welcome pnl
On this page
- Animal Life
- Business & Finance
- Cars & Vehicles
- Entertainment & Arts
- Food & Cooking
- Health
- History, Politics, Society
- Home & Garden
- Law & Legal Issues
- Literature & Language
- Miscellaneous
- Religion & Spirituality
- Science
- Shopping
- Sports
- Technology
- Travel & Places
- Q & A
ADVERTISEMENT
United States Department of Education
Oxford Guide to the US Government: Department of Education |
Ads
| Education in the USALearnHub.com/Education-in-the-US Apply to the best American Universities for free at LearnHub! |
| Masters Degree in USAimpeloverseas.com/Fall2011 Admission to Top Universities in US Assured Admission/ Expert Visa Help |
The principal duty of the Department of Education, which in 1996 had less than 4,800 employees, is to provide federal assistance to the state and local agencies primarily responsible for education in the United States. Grants designed to improve education are administered by the department's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Postsecondary Education, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education. The department also maintains an Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
Following President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in 1997, the Department of Education developed a list of priorities that included having every classroom connected to the Internet and all students technologically literate by the year 2000. Priorities also included the creation of clear standards of student achievement in all states. In addition, the department asserted the goal of having all students prepared for and able to afford a college education by the age of 18.
Search unanswered questions...
Ads
| Study in USAYellowPages.Sulekha.Com/Hyderabad Want to study in USA? Contact Overseas Education Consultants now! |
| U.S. Art & Design Collegecolum.edu/international-student Study art and design in the heart of the U.S. |
| Related Videos: |
Gale Encyclopedia of US History: Department of Education |
Public Law 96-98, known as the Department of Education Organization Act, established the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) on 4 May 1980.It was established to increase the commitment of the federal government to assuring equal access to educational opportunity; improving the quality of education; encouraging greater involvement of parents, students, and the public in federal education programs; promoting federally supported research, evaluation, and sharing of information; enhancing the coordination of federal education programs; improving the management of federal education activities; and increasing the accountability of federal education programs to the public, Congress, and the president. The department was the first cabinet-level education agency of the U.S. government. It superseded the U.S. Office of Education, established in 1867, and replaced the National Institute of Education, established in 1972.
In the United States, state and local governments decide most education policy. The role of the federal government is restricted by the Tenth Amendment to that of guarding the right of its citizens to equal access to public institutions and equal opportunity within them. Additionally, through the funding of research, financial aid to students, and the dissemination of information, the federal government is involved in improving the quality of education. The federal government also funds and administers elementary and secondary schools for dependents of civilian and military personnel abroad, operated by the Department of Defense, and has some control over postsecondary institutions that prepare students for military careers. Otherwise, it is not involved directly in post-secondary educational institutions except for certain responsibilities delineated in the Civil Rights Act of 1864. Education funding comes primarily from state, local, and federal taxes.
Following President George Bush's Education Summit in 1990, the nation's governors adopted six National Education Goals to enable the country to develop standards of performance for all schools and to measure progress toward the achievement of these standards. The original goals, intended to be met by the year 2000, follow: first, all children will start school ready to learn; second, the high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent; third, American students will leave grades four, eight, and twelve having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, history, and geography, with every school in America ensuring that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in a modern economy; fourth, U.S. students will lead the world in science and mathematics achievement; fifth, every adult American will be literate and will possess the ability to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; and sixth, every school will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning.
Reform at the federal level, stemming from the America 2000 Excellence in Education Act, called for funding for Presidential Merit Schools (rewards to schools that make progress in raising achievement, fighting drugs, and reducing the dropout rate); Presidential Awards for Excellence in Education ($5,000 awards to teachers who meet the highest standards of excellence); National Science Scholarships (annual scholarships for high school seniors to encourage them to take more science and math courses); and Magnet Schools of Excellence (competitive grants awarded to local districts to support magnet schools for purposes other than desegregation).
On 8 January 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which mandated that states and school districts develop strong systems of accountability based on student performance. The act also enabled federal Title I funds to be used for supplemental education services, such as tutoring, after-school services, and summer programs, tripled the federal funding investment in reading through the Reading First program, and provided almost $3 billion during the first year to improve teacher quality.
"Department of Education." Available from http://www.ed.gov.
Hacsi, Timothy A. Children as Pawns: The Politics of Educational Reform. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002.
Ladd, Helen F., and Janet S. Hansen, eds. Making Money Matter: Financing America's Schools. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1999.
Rochester, J. Martin. Class Warfare: What's Wrong with American Education. 2002.
Toch, Thomas. In the Name of Excellence: The Struggle to Reform the Nation's Schools, Why It's Failing, and What Should Be Done. Bridgewater, N.J.: Replica Books, 1991, 2000.
Veith, Gene Edward, Jr., and Andrew Kern. Classical Education: The Movement Sweeping America. Washington, D.C.: Capital Research Center, 2001.
The Federal Role in Education
There are several organizations within the DOE. They include the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, the National Center for Education Statistics, the Planning and Evaluation Service, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the Office of Special Education Programs, and the National Research and Dissemination Centers for Career and Technical Education.In the United States, state and local governments decide most education policy. The role of the federal government is restricted by the Tenth Amendment to that of guarding the right of its citizens to equal access to public institutions and equal opportunity within them. Additionally, through the funding of research, financial aid to students, and the dissemination of information, the federal government is involved in improving the quality of education. The federal government also funds and administers elementary and secondary schools for dependents of civilian and military personnel abroad, operated by the Department of Defense, and has some control over postsecondary institutions that prepare students for military careers. Otherwise, it is not involved directly in post-secondary educational institutions except for certain responsibilities delineated in the Civil Rights Act of 1864. Education funding comes primarily from state, local, and federal taxes.
Programs of the Department
The DOE has undertaken programs in elementary, secondary, postsecondary, vocational, bilingual, and special education, and has fulfilled specified responsibilities for four federally supported institutions: the American Printing House for the Blind; Gallaudet University; Howard University; and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. The department coordinates its efforts with the cabinet departments of defense, commerce, health and human services, and labor; the National Science Foundation; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and other federal agencies with education-related assignments. The department works primarily to ensure both equal access (for such groups as the disadvantaged, racial and religious minorities, the disabled, women, and at-risk children) and educational excellence in terms of measurable performance.National Goals
In 1981, Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell created a National Commission on Excellence in Education, whose report, A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Re-form (1983), called for widespread, systemic reform, including stronger graduation requirements, more rigorous and measurable standards, more time in school, and significantly improved teaching. A national debate ensued, and throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the department remained at the forefront of campaigns to introduce national curriculum and assessment standards to hold students, teachers, and schools accountable for higher levels of achievement.Following President George Bush's Education Summit in 1990, the nation's governors adopted six National Education Goals to enable the country to develop standards of performance for all schools and to measure progress toward the achievement of these standards. The original goals, intended to be met by the year 2000, follow: first, all children will start school ready to learn; second, the high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent; third, American students will leave grades four, eight, and twelve having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, history, and geography, with every school in America ensuring that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in a modern economy; fourth, U.S. students will lead the world in science and mathematics achievement; fifth, every adult American will be literate and will possess the ability to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; and sixth, every school will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning.
Federal Legislation
Between 1990 and 1994, a number of new laws were enacted that changed the American education system: the National Literacy Act (1991); the Education Council Act (1991); the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (1992); the Education of the Deaf Act Amendments (1992); the Rehabilitation Act Amendments (1992); the Student Loan Reform Act (1993); the Rehabilitation Act and Education of the Deaf Act Technical Amendments (1993); the Migrant Student Record Transfer System Act (1993); the Higher Education Technical Amendments Act (1993); the National Service Trust Act (1993); the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (1994); the School-to-Work Opportunities Act (1994); the Safe Schools Act (1994); the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act (1994); the Student Loan Default Exemption Extension Act (1994); the Improving America's Schools Act (1994); and the National Education Statistics Act (1994).Reform at the federal level, stemming from the America 2000 Excellence in Education Act, called for funding for Presidential Merit Schools (rewards to schools that make progress in raising achievement, fighting drugs, and reducing the dropout rate); Presidential Awards for Excellence in Education ($5,000 awards to teachers who meet the highest standards of excellence); National Science Scholarships (annual scholarships for high school seniors to encourage them to take more science and math courses); and Magnet Schools of Excellence (competitive grants awarded to local districts to support magnet schools for purposes other than desegregation).
On 8 January 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which mandated that states and school districts develop strong systems of accountability based on student performance. The act also enabled federal Title I funds to be used for supplemental education services, such as tutoring, after-school services, and summer programs, tripled the federal funding investment in reading through the Reading First program, and provided almost $3 billion during the first year to improve teacher quality.
Bibliography
Bloom, Allan. The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today's Students. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988."Department of Education." Available from http://www.ed.gov.
Hacsi, Timothy A. Children as Pawns: The Politics of Educational Reform. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002.
Ladd, Helen F., and Janet S. Hansen, eds. Making Money Matter: Financing America's Schools. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1999.
Rochester, J. Martin. Class Warfare: What's Wrong with American Education. 2002.
Toch, Thomas. In the Name of Excellence: The Struggle to Reform the Nation's Schools, Why It's Failing, and What Should Be Done. Bridgewater, N.J.: Replica Books, 1991, 2000.
Veith, Gene Edward, Jr., and Andrew Kern. Classical Education: The Movement Sweeping America. Washington, D.C.: Capital Research Center, 2001.
—Christine E. Hoffman
Ads
| Study in Americaindia.idp.com Meet US University representatives at IDP's Global Admissions Program |
| India's No. 1 Universitywww.srmuniv.ac.in SRM University is Ranked as No.1 Pvt. University by Education Times. |
Columbia Encyclopedia: United States Department of Education |
Education, United States Department of, executive department of the federal government responsible for advising on educational plans and policies, providing assistance for education, and carrying out educational research. It was established (1867) as an independent government agency and then transferred (1869) to the Dept. of the Interior as the Bureau of Education. In 1939 the bureau, by executive order, was transferred to the Federal Security Agency, which in 1953 became the Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare. It became an independent department in 1979. Within the Dept. of Education are offices of elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, special education and rehabilitative services, bilingual education and minority languages, vocational and adult education, civil rights, and educational research and improvement. The department also administers funds for Gallaudet and Howard universities, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and the American Printing House for the Blind.
Ads
| Study in Americawww.studymaine.net Excellent placement at top schools. Come see what Maine has to offer! |
| Higher EducationClickIndia.com/Higher+Education Full & Part Time Classes, Free Info Apply Now for Higher Education |
West's Encyclopedia of American Law: Education Department |
This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.
Created in 1980, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is the cabinet-level agency that establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education. It is directed by the secretary of education, who assists the president of the United States by executing policies and implementing laws enacted by Congress.
The DOE has six major responsibilities: (1) providing national leadership and building partnerships to address critical issues in U.S. education; (2) serving as a national clearinghouse of ideas on schools and teaching; (3) helping families pay for college; (4) helping local communities and schools meet the most pressing needs of their students; (5) preparing students for employment in a changing economy; and (6) ensuring nondiscrimination by recipients of federal education funds.
Although the current DOE has existed for only a short time, its history dates back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first education department as a non-cabinet-level, autonomous agency. Within one year, the department was demoted to an office because Congress feared that the department would exercise too much control over local schools. Since the Constitution did not specifically mention education, Congress made clear its intention that the secretary of education and other officials be prohibited from exercising direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, instructional programs, administration, or personnel of any educational institution. Such matters are the responsibility of states, localities, and private institutions.
Over the next several decades the office remained small, operating under different titles and housed in various government agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the former U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Beginning in 1950 political and social changes resulted in greatly expanded federal aid to education. The Soviet Union's successful launch of the satellite Sputnik in 1957 resulted in an increase in aid for improved education in the sciences. President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty in the 1960s involved many programs to improve education for poor people. In the 1970s these programs were expanded to include members of racial minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and non-English-speaking students.
In October 1979 Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (93 Stat. 668 [20 U.S.C.A. § 3508]), which established the current Department of Education. Since that time, the DOE has continued to expand its duties by taking an active role in education reform. In 1983 the DOE published A Nation at Risk, a report that described the deficiencies of U.S. schools, stating that mediocrity, not excellence, was the norm in public education. This led to the development in 1990 of a long-range plan to reform U.S. education by the year 2000.
Called America 2000: An Educational Strategy, the plan has eight goals: (1) all children will start school ready to learn by participating in preschool programs; (2) the high-school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent; (3) all students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency in English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, art, history, and geography; (4) teachers will have opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for preparing students for the twenty-first century; (5) students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement; (6) every adult will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy; (7) every school will be free of drugs, violence, and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol; and (8) every school will promote partnerships to increase parental involvement in the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.
In the 1860s, federal education had a budget of $15,000 and 4 employees to handle education fact-finding. By 1965, the Office of Education employed 2,113 employees and had a budget of $1.5 billion. In 1995, the DOE administered about $33 billion, or about 2 percent of all federal spending, and had 4,900 employees, making it the smallest cabinet agency.
The DOE's elementary and secondary education programs annually serve fifteen thousand local school districts and almost 50 million students attending more than eighty-four thousand public schools and twenty-four thousand private schools. Approximately 7 million postsecondary students receive grant, loan, and work-study assistance. From 1975 to 1995, approximately 40 million students attended college on student financial aid programs. An additional 4 million adults received assistance each year to attend literacy classes and upgrade their skills to further their employment goals.
Although the nation spends about $500 billion a year on education for elementary to postsecondary education, the federal government contributes only eight percent of that amount. Federal funding helps about one out of two students pay for their postsecondary education, and about four out of five disadvantaged elementary and secondary school students receive special assistance in learning the basics.
Structure
The organizational structure of the DOE is made up of the offices of a number of administrative officials, including a secretary, deputy secretary, and under secretary; seven program offices; and seven staff offices. Reporting directly to the secretary are the deputy secretary, under secretary, general counsel, inspector general, and public affairs director. All other staff offices and program offices are under the jurisdiction of the deputy secretary.
Offices of the Secretary
The secretary of education advises the president of the United States on federal education plans, policies, and programs. The secretary directs department officials in carrying out these programs and activities and serves as the chief spokesperson for public affairs, promoting public understanding of the DOE's goals, objectives, and programs.
The secretary also performs certain federal responsibilities for four federally aided corporations. The American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky, distributes braille books, talking books, and other educational aids without cost to educational institutions for blind people. Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C., provides a liberal arts education for deaf persons. Howard University, also in Washington, D.C., is a comprehensive university that offers instruction in seventeen schools and colleges, and was established primarily to support African American students. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a division of the Rochester Institute of Technology, located in Rochester, New York, provides educational programs that focus on careers and are geared toward helping hearing-impaired individuals obtain marketable skills in a society that increasingly relies on technology.
The deputy secretary serves as the principal policy adviser to the secretary on all major program and management issues and is responsible for the department's internal management and daily operations. The deputy oversees the Executive Management Committee and the Reinvention Coordination Council, coordinates federal-state relations, and serves as acting secretary in the secretary's absence.
The under secretary advises the secretary on matters relating to program plans and budget. Through the Planning and Evaluation Service and the Budget Service, this officer directs, coordinates, and recommends policy and administers analytical studies on the economic, social, and institutional effect of existing and proposed policies, legislative proposals, and program operations.
Program Offices
Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs
The Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs funds programs designed to help persons with limited English proficiency participate effectively in classrooms and work environments in which English is the primary language. This is accomplished through fourteen grant programs and one formula grant program as well as through contracts for research and evaluation, technical assistance, and clearinghouse activities.
Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Office enforces federal statutes that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicapping condition in education programs receiving federal financial assistance. Civil rights laws extend to a wide range of educational institutions, including every school district, college, and university as well as proprietary schools, libraries, museums, and correctional facilities.
Educational Research and Improvement
The primary function of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement is to gather, analyze, and make available to the public statistical and other types of information about the condition of U.S. education. This is accomplished through the dissemination of information and research findings about successful education practices, student achievements, and nationally significant model projects. The office also supports a wide range of research and development activities and promotes the use of technology in education.
Elementary and Secondary Education
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education formulates policy for, directs, and coordinates activities relating to preschool, elementary, and secondary education. Grants and contracts are awarded to state educational agencies, local school districts, postsecondary schools, and nonprofit organizations for compensatory, migrant, and Indian programs; drug-free programs; other school improvement programs; and impact aid, which compensates school districts for the loss of property taxes for students who live on federally owned property such as military bases or Indian reservations.
Postsecondary Education
The Postsecondary Education Office formulates policy and directs and coordinates programs for assistance to postsecondary institutions and to students who need financial assistance to attend college or a vocational training center. Financial aid is awarded in the form of grants, loans, and jobs. In addition, this office provides support for institutional development, student services, housing and facilities, veterans' affairs, cooperative education, international and graduate education, colleges for African Americans, foreign language and area studies, and innovative teaching methods and practices.
Special Educational and Rehabilitation Services
The Office of Special Educational and Rehabilitation Services supports programs that help educate children with special needs, provides for the rehabilitation of youths and adults with disabilities, and supports research to improve the life of individuals with disabilities regardless of age. Programs include support for the training of teachers and other professional personnel; grants for research; financial aid to help states initiate, expand, and improve their resources; and media services and captioned films for hearing-impaired individuals.
Vocational and Adult Education
Grant, contract, and technical assistance programs for vocational-technical education and adult education and literacy are administered through the Office of Vocational and Adult Education. This office also works with the Department of Labor in administering the School-to-Work Opportunities Initiative, which helps states and localities design and build innovative systems to prepare youths for college and careers.
Staff Offices
Assistant Secretary for Management
The assistant secretary for management provides the deputy secretary with advice and guidance on administrative management and is responsible for activities involving personnel, training, grants and procurement management, management evaluation, automated data processing, and other support functions.
Chief Financial Officer
The chief financial officer manages grants and contract services and oversees financial management, financial control and accounting, and program analysis.
Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs
The assistant secretary of intergovernmental and interagency affairs acts as a liaison to state and local governments and other federal agencies and oversees the DOE's ten regional offices.
Inspector General
The inspector general audits and investigates programs and operations to promote their efficiency and effectiveness and to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. This officer seeks to recover misused federal funds through courts and administrative procedures and, in cooperation with the Department of Justice, prosecutes wrongdoers.
General Counsel
As the chief legal adviser to the secretary and other department officials, the general counsel directs, coordinates, and recommends policy for activities involving the preparation of legal documents and department rules and regulations, including proposed or pending legislation.
Public Affairs Director
The public affairs director, who reports directly to the secretary, develops and coordinates public affairs policy and serves as the chief public information officer.
Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs
The assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs serves as the principal adviser to the deputy secretary on the DOE's legislative program and congressional relations.
See: Colleges and Universities; School Desegregation; Schools and School Districts.
Created in 1980, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is the cabinet-level agency that establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education. It is directed by the secretary of education, who assists the president of the United States by executing policies and implementing laws enacted by Congress.
The DOE has six major responsibilities: (1) providing national leadership and building partnerships to address critical issues in U.S. education; (2) serving as a national clearinghouse of ideas on schools and teaching; (3) helping families pay for college; (4) helping local communities and schools meet the most pressing needs of their students; (5) preparing students for employment in a changing economy; and (6) ensuring nondiscrimination by recipients of federal education funds.
Although the current DOE has existed for only a short time, its history dates back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first education department as a non-cabinet-level, autonomous agency. Within one year, the department was demoted to an office because Congress feared that the department would exercise too much control over local schools. Since the Constitution did not specifically mention education, Congress made clear its intention that the secretary of education and other officials be prohibited from exercising direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, instructional programs, administration, or personnel of any educational institution. Such matters are the responsibility of states, localities, and private institutions.
Over the next several decades the office remained small, operating under different titles and housed in various government agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the former U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Beginning in 1950 political and social changes resulted in greatly expanded federal aid to education. The Soviet Union's successful launch of the satellite Sputnik in 1957 resulted in an increase in aid for improved education in the sciences. President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty in the 1960s involved many programs to improve education for poor people. In the 1970s these programs were expanded to include members of racial minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and non-English-speaking students.
In October 1979 Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (93 Stat. 668 [20 U.S.C.A. § 3508]), which established the current Department of Education. Since that time, the DOE has continued to expand its duties by taking an active role in education reform. In 1983 the DOE published A Nation at Risk, a report that described the deficiencies of U.S. schools, stating that mediocrity, not excellence, was the norm in public education. This led to the development in 1990 of a long-range plan to reform U.S. education by the year 2000.
Called America 2000: An Educational Strategy, the plan has eight goals: (1) all children will start school ready to learn by participating in preschool programs; (2) the high-school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent; (3) all students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency in English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, art, history, and geography; (4) teachers will have opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for preparing students for the twenty-first century; (5) students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement; (6) every adult will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy; (7) every school will be free of drugs, violence, and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol; and (8) every school will promote partnerships to increase parental involvement in the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.
In the 1860s, federal education had a budget of $15,000 and 4 employees to handle education fact-finding. By 1965, the Office of Education employed 2,113 employees and had a budget of $1.5 billion. In 1995, the DOE administered about $33 billion, or about 2 percent of all federal spending, and had 4,900 employees, making it the smallest cabinet agency.
The DOE's elementary and secondary education programs annually serve fifteen thousand local school districts and almost 50 million students attending more than eighty-four thousand public schools and twenty-four thousand private schools. Approximately 7 million postsecondary students receive grant, loan, and work-study assistance. From 1975 to 1995, approximately 40 million students attended college on student financial aid programs. An additional 4 million adults received assistance each year to attend literacy classes and upgrade their skills to further their employment goals.
Although the nation spends about $500 billion a year on education for elementary to postsecondary education, the federal government contributes only eight percent of that amount. Federal funding helps about one out of two students pay for their postsecondary education, and about four out of five disadvantaged elementary and secondary school students receive special assistance in learning the basics.
Structure
The organizational structure of the DOE is made up of the offices of a number of administrative officials, including a secretary, deputy secretary, and under secretary; seven program offices; and seven staff offices. Reporting directly to the secretary are the deputy secretary, under secretary, general counsel, inspector general, and public affairs director. All other staff offices and program offices are under the jurisdiction of the deputy secretary.
Offices of the Secretary
The secretary of education advises the president of the United States on federal education plans, policies, and programs. The secretary directs department officials in carrying out these programs and activities and serves as the chief spokesperson for public affairs, promoting public understanding of the DOE's goals, objectives, and programs.
The secretary also performs certain federal responsibilities for four federally aided corporations. The American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky, distributes braille books, talking books, and other educational aids without cost to educational institutions for blind people. Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C., provides a liberal arts education for deaf persons. Howard University, also in Washington, D.C., is a comprehensive university that offers instruction in seventeen schools and colleges, and was established primarily to support African American students. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a division of the Rochester Institute of Technology, located in Rochester, New York, provides educational programs that focus on careers and are geared toward helping hearing-impaired individuals obtain marketable skills in a society that increasingly relies on technology.
The deputy secretary serves as the principal policy adviser to the secretary on all major program and management issues and is responsible for the department's internal management and daily operations. The deputy oversees the Executive Management Committee and the Reinvention Coordination Council, coordinates federal-state relations, and serves as acting secretary in the secretary's absence.
The under secretary advises the secretary on matters relating to program plans and budget. Through the Planning and Evaluation Service and the Budget Service, this officer directs, coordinates, and recommends policy and administers analytical studies on the economic, social, and institutional effect of existing and proposed policies, legislative proposals, and program operations.
Program Offices
Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs
The Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs funds programs designed to help persons with limited English proficiency participate effectively in classrooms and work environments in which English is the primary language. This is accomplished through fourteen grant programs and one formula grant program as well as through contracts for research and evaluation, technical assistance, and clearinghouse activities.
Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Office enforces federal statutes that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicapping condition in education programs receiving federal financial assistance. Civil rights laws extend to a wide range of educational institutions, including every school district, college, and university as well as proprietary schools, libraries, museums, and correctional facilities.
Educational Research and Improvement
The primary function of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement is to gather, analyze, and make available to the public statistical and other types of information about the condition of U.S. education. This is accomplished through the dissemination of information and research findings about successful education practices, student achievements, and nationally significant model projects. The office also supports a wide range of research and development activities and promotes the use of technology in education.
Elementary and Secondary Education
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education formulates policy for, directs, and coordinates activities relating to preschool, elementary, and secondary education. Grants and contracts are awarded to state educational agencies, local school districts, postsecondary schools, and nonprofit organizations for compensatory, migrant, and Indian programs; drug-free programs; other school improvement programs; and impact aid, which compensates school districts for the loss of property taxes for students who live on federally owned property such as military bases or Indian reservations.
Postsecondary Education
The Postsecondary Education Office formulates policy and directs and coordinates programs for assistance to postsecondary institutions and to students who need financial assistance to attend college or a vocational training center. Financial aid is awarded in the form of grants, loans, and jobs. In addition, this office provides support for institutional development, student services, housing and facilities, veterans' affairs, cooperative education, international and graduate education, colleges for African Americans, foreign language and area studies, and innovative teaching methods and practices.
Special Educational and Rehabilitation Services
The Office of Special Educational and Rehabilitation Services supports programs that help educate children with special needs, provides for the rehabilitation of youths and adults with disabilities, and supports research to improve the life of individuals with disabilities regardless of age. Programs include support for the training of teachers and other professional personnel; grants for research; financial aid to help states initiate, expand, and improve their resources; and media services and captioned films for hearing-impaired individuals.
Vocational and Adult Education
Grant, contract, and technical assistance programs for vocational-technical education and adult education and literacy are administered through the Office of Vocational and Adult Education. This office also works with the Department of Labor in administering the School-to-Work Opportunities Initiative, which helps states and localities design and build innovative systems to prepare youths for college and careers.
Staff Offices
Assistant Secretary for Management
The assistant secretary for management provides the deputy secretary with advice and guidance on administrative management and is responsible for activities involving personnel, training, grants and procurement management, management evaluation, automated data processing, and other support functions.
Chief Financial Officer
The chief financial officer manages grants and contract services and oversees financial management, financial control and accounting, and program analysis.
Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs
The assistant secretary of intergovernmental and interagency affairs acts as a liaison to state and local governments and other federal agencies and oversees the DOE's ten regional offices.
Inspector General
The inspector general audits and investigates programs and operations to promote their efficiency and effectiveness and to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. This officer seeks to recover misused federal funds through courts and administrative procedures and, in cooperation with the Department of Justice, prosecutes wrongdoers.
General Counsel
As the chief legal adviser to the secretary and other department officials, the general counsel directs, coordinates, and recommends policy for activities involving the preparation of legal documents and department rules and regulations, including proposed or pending legislation.
Public Affairs Director
The public affairs director, who reports directly to the secretary, develops and coordinates public affairs policy and serves as the chief public information officer.
Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs
The assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs serves as the principal adviser to the deputy secretary on the DOE's legislative program and congressional relations.
See: Colleges and Universities; School Desegregation; Schools and School Districts.
Ads
| BIC Alliancewww.bicalliance.com Business & Industry Connection Read Industrial News Online |
| MNYL Shiksha Plus IIwww.MaxNewYorkLife.com/ChildPlan Wholesome Development Child Plan Invest Now for a Secured Future. |
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: Politics: Department of Education |
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for providing federal aid to educational institutions and financial aid to students, keeping national educational records, and conducting some educational research.
Ads
| List Your Local Businesswww.thelocalsfavorites.com Bringing Back Mainstreets & Locals! GlobalExposure less than $2 per day |
| University of Readingwww.reading.ac.uk/chemistry For a range of Chemistry Degrees, including the new OU 2plus2 scheme. |
Wikipedia on Answers.com: United States Department of Education |
For the earlier incarnation with the same name, established in 1867, see National Bureau of Education.
| United States Department of Education | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Seal of the US Department of Education | |
| Department overview | |
| Formed | October 17, 1979 |
| Preceding agencies | United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare United States Office of Education |
| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Employees | 5,000 (2007) |
| Annual budget | US$32 billion (2009)[1] US$56 billion (est. 2010) US$71 billion (est. 2011) ARRA Funding: US$102 billion (2009)[2] US$51 billion (est. 2010) US$23 billion (est. 2011) |
| Department executives | Arne Duncan, Secretary Anthony W. Miller , Deputy Secretary |
| Child Department | Click here |
| Website | |
| www.ed.gov | |
The Department of Education Organization Act divided the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare into the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Education is administered by the United States Secretary of Education.
It is by far the smallest Cabinet-level department, with about 5,000 employees. The agency's official acronym is ED (and not DOE, which refers to the United States Department of Energy). It is also often abbreviated informally as DoED.
| Contents [hide] |
Establishment
A previous Department of Education was created in 1867 but soon was demoted to an Office in 1868. As an agency not represented in the president's cabinet, it quickly became a relatively minor bureau in the Department of the Interior. In 1939, the bureau was transferred to the Federal Security Agency, where it was renamed the Office of Education. In 1953, the Federal Security Agency was upgraded to cabinet-level status as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.Upgrading Education to cabinet level status a century later in 1979 was controversial and opposed by many in the Republican Party, who saw the department as unconstitutional, arguing that the Constitution doesn't mention education, and deemed it an unnecessary federal bureaucratic intrusion into local affairs.
On March 23, 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law H.R. 584, which designates the ED Headquarters building as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building.[2]
Functions
The primary functions of the Department of Education are to formulate and administer federal funding programs involving education, such as college financial aid, collect data on US schools, and to enforce federal educational laws regarding privacy and civil rights.[3][4]The Department's mission is: to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.[5]
Unlike the systems of most other countries, education in the United States is highly decentralized, and the federal government and Department of Education are not heavily involved in determining curricula or educational standards (with the recent exception of the No Child Left Behind Act). This has been left to state and local school districts. The quality of educational institutions and their degrees is maintained through an informal private process known as accreditation, over which the Department of Education has no direct public jurisdictional control.
Organization
- Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO)
- Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
- Office of Inspector General
- Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs (OLCA)
- Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
- Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
- Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII)
- Office of the Chief Financial Officer
- Office of Management
- Office of the Chief Information Officer
- Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development
- Budget Service
- Risk Management Service
- Chief Operating Officer
- Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)
- Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE)
- Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA)
- President's Advisory Board on Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU)
- President's Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (WHIHBCU)
- Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
- Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA)
- Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
- Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS)
- Office of Innovation and Improvement
- Associated federal organizations
- Advisory Councils and Committees
- National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB)[3]
- National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)[4]
- Federal Interagency Committee on Education (FICE)
- Federally aided organizations
Opposition
President Ronald Reagan promised during the 1980 presidential election to eliminate the Department of Education as a cabinet post,[6] but he was not able to do so with a DemocraticHouse of Representatives. In the 1982 State of the Union Address, he pledged:| “ | The budget plan I submit to you on Feb. 8 will realize major savings by dismantling the Department of Education.[7] | ” |
In 1996, the Republican Party made abolition of the Department a cornerstone of their campaign promises, calling it an inappropriate federal intrusion into local, state, and family affairs.[7] The GOP platform read:
| “ | The Federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in school curricula or to control jobs in the market place. This is why we will abolish the Department of Education, end federal meddling in our schools, and promote family choice at all levels of learning.[7][8] | ” |
In 2000, the Republican Liberty Caucus passed a resolution to abolish the Department of Education.[9]
Abolition of the organization was not pursued under the George W. Bush administration, which made reform of federal education a key priority of the President's first term. In 2008, presidential candidate Ron Paul campaigned in part on an opposition to the Department.[10]
No Child Left Behind
FICE code
As with other federal agencies, the ED operates with the assistance of several advisory committees. The Federal Interagency Committee on Education (FICE) is known in higher education for originating the FICE code, the six-digit institutional identifier assigned to each higher education (two-year and above) institution.The FICE code is a six-digit identification code that was used to identify all schools doing business with the Office of Education during the early sixties. This code is no longer used in IPEDS; it has been replaced by the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) ID code.[11]
Budget
For 2006, the ED discretionary budget was US$56 billion and the mandatory budget contained $23.4 billion. Currently, the budget is $68.6 billion, according to the Dept. of Education website.Related legislation
- 1965: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
- 1965: Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) (Pub. L. No. 89-329)
- 1974: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- 1974: Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA)
- 1975: Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) (Pub. L. No. 94-142)
- 1978: Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
- 1980: Department of Education Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 96-88)
- 1984: Equal Access Act
- 1990: The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act)
- 1994: Improving America's Schools Act of 1994
- 2001: No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
- 2004: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- 2005: Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) (Pub. L. No. 109-171)
- 2006: Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act
- 2007: America COMPETES Act
- 2008: Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) (Pub. L. No. 110-315)
- 2009: Race to the Top
- 2009: Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
- 2010: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
See also
- Educational attainment in the United States
- Education in the United States
- Secretary of Education
- Office of Federal Student Aid
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- National Diffusion Network
- School Improvement Grant
References
- ^ FY2011 Federal Budget
- ^ FY2011 Federal Budget
- ^ http://www2.ed.gov/about/what-we-do.html
- ^ http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gtep/gtep.pdf
- ^ http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/what.html
- ^ "Online Backgrounders: The Department of Education". PBS. Fall 1996. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/backgrounders/department_of_education.html. Retrieved 2005-07-26.
- ^ a b c d "Elimination Lost: What happened to abolishing the Department of Education?". Cato Institute. 2004-02-11. http://www.cato.org/research/articles/gryphon-040211.html. Retrieved 2005-07-26.
- ^ a b "Department of Education must be abolished". World Net Daily. 2004-12-07. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41802. Retrieved 2005-07-26.
- ^ "Education". 2007. http://workingcalifornians.com/2008_presidential_issues/education. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
- ^ Stossel, John (2007-12-10). "Ron Paul Unplugged". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=3970818. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
- ^ "IPEDS Glossary". http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossary/index.asp?charindex=F. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
Further reading
- Cabinetmakers: Story of the Three-Year Battle to Establish the U.S. Department of Education. Author: Robert V. Heffernan. 2001. ISBN: 9780595158706
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: United States Department of Education |
- United States Department of Education Official Website
- How is the Department of Education Organized
- ERIC Digests - Informational digests on educational topics produced by the U.S. Department of Education before 1983.
- Proposed and finalized federal regulations from the United States Department of Education
| |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Ads
| Top MBA School in Indiawww.amity.edu/mba Industry Oriented Syllabi. Great Placement-Build a Rewarding Career |
| United Estateswww.justdial.com Get phone,address,ratings & reviews for United Estates |
Related topics:
 | Affiliated Computer Services Inc |
| Bonnie Guiton Hill |
| Home Schooling |
Related answers:
Help us answer these:
 | What is the United States ranking on education? |
| Functioning of the state department of education? |
| What are the advantages of education in United States? |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |  | Oxford Guide to the US Government. The Oxford Guide to the United States Government. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2002 by John J. Patrick, Richard M. Pious, Donald M. Ritchie. All rights reserved. Read more |
 | | Gale Encyclopedia of US History. Encyclopedia of American History Copyright © 2006 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
 | | Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2010, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/. Read more |
| | West's Encyclopedia of American Law. West's Encyclopedia of American Law. Copyright © 1998 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
 | | Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: Politics. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved. Read more |
 | | Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article United States Department of Education. Read more |
- Where is the United States Department of the Treasury?
- What kind of education does the President of the United states have to have?
- Which the highest state of education in united state?
- Why United States for jobs and education?
- What is United States department of labor?
Follow us
Facebook Twitter YouTube
Mentioned in
- Star Schools Program
- Clarence Thomas
- Institutional Research in Higher Education
- Terry Pell
- Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
- FICE
- Rehabilitation Services Administration
- Madeira Elementary School
- U.S. National Institute of Education
- Institute of Education Sciences
» More» More
Related topics
Company
- About
- Jobs
- Press
- NASDAQ:ANSW
Legal
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- IP Issues
- Disclaimer
Tools
- 1-Click Answers
- AnswerTips
- Webmasters
- Apps/Add-ons
Community
- Guidelines
- Reputation
- Roles
- Help
Copyright © 2010 Answers Corporation
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/department-of-education#ixzz18kWG2LGd
