Department of Education

Definition

The Department of Education is a federal agency that establishes policy for, administers and coordinates most federal assistance to education. It assists the president in executing his education policies and works to improve national educational standards.

Analogy

Think of the Department of Education as a school principal but on a much larger scale. Just like how a principal sets rules for their school, this department sets guidelines and standards for all schools across the country.

Related terms

No Child Left Behind Act: A 2001 U.S. Act of Congress that reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; it included Title I provisions applying to disadvantaged students.

Title IX: A federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of federal financial aid.

Pell Grant: A subsidy provided by the U.S. federal government to assist students who need it to pay for college.