Explainer How Essential Is The Department Of Education

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has a long history of bipartisan support—as well as criticism. As a congressman, James Garfield passed a bill to create the first federal Bureau of Education after the Civil War, which was charged with documenting the condition and progress of education in the states... In 1867, President Andrew Johnson signed legislation to create a Department of Education, which was demoted to an Office of Education in 1868 due to worries that a department would hold too much control... More than a century later President Lyndon Johnson signed The Elementary and Secondary Education Act. And in 1979, President Carter reestablished the federal DOE, but disagreements about its necessity remained.

President Reagan, for example, tried to eliminate the department in 1981 but lacked congressional support. Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order to dismantle the DOE and return education authority to the states. On July 14, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to conduct mass layoffs at the DOE. To understand the effect these actions might have on education, HKS asked Paul Peterson for his analysis. Peterson is the Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Government, director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance, and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. Peterson’s scholarship focuses on the improvement of education policy and providing public education solutions for state education and policy leaders.

Peterson: For elementary and secondary education, the major responsibility of the U. S. Department of Education (DOE) is to distribute funds to states and school districts. The federal contribution to K-12 spending is about 10% of the total public expenditure. The two largest federal programs are compensatory education and special education. The compensatory education program provides funding that is expected to be directed toward services for students from low-income families.

Researchers have found that the additional funding does not translate into lasting increases in school resources experienced by low-income students or improvements in their educational performance. Find information about ED's mission, organization, and strategic plans. Education is primarily a State and local responsibility in the United States but ED provides funds that help schools and districts reach their goals. Find information and links related to ED's performance. Read our mission statement and learn more about how we work to foster global competitiveness through education. The official blog of the U.S.

Department of Education. Read our latest posts featuring education stakeholders and leaders from across the nation. Updated: Click here for the latest news about the Trump administration’s actions to downsize the Department of Education. Donald Trump’s decisive victory in the 2024 presidential election has given new life to longstanding Republican calls to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. On the campaign trail and in his platform, Trump called for the federal agency’s elimination, arguing that it’s an “abuse of your taxpayer dollars” that allows schools to “indoctrinate America’s youth.”

The Republican Party’s official platform called for shuttering the 45-year-old agency. And Project 2025, the conservative policy document spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and written by a number of former Trump aides and allies to the former president, also proposed scrapping the department and making... Over and over, President Donald Trump and his colleagues have pointed to the U.S. Education Department as a poster child for government overreach. In fact, Republicans have been calling for the department's dissolution ever since its birth. That effort reached a new level this week, as the president began exploring dramatic cuts to programs and staff at the department, including an executive action shuttering programs that are not protected by law...

Which raises the question: What, exactly, does the Education Department do? Created by Congress in 1979, the department employs more than 4,000 people and has an annual budget of $79 billion. Many of its responsibilities were given to it by lawmakers. (The U.S. Constitution doesn't actually mention a federal role in education.) Here's a look at what the Education Department does and doesn't do – and how much of it is protected by acts of Congress:

Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and Evolution The U.S. Department of Education stands as a cornerstone of American education, yet many citizens remain unclear about its actual role and impact. This exploration breaks down the department's structure, functions, and significance in shaping educational opportunities for millions of Americans, offering clarity on how this federal agency works alongside state and local authorities to support education... What is the U.S.

Department of Education? The Department of Education (ED) is a cabinet-level federal agency established in 1979 that oversees education policy and federal assistance to education in the United States. With approximately 4,400 employees and an annual budget of $79 billion, it is the smallest cabinet-level department. Why Does the Department of Education Exist? Rachel M. Perera, Thalia González, Aidan Tomlinson

Katharine Meyer, Jon Valant, Nicolas Zerbino Michael Hansen, Katharine Meyer, Rachel M. Perera, Jon Valant Katharine Meyer, Rachel M. Perera, Sarah Reber, Jon Valant Cara Jackson, Daphna Bassok, Beth Boulay, Michal Kurlaender, Lindsay Page, Elizabeth Tipton

The Department of Education (Education Department, ED) 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 reorganized into separate entities. Share of ED net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024 Subscribe to stay informed about DOGE and federal spending Yearly federal net spending by ED, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to ED, FYs 1980–2024 When we think about what makes a school successful, we often focus on teachers, students, and curriculum. Behind the scenes, the Department of Education (DOE) plays a crucial role in shaping the quality of education across the country. From ensuring schools have the resources to set academic standards that prepare students for the future, the DOE is an essential pillar of the education system. Yet, despite its critical role, we find ourselves at the precipice of the DOE being dismantled. Some argue that education policy should be handled entirely at the state or local level, but removing federal oversight could create vast disparities in educational quality, leaving millions of students behind.

So, what exactly does the DOE do—and what’s at stake if it were eliminated? At its core, the DOE exists to support equitable, high-quality education for all students—regardless of their background, income level, or zip code. Its primary functions include: The DOE provides billions of dollars in federal funding to states, school districts, and programs that support everything from early childhood education to college affordability. Title I funding, for example, provides additional resources to low-income schools, helping students who might otherwise be left behind.

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