With a mission to spearhead the education system in the United States (U.S.), the Federal government, broadening its role in the education system, established the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Before its inception, the States, local communities and organizations were primarily responsible for education in the U.S., with the federal role limited to financial assistance. The Department of Education was established in 1870 with the aim to uplift the U.S. education system by gathering data from schools to analyze and provide recommendations based on that analysis. Over time its responsibilities grew, including support for land-grant colleges and universities (Second Morrill Act, 1890), vocational education (Smith-Hughes Act, 1917), agricultural, industrial, and home economics training to students (George-Barden Act, 1946), postsecondary educational assistance to World War II veterans (GI Bill, 1944).

Thereafter, the federal government stepped up to the plate by the enforcement of the National Defense Education Act 1958, to strengthen education in science, technology, mathematics and modern foreign languages. It passed civil rights laws like the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, and disability (Civil Rights Act, 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments, 1972, Rehabilitation Act, 1973). It was on May 4, 1980, when then-President Jimmy Carter separated the Department of Education from the Department of Health and Human Services. Since then, it has been working, on a large scale, to bolster and improve the educational system.

Some of the policies/initiatives/responsibilities provided by ED are as follows:

Title I: It aims at improving several big-city and small-town schools that serve lots of low-income families

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: It provides money to strengthen the rights of students with disabilities.

National Assessment of Educational Progress: Through this, ED tracks the achievement of students for improving K-12 education across the country.

Office for Civil Rights: It promotes equal access and protects students from discrimination. In FY 2024, OCR resolved 15,249 complaints of discrimination based on sex, race, color, or national origin and disability.

White House Initiatives: These are Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and promote tribal self-determination and anti-discrimination practices and provide guidance and support to Black Community, American Indian and Alaska Native, Hispanic and Latino students.

YOU Belong in STEM: An initiative to build skills, knowledge, and literacy in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

America Rescue Plan Funds: During the COVID pandemic, the local public schools lost 9% of the total workforce. This fund was established to provide them with fiscal certainty and staffing support.

Teacher Quality Partnership Program: It provides registered apprenticeship programs, teaching residency programs, extensive classroom experience, to teachers and encourages community-members to pursue teaching careers

Awarding/Investing in programs/grants that promote educator diversity: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Grant Program, National Professional Development Program, and more

Federal Pell grants: This grant is provided to those undergraduate students who are in desperate need of financial aid. Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form to qualify for college financial aid. ED is responsible for its mechanism.

Federal Work-Study: It provides part-time jobs to students (undergraduate and graduate) who need financial aid.

Manages federal student loan portfolios

Provides resources to the stakeholders of the school when affected by natural disasters

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

It comprises – the Office of the Deputy Secretary and the Under Secretary – both falling under the Office of Secretary. The Office of Secretary also manages Offices of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, General Counsel, Inspector General, Communications and Outreach, Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Institute of Education Sciences and Office for Civil Rights. The Office of the Deputy Secretary manages Offices of Finance & Operations, Chief Information Officer, Elementary & Secondary Education, English Language Acquisition, Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Office of the Under Secretary manages Offices of Post- Secondary Education, Career Technical and Adult Education and Federal Student Aid. The headquarters of ED is located in Washington DC.

PERFORMANCE REPORTS

Of the $6.75 trillion the U.S. government spent in 2024, 2% was spent on the Department of Education, making it the 7th highest-funded agency.

As per the Annual Agency Performance Report, 2024, the ED met 42 of 70 performance targets, 15 fell short, and data for the rest is pending.

The ED has faced many allegations and challenges over the years. Some have criticized federal involvement in curriculum and hiring and believe that the Department of the Treasury manages loans and the Department of Justice manages civil rights enforcement already so they’d be better suited to handling the respective functions. Some blame ED for pushing inappropriate sexual, racial, and political material to the youth.

Nevertheless, it has significantly improved education through various initiatives, programs, and grants while safeguarding civil rights.