Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan will soon be overseeing some of the thorniest issues facing state government, including school vouchers and how Albany will comply with a mandate to increase funding to city schools.

Ms. Nolan, a Democrat who represents a large swath of southwestern Queens, was selected yesterday to head the Assembly’s Education Committee.

At a time when the state spends more than $25 billion on education, or about a quarter of its total budget, the chairmanship is considered one of the most important in Albany.

Ms. Nolan’s appointment was met with enthusiasm from a large cross-section of lawmakers and education advocates who have been keeping close watch on who would replace Assemblyman Steven Sanders. He served at the helm of the committee for 11 years, before vacating his seat this year.

Yesterday, Ms. Nolan said it is too early to comment on specific issues, but added that she “stood” with Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Elected to the Assembly in 1984, Ms. Nolan has also chaired the labor and banking committees.

The education post has historically gone to a city lawmaker – the five boroughs are home to the country’s largest school district, with 1.1 million public school children.

Some education policy-makers expected the coveted spot to go a member of the Black, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Caucus. Assemblymen Peter Rivera of the Bronx and Keith Wright of Manhattan were considered top contenders for the job.

Ms. Nolan said that while she has never served on the Education Committee, she is a graduate of city public schools and her son is a second-grader in Queens. “In some ways I think it will be good; I will bring a nice fresh perspective,” she said in a telephone interview. “But I think at this point, you’re going to have to give me a little time to absorb all the issues.”

Ms. Nolan previously co-sponsored legislation in support of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, a lawsuit charging that the city was being shortchanged billions of school-aid dollars. Governor Pataki is appealing a state Supreme Court decision ordering Albany to pay an additional $5.6 billion a year.

She declined to comment on how she would stand on the $500 education tax credits that Mr. Pataki proposed last week.