Essay, Research Paper: Department Of Education

U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education was established on May 4, 1980 by congress in
the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88 of October 1979).
Their goal is to ensure equal access to education and to promote education excellence
for all Americans.
The Department of Education has a mission with many goals. These goals are to
strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational
opportunity for every individual and encourage the increased involvement of the
public, parents, and students in Federal education programs. They also want to
supplement and complement the efforts of states and the local school systems, the
private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions,
community-based organizations, parents, and students to improve the quality of
education. High on their agenda is to improve the management and coordination of
Federal programs and activities.
There are also national goals for American students. As an outcome of the historic
Governors' Meeting in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1989, the Governors of the 50 states
adopted the six National Education Goals for the education of all students in the
United States. Two other goals were added later. The original six goals are:
All children in America will start school ready to learn.
The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent.
All students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12 having demonstrated competency over
challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, foreign
languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography, and
every school in America will ensure that all students learn to use their minds well,
so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and
productive employment in our Nation's modern economy.
United States students will be first in the world in mathematics and science
achievement.
Every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills
necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship.
Every school in the United States will be free of drugs, violence, and the
unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol and will offer a disciplined
environment conducive to learning.
These two goals were the ones that were added later.
The Nation's teaching force will have access to programs for the continued
improvement of their professional skills and the opportunity to acquire the
knowledge and skills needed to instruct and prepare all American students for the
next century.
Every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and
participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.
The U.S. Department of Education works with every state and local government.
They try to help each state as they feel fit. They will give grants of money to each
state to help them carry out education as they see fit.
The Department of Education greatly helps our national education. They put
money aside for most of our schools and supplies. It is a good part of the executive
branch.