U.S. Department of Education

In 1980, Congress established the U.S. Department of Education (ED) in the Department of Education Organization Act. ED combined several offices from various federal agencies. It is now responsible for assisting the president and Congress in creating and implementing educational policy, along with administering and coordinating most of federal assistance programs for education.

In 1867, President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. At the time, the department's primary task was to collect information and statistics on the nation's schools. However, people feared that it would exert too much control of the local school system and demanded its elimination. The department was reduced to the status of the Office of Education in 1868. Over time, the Office of Education was a part of ...