Department of Education (ED)
Bethany Bettcher, Grace Nelson
Main Purpose
To coordinate federal assistance programs for public and private schools. Today the department oversees programs to help students with limited English proficiency as well as programs for physically challenged students.
Mission
ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
History
The Department of Education was created by Congress in 1979 to give equal opportunities to every individual.
Head of Department
The Head of Department is the Secretary of Education which is Arne Duncan.
From 1992 to 1998, Duncan ran the nonprofit education foundation, that helped fund a college education for a class of inner-city children under the I Have A Dream program. He was part of a team that later started a new public elementary school built around a financial literacy curriculum, the Ariel Community Academy, which today ranks among the top elementary schools in Chicago.
Arne Duncan is the ninth U.S. secretary of education.
Current Issues
Bullying: As part of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today issued guidance to schools reminding them that bullying is wrong and must not be tolerated—including against America's 6.5 million students with disabilities.