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“Through research and data on the effectiveness of programs and policies, ensuring equal access to education, addressing key educational issues, helping to establish policies and distributing funds, the Education Department’s offices and programs touch the lives of over 50 million students in K-12 and higher education.”
States are primarily responsible for education, but the U.S. Department of Education is the federal agency that plays a vital role in establishing policies, ensuring accountability and promoting equal access to education. The establishment of the department as a Cabinet-level agency in 1980 emphasized the federal government’s commitment to, and our national prioritization of, education. The dismantling of the department will further erode the equality of education, upend protections for some of our most vulnerable students, and widen the educational opportunities gap for students from households with low incomes.
Understanding the Role and Responsibilities of the Department of Education dives deep into the department’s five high-impact responsibilities, key offices that oversee them, and the laws that establish students’ rights and the government’s accountability. Learn more and join us in advocating for public education that fosters excellence and equity.
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