What Does the Department of Education Provide Americans?

Special shout out to u/big_emu_shield who melted down and blocked me when he realized he tried to brag about how amazing he is and found out he’s not.

You little pissant.

😂

Taking advantage of ChatGPT I thought I'd ask it what the DoE does, followed by who the beneficiaries are. These are the results of those inquiries.

It's a good read to understand what we are considering eliminating, and who will be impacted. More than once I found myself asking why would we do away with this? Who is this hurting? What is the reasoning behind it? I also included budget and employee numbers to address the question of impact on Federal employee headcount or how much it would reduce the Federal Budget.

Overview of the Department of Education Size and Budget

The U.S. Department of Education provides various services and programs to support education across the country with approximately 4,400 employees, is one of the smaller federal departments in terms of workforce size.

As of fiscal year 2025, the budgets for U.S. federal executive departments are as follows:

  1. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): $1.83 trillion
  2. Department of Defense (DoD): $852 billion
  3. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): $308.5 billion
  4. Department of Agriculture (USDA): $242 billion
  5. Department of Transportation (DOT): $145 billion
  6. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): $101.6 billion
  7. Department of Labor (DOL): $97.5 billion
  8. Department of Education: $82.4 billion
  9. Department of State: $58.1 billion
  10. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): $61.7 billion
  11. Department of Energy (DOE): $45.8 billion
  12. Department of Justice (DOJ): $37.5 billion
  13. Department of the Interior (DOI): $35 billion
  14. Department of the Treasury: $16.4 billion
  15. Department of Commerce: $16.3 billion

Key Services Provided by the Department of Education

  1. Federal Student Aid: Administers financial aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study, to help students access higher education.

    • In the 2019–20 academic year, approximately 72% of all undergraduate students received some form of financial aid. This includes federal grants, loans, and work-study programs.

  2. Educational Policy and Research: Develops policies and conducts research on educational issues, such as achievement gaps, curriculum standards, and teaching methods.

    • Students and Educators: Research findings help educators and administrators make informed decisions about instructional methods, curriculum development, and effective practices to enhance student learning outcomes.
    • Policymakers: Through entities like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the Department provides policymakers with data on education trends, achievement gaps, and other critical metrics. This data informs federal and state policies on funding, resource allocation, and educational reform efforts.
    • Schools and Districts: Research offers insights into challenges such as low graduation rates, disparities in academic achievement, and effective interventions for struggling students. Schools and districts use this information to implement targeted programs and track progress.
    • Higher Education Institutions: Research into postsecondary education, including studies on student debt, graduation rates, and employment outcomes, helps colleges and universities improve support services, academic programs, and resource planning for students.
    • Parents and Families: Research findings and data are often made available in accessible formats, empowering parents to make informed decisions about their children’s education, understand school performance, and advocate for quality education.
    • Education Equity Initiatives: The Department’s research supports equity-focused programs by identifying and addressing disparities in access, resources, and outcomes among student groups, particularly for racial minorities, low-income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities.
    • Innovation and Improvement: Research helps test and validate new educational methods, tools, and technologies, providing evidence on what works best in various educational settings, from K-12 to adult learning.
    • Public Accountability: Data collection and reporting make educational performance transparent to the public, helping communities stay informed about the quality of education in their schools and hold institutions accountable for improvement.

  3. Funding and Grants: Distributes funds to schools, states, and educational institutions to support programs for disadvantaged students, special education, early childhood education, and teacher training.

    • Low-Income Students: Programs like Title I provide funds to schools with a high percentage of low-income students to help improve educational outcomes and close achievement gaps.
    • Students with Disabilities: Grants are available through IDEA to support special education services for children with disabilities, ensuring they have equal access to education and necessary accommodations.
    • English Language Learners (ELL): Funding supports bilingual education and programs that help ELL students achieve proficiency and succeed academically.
    • Early Childhood Programs: The Preschool Development Grants help states expand access to high-quality early childhood education, supporting children from low-income families.
    • Rural and Small Schools: Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) grants provide funding to small, rural schools to improve educational opportunities and access to resources.
    • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Grants through the Perkins Act support career and technical education programs that help students gain practical skills and prepare for careers.
    • Teachers and Educators: Grants fund teacher training, professional development, and recruitment, especially in high-need areas like special education, STEM, and low-income schools.
    • Higher Education Institutions: Many grants support colleges and universities, especially Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) like Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to enhance educational quality and support underrepresented student populations.

  4. Accountability and Data Collection: Collects and publishes data on schools and educational performance, such as graduation rates and standardized test scores, to ensure accountability and transparency.

    • Students: By monitoring and reporting on academic performance, graduation rates, and other key metrics, accountability measures help ensure students receive a quality education. This data guides improvements in areas where students may be underserved or facing barriers.
    • Parents and Families: Data collection provides parents with insights into school performance, safety, teacher quality, and student outcomes. This empowers families to make informed decisions about their children’s education, choose the best schools, and advocate for necessary improvements.
    • Teachers and School Administrators: Teachers and school leaders use this data to evaluate their performance, understand student needs, and implement evidence-based practices. Accountability systems help educators set clear goals, focus on areas needing improvement, and receive targeted support and resources.
    • School Districts and State Education Agencies: Accountability data enables districts and states to track school performance, allocate resources where they’re most needed, and enforce policies that ensure all students have equitable access to high-quality education. State agencies often use this data to identify and intervene in low-performing schools.
    • Federal Policymakers: Data on educational progress across the nation helps federal policymakers evaluate the effectiveness of programs, make adjustments to funding or support, and develop legislation to improve education standards and accessibility.
    • Researchers and Education Advocates: Access to data on student outcomes, demographics, and school performance helps researchers study trends, evaluate policy impacts, and recommend improvements. Education advocacy groups also use this data to push for reforms that promote educational equity and quality.
    • Taxpayers and the General Public: By ensuring that educational institutions are held accountable for results, the public can have confidence that taxpayer funds are being used effectively to enhance educational quality, support underserved communities, and prepare students for success.
    • Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners (ELL): Accountability systems track the performance and progress of specific groups, such as students with disabilities and ELL students, ensuring that schools are meeting their unique needs and providing appropriate services.

  5. Civil Rights Enforcement: Protects students' rights by investigating and resolving complaints related to discrimination, ensuring all students have equal access to education.

    • The Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) handles thousands of complaints annually related to discrimination in educational institutions. In fiscal year 2020, OCR received over 10,000 complaints, reflecting its role in protecting students' rights nationwide.

  6. Special Education Support (IDEA): Oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, providing services and resources to support children with disabilities.

    • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that children with disabilities receive appropriate educational services. In the 2022–23 school year, approximately 7.5 million students aged 3 to 21 were served under IDEA, representing 15% of all public school students in the United States. These services encompass special education and related support tailored to the unique needs of each student, aiming to provide equitable educational opportunities.

  7. Vocational and Adult Education: Provides support for adult education, vocational training, and continuing education programs to help individuals develop skills and gain employment.

    • While specific national enrollment figures for vocational and adult education programs vary annually, these programs serve a significant number of individuals seeking to enhance their skills and employability. For instance, community colleges and technical schools across the country enroll millions of students in vocational training and adult education courses each year.

  8. Innovation and Improvement Programs: Encourages the adoption of innovative educational practices, particularly in low-performing schools, through grants and pilot programs.

    • Low-Performing Schools: Programs like the School Improvement Grants (SIG) target schools that are struggling academically, funding interventions to boost student achievement, enhance instructional quality, and support turnaround efforts.
    • Charter Schools: The Charter Schools Program (CSP) provides grants to support the development, expansion, and replication of high-quality charter schools, particularly those serving disadvantaged students, to offer more educational choices.
    • Teachers and School Leaders: Initiatives like the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program aim to attract and retain effective educators by funding leadership development, coaching, and other professional development opportunities.
    • STEM and Technology Integration: Grants and programs encourage schools to incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) into the curriculum, as well as use technology to enhance learning. The aim is to prepare students for a tech-driven economy and develop critical problem-solving skills.
    • Early Learning Innovation: Programs like the Preschool Development Grants focus on improving early childhood education quality, access, and curriculum, helping young children from low-income families get a strong start in their educational journey.
    • Social-Emotional Learning and Mental Health: Some grants fund programs that support students’ mental health, social-emotional learning, and school climate initiatives, addressing the holistic needs of students for a healthier learning environment.
    • Community Schools: The Full-Service Community Schools Program provides funding for schools that offer wraparound services (like health care, mentoring, and after-school programs) in underserved areas, supporting both students and their families.
    • Educational Equity and Access: The Department funds innovative programs that aim to reduce achievement gaps, promote racial and economic equity, and improve access to advanced coursework for historically underrepresented students.

EDIT: Sources are provided here https://www.reddit.com/r/centrist/comments/1gpzadk/comment/lwuhdys/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button