United States Department of Education

The United States Department of Education is the federal executive department responsible for education policy and the administration of federal education programs and funding. Established in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., it is led by the Secretary of Education, a member of the president's cabinet. Its functions include administering federal student financial aid, distributing grants to states and school districts, collecting education statistics and research, and enforcing civil-rights laws in education through its Office for Civil Rights. In the U.S. system, most authority over schools and curricula rests with state and local governments, so the department's role centers on funding, data, and compliance rather than directly operating schools. Its scope and structure have been the subject of recurring policy debate.