United States Department of Education (ED)

The U S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that 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 -- to ensure that all have equal access to education and to promote excellence in our nation's schools.

The Department of Education is divided into different offices. The offices are under the direction of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary.

Office of The Secretary:
The Secretary of Education is responsible for the overall direction, supervision, and coordination of all activities of the Department and is the principal adviser to the President on Federal policies, programs and activities related to education in the United States.

Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO) - OCO is responsible for overall leadership for the Department in its communications and outreach activities, designed to engage the general public as well as a wide variety of education, community, business, parent, academic, student, and other groups, including the media, intergovernmental and interagency organizations, and public advocacy groups in the President's and Secretary's education agenda.

Office of the General Counsel (OGC) - OGC serves as principal adviser to the Secretary on all legal matters affecting Departmental programs and activities.

Office of Inspector General (OIC) - OIC promotes the efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars in support of American education by providing independent and objective assistance to the Congress and the Secretary in assuring continuous improvement in program delivery, effectiveness, and integrity.

Institute of Education Sciences (IES) - IES provides national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of education from early childhood through postsecondary study. This provides parents, educators, students, researchers, policymakers, and the general public with reliable information about educational practices that support learning and improve academic achievement and access to educational opportunities for all students; the condition and progress of education in the United States; and the effectiveness of Federal and other education programs.

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) - The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on civil rights matters. The Office directs, coordinates, and recommends policy for activities that are designed to administer the provisions of legislation and Departmental policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age.

Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs (OLCA) - The Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on matters concerning the Departmental legislative program and Congressional relations.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) - The Chief Financial Officer serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary and Senior Officials on all matters related to financial management, financial management systems, financial control and accounting, cooperative agreements and acquisition management and related training.

Office of Management (OM) - The Office of Management transforms the Department of Education into a high-performance, customer-focused organization by providing services to our customers that help them do a better job of managing their people, processes, and overall strategy.

Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) - OCIO provides advice and assistance to the Secretary and other senior officials to ensure that information technology is acquired and information resources are managed in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of several different Acts and Orders.

Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD) - OPEPD serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on all matters relating to policy development and review; performance measurement and evaluation; budget processes and proposals.

Risk Management Service (RMS) - is responsible for identifying risks and taking effective action to manage and mitigate risks that may adversely affect the advancement of the Department's mission.
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives - The goal of the Center is to break down existing barriers and empower faith-based and community groups, enlisting them in support of the Department's mission to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence for all Americans.

International Affairs Office (IAO) - IAO is responsible for the overall coordination of the Department of Education's international presence. IAO works with Department program offices, support units, and senior leadership as well as with external partners including other federal agencies, state and local agencies, foreign governments, international organizations, and the private sector.

Office of The Deputy Secretary:
The Deputy Secretary focuses on the development and implementation of policies, programs, and activities relating to elementary and secondary education matters. This mission addresses a wide spectrum of interests ranging from safe and drug free schools, special education and rehabilitative services to education of linguistically and culturally diverse students, and promotion of educational interventions, and reforms.

Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) - OSDFS serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on Departmental matters related to safe and drug-free schools and character education programs, and represents the Department at national and international meetings related to safe and drug-free schools and character education.

Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) - OII serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on the development of promising educational interventions, including reforms that expand parental choice and information. Much like an entrepreneurial foundation, the Office will oversee competitive grant programs that support the trial of innovations in the education system and will broadly disseminate the lessons learned from these trials.

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) - OSERS serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on Departmental matters related to special education and rehabilitative services.

Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) - OELA serves as principal advisor on matters related to the education of linguistically and culturally diverse students. OELA is charged with administering Title VII of the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA), a program seeking to help local educational agencies (LEAs) and state education agencies (SEAs) develop and support high quality instructional programs for linguistically and culturally diverse students.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) - OESE serves as principal advisor to the Secretary on all matters related to elementary and secondary education.

Office of The Under Secretary:
The Under Secretary focuses on higher and adult education policy, postsecondary policy, college aid, and the President's financial aid reforms for the Pell Grant program.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) - FSA in involved with matters related to the Department's operation of student financial assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.

Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) - OVAE deals with matters related to high school, career technical and adult education and life long learning as well as community colleges, workforce and economic development. The Assistant Secretary represents the Department at national and international meetings related to vocational and adult education.

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) - OPE serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on Departmental matters related to postsecondary education.