About ED

Overview and Mission Statement

ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED's 4,400 employees and $68 billion budget are dedicated to:

• Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
• Collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research.
• Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
• Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

Contacts

• General Contacts
• State Contacts

Organization

• Structure
• ED Offices
• Boards and Commissions
• Privacy Program
• Senior Staff Bios
• Political Appointees

Budget and Performance

• Budget Office
  • FY 2021 President's Budget Request
  • Budget Tables
• Annual Reports
• Strategic Plan
• Open Government Initiative
• More...

What We Do

• The Federal Role in Education
• Mission
• An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education
• ED Initiatives
• ED Programs
• Recursos en español

Publications

• ED Publications Online
• Order ED Publications
• Research Publications and Reports
• Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)