Department of Education

A department of education is a government body that administers education, whether at a federal or state/provincial/county level.  In the United States, the US Department of Education is a federal department that was once governed by the Health Department.  It is in fact the smallest federal department which has many varied roles.

The US Department of Education, for example, is run by a governing secretary.  As US education is very decentralized, unlike those in other countries, the department has very little say in setting educational standards or creating curriculums.  The main job of this department of education is to get federal government funding for educational programs across the country.  It also is bound to enforce any federal civil rights and privacy laws in relation to education.  Since President George W. Bush has been in power, the department has been in charge of these areas in relation to both high school and elementary education, and now has the added task of enforcing the new ‘No Child Left Behind Act’ and its many laws.

The department of education consists of series of committees that advise the secretary and department regarding what funding is needed, why it is needed, and how it can best get it.  They also advise the department about how to apply new privacy and civil rights laws to the educational system. 

State level departments of education or state education agencies are more actively responsible and involved in everyday education.  They are responsible for giving special technical assistance with educational issues, information and needed resources to both parents and schools.  Some examples of these are the Georgia Department of Education, New Jersey Department of Education and the New York City Department of Education.  Together, both state and federal education departments work to provide better resources and funding for every school child and the resources needed for teachers to better educate the children in their classrooms.

A state department of education is a vital part of every child’s education.  However, it was not so long ago that its future was questioned, but President George W. Bush kept it safe.