hot Seat: 4 Takeaways From a Contentious House Hearing
FAFSA, rising antisemitism, and Title IX dominated questioning at a U.S. House hearing with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. (May 7, 2024)
As Biden Leaves Office, What Will His Education Legacy Be?
Biden鈥檚 term was marked by unprecedented funding for schools, but no aggressive policy agenda. Did his administration do enough? (Jan. 15, 2025)
Former U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to Teach at Yale
The secretary who served under President Joe Biden will serve as a faculty fellow for the 2025-26 academic year. (Sept. 26, 2025)
