Understand the Department of Education’s Responsibilities and Advocate for Public Education

States are primarily responsible for education, but the U.S. Department of Education is the federal agency that plays a vital role in establishing policies, ensuring accountability and promoting equal access to education. The establishment of the department as a Cabinet-level agency in 1980 emphasized the federal government’s commitment to, and our national prioritization of, education. The dismantling of the department will further erode the equality of education, upend protections for some of our most vulnerable students, and widen the educational opportunities gap for students from households with low incomes. Join us in advocating for public education that fosters excellence and equity.