Jonah Patel
The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, established in 1980. The department is led by the secretary of education, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn into office. The secretary of education is a cabinet-level position, making them one of 15 members who serve at the discretion of the president. The secretary is the principal advisor to the president on federal policies, programs, and activities related to education in the United States. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1980 |
| Employees | 4,000+ |
| Budget | $268 billion |
| Percentage of total US federal spending | 4% |
| Ranking among federal agencies in total spending | 6th |
| Percentage of total spending transferred to states and local governments | 25.4% |
| Divisions with the highest expenditures | Office of Federal Student Aid, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services |
| Secretary of Education | Linda McMahon |
| Secretary's role | Principal advisor to the president of the United States on education-related policies, programs, and activities |
| Secretary's position in the line of succession to the presidency | 15th |
| Number of program offices | 9 |
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What You'll Learn
The Secretary of Education
The secretary leads the Department of Education and promotes public understanding of the department's mission, goals, and objectives. They are responsible for overseeing education policy and administering funding for programs and individuals. This includes supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students. The secretary is also responsible for establishing policies on federal financial aid for education and distributing and monitoring those funds.
The secretary plays a key role in defining the president's education agenda and ensuring its implementation. They work with various offices and initiatives within the department to achieve this, including the Office of Communications and Outreach, the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Additionally, the secretary deals with federal influence over education policy and is advised by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. They also have a role in prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education, as well as collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research.
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Federal financial aid for education
The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980. The department is led by the secretary of education, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn into office. The secretary of education is a cabinet-level position, making them one of 15 members who serve at the discretion of the president.
One of the duties of the Department of Education is to establish policies on federal financial aid for education and distribute and monitor those funds. The department's functions include providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students. Federal Student Aid (FSA) is a performance-based organisation through which the Department of Education awards more than $120 billion a year in grants, work-study funds, and low-interest loans to approximately 13 million students.
To apply for federal financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is also used to calculate a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) figure. If the EFC is less than the cost of attending college, the student is deemed to have a financial need. Students can file an appeal with their college financial aid office to seek additional financial aid.
The Federal Work-Study Program is another form of financial aid. Work-study jobs allow students to get campus jobs, and are designed to accommodate student schedules. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to all undergraduate and graduate students, with no requirement to demonstrate financial need. The school determines how much can be borrowed based on the cost of attendance and any other financial aid the student is receiving. However, interest must be paid on these loans during enrolment.
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Equal access to education
The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980. It is led by the secretary of education, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. The secretary of education is a cabinet-level position, making them one of 15 members who serve at the discretion of the president. The secretary is the principal adviser to the president on federal policies, programs, and activities related to education in the United States.
One of the Department of Education's key functions is to promote educational equity and ensure equal access to education for all students. This includes working to ensure that schools, districts, colleges, and universities give students equal opportunities to participate in high-rigor academic courses, extracurricular activities, and other educational programs. The Office of Communications and Outreach leads the Department in engaging the public and specialized groups in the secretary's education agenda, which includes the mission of fostering educational excellence and promoting equal access to education.
The Department's Office for Civil Rights enforces federal civil rights laws, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial aid. The Office of Civil Rights works to resolve complaints filed by students, parents, and others, ensuring that schools satisfy their obligation to give students equal access regardless of their background.
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Research and teaching effectiveness
The Department of Education is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing education policy and administering funding for programs and individuals. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students. It was established in 1980 after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganised into separate entities.
The Department of Education is led by the secretary of education, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. The secretary of education is a cabinet-level position, making them one of 15 members who serve at the discretion of the president. The secretary is the principal advisor to the president of the United States and the federal government on policies, programs, and activities related to all education in the United States.
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the smallest division of the Department of Education, funds education research and teaching effectiveness in the US. It provides national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge of education and produces rigorous evidence on which to ground education practice and policy.
The Department of Education's mission is to serve America's students by promoting student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness. This is achieved by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access to education. The department assists the president in executing his education policies for the nation and in implementing laws enacted by Congress.
The department's spending has increased significantly since its establishment, with a budget of $268 billion in the fiscal year 2024, accounting for 4.0% of all federal spending. This represents a 371.6% increase in spending since 1980, when the department's budget was $56.9 billion. The department's divisions with the highest expenditures in 2024 were the Office of Federal Student Aid, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
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The Department's legislative program
The Department of Education's legislative program is overseen by the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, which acts as the principal adviser to the Secretary of Education on matters concerning the Department's legislative agenda and congressional relations.
The Secretary of Education is a member of the Cabinet and is the principal advisor to the President of the United States on federal policies, programs, and activities related to all education in the United States. The Secretary is also responsible for promoting public understanding of the Department's mission, goals, and objectives.
The legislative program is also influenced by the Department's mission to serve America's students by promoting student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness, fostering educational excellence, and ensuring equal access to education. This includes supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students.
Additionally, the Department's legislative program must consider the Department's role in collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research, as well as its function in prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education for all.
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Frequently asked questions
The Department of Education is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing education policy and administering funding for programs and individuals. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students.
The Department of Education establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education. It assists the president in executing his education policies for the nation and in implementing laws enacted by Congress. The Department's mission is to serve America's students by promoting student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
The head of the Department of Education is the secretary of education, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. The secretary of education is a cabinet-level position, making them one of 15 members who serve at the discretion of the president.
The secretary of education serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on policies, programs, and activities related to all education in the United States. The secretary also leads the Department and promotes public understanding of the Department's mission, goals, and objectives.
