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Department of Education (DOE)
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
Overview
The original Department of Education was created in 1867 to collect information on schools and teaching that would help the States establish effective school systems. While the agency's name and location within the Executive Branch have changed over the past 130 years, this early emphasis on getting information on what works in education to teachers and education policymakers continues on to the present day.
The federal role in education is primarily a State and local responsibility in the United States. States and communities, as well as public and private organizations, establish schools and colleges, develop curricula, and determine requirements for enrollment and graduation. The structure of education finance in America reflects this predominant State and local role.
The Federal contribution to elementary and secondary education is approximately 8 percent, which includes funds from the Department of Education, as well as from other Federal Agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services' Head Start program and the Department of Agriculture's School Lunch program.
Mission
The official mission of the Department of Education (DOE) is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. The DOE carries out its mission in two major ways.
- The Secretary and the DOE play a leadership role in the ongoing national dialogue over how to improve the results of the educational system for all students. This involves such activities as raising national and community awareness of the education challenges confronting the Nation, disseminating the latest discoveries on what works in teaching and learning, and helping communities work out solutions to difficult educational issues.
- The DOE pursues its dual goals of acess and excellence through the administration of programs that cover every area of education and range from preschool education through postdoctoral research.
Useful Links:
Child Trends has published new findings from a study that examined approaches to school readiness assessments in all 50 states and DC, identifying 7 states that utilize assessments in order to monitor statewide levels of school readiness. A Review of School Readiness Practices in the States: Early Learning Guidelines and Assessments (2010) also provides key policy considerations for developing and utilizing school readiness assessments at the state level.
Foundation for Child Development, June 2010
A new policy brief from the Foundation for Child Development reviews the evidence about the effectiveness of full-day kindergarten in enhancing children's academic achievement and calls for full-day kindergarten to be an integral part of the education reform debate. PreK-3rd: Putting Full-Day Kindergarten in the Middle (June 2010)
National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)
Q & A on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Evaluations, and Reevaluations
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has issued a revised Q&A document to provide States, State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), parents, and other stakeholders with information regarding the IDEA requirements relating to individualized education programs (IEPs), evaluations, and reevaluations. Questions and Answers on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) (revised June 2010)
Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Resource Guide
Many states have implemented a statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early childhood care and education programs. The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center recently launched an online QRIS Resource Guide, which is intended to help states and communities better understand key issues and decision points during the planning and implementation of such a system. It contains an explanation and history of Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, descriptions of the key components of a QRIS, and state-specific resources.