United States Department of Education

The United States Department of Education (ED) is the federal agency responsible for advancing the American system of education. ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. Its original directive remains its mission today — to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation. ED’s 4,500 employees and $71.5 billion budget are dedicated to a variety of programs. Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds is a goal of the department. It also collects data on America’s schools, focuses national attention on key educational issues, prohibits discrimination, and ensures equal access to education.