What Does the U.S. Department of Education Do?

The mission of the U.S. Department of Education is to "promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access." The U.S. Department of Education engages in four major types of activities: 1) establishing policies related to federal funding, administering the distribution of funding and monitor is use; collecting data and overseeing research on American Schools; 3) identifying major issues in education and focusing national attention on them and 4) enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination in programs that receives federal funding".

The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979 and was created to support the President in implementing his educational policies for the nation. The elementary and secondary programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education provide services to more than 14,000 school districts annually. This translates to providing services to an estimated 56 million students who attend 97,000 public schools. The Department also provides funding to approximately 28,000 private schools. In addition, the Department is responsible for providing grants, loans, and work-study support to approximately 11 million students participating in post-secondary education programs.

In an effort to be clear about the role and responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education, congress, in 1979, identified these activities as NOT the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Education: establishment of schools or colleges, developing curricula, establishing requirements for enrollment and graduation, determination of state education standards and developing and implementing a process for testing or assessment to define what states are meeting or not meeting their educational standards. Congress was adamant that these kinds of responsibilities and activities belonged at the individual state and territory level. They also felt public and private organizations of all sorts were to support the kinds of responsibilities as well.

There are several committees and units and groups that assist and advise the U. S. Department of Education as it manages and implements the successful completion of its mission. These groups are made up of persons who have knowledge and expertise in the field of elementary and secondary education as well as post-secondary and adult education organizations. In addition to these kinds of support, the President also appoints Commissions which advise him on a multitude of issues of national importance which includes issues related to education. The Secretary of Education has the responsibility to advise the President as well on educational issues of national importance.

The focus and agenda of the U.S. Department of Education is affected when there is a change in administration with a new President and the appointment of a new Secretary of Education. These political changes in Washington typically set off the trickle-down effect... when there are changes at the top, there will be changes all the way to the individual student level.

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