Congress determines Department of Education funding on an annual basis. In fiscal year 2022, the DOE had $235.74 billion in budgetary resources. The largest portion of these funds went to the Office of Federal Student Aid, which provides grants, work-study, and student loans to students attending college, career school, and graduate school. The second-largest portion went to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, which assists with preschool, elementary, and secondary education. While the Department of Education assists the president and Congress in enacting educational laws, it does not establish schools, develop curricula, or determine state education standards. Instead, it focuses on the following four objectives.
Provide Financial Aid
Many college, career, and graduate students interact directly with the DOE through its Office of Federal Student Aid. Federal Student Aid is the largest distributor of student financial aid in the U.S. In academic year 2021-22, Federal Student Aid awarded $234.9 billion in grants, loans, tax credits, and work-study to undergraduate and graduate students. The average aid per undergraduate student was $15,300, while the average aid per graduate student was $27,300.
Collect Data and Conducts Research
The DOE collects information and statistics on education to help identify best practices. It shares its findings with educators, policymakers, parents, researchers, and the general public. Each year, the DOE publishes hundreds of publications on the state of education in the United States and related topics.
Recommend Ideas for Educational Reform
The Department of Education identifies problems in education and recommends reforms. It works with various advisory groups and organizations to gather ideas on policies and programs. The secretary of the DOE advises the president on education policies and priorities, as well as brings national attention to issues through giving speeches, writing articles, and making personal appearances.
Promote Equal Access to Education
The Department of Education is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights statutes that prohibit discimination in educational programs and activities. Laws extend to agencies, schools, colleges, libraries, museums, and other entities to ensure equal opportunity for all students and prevent discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Specific programs work to protect the rights of homeless children with disabilities, women and girls in athletic programs, and people with limited English language, among other groups.
Types of Offices in the Department of Education
The Department of Education has nine program offices, each with different primary responsibilities:
The Office of Federal Student Aid: Administers federal financial aid to higher-education institutions and the students who attend themThe Office of Elementary and Secondary Education: Provides leadership and financial support to state and local education agencies to maintain and improve pre-K and K-12 schoolsThe Office of Postsecondary Education: Promotes access to postsecondary education; the study of foreign languages and international affairs; and international education research and exchangeThe Institute of Education Sciences: Conducts research and produces evidence on which to center education practice and policyThe Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students: Administers and recommends policies for developing instructional programs and supporting English-language learnersThe Office of Innovation and Improvement: Coordinates programs to support K-12 education, including teacher quality programsThe Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools: Recommends policies to promote the health and well-being of students, including drug and violence prevention programs and character and civic educationThe Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: Supports programs and research designed to assist children with disabilitiesThe Office of Vocational and Adult Education: Assists programs and activities designed to help adults obtain a high-school diploma or pursue postsecondary education
