U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, S. W, Washington, D. C. 20202
Telephone: 1-800-8725327 Email: CustomerService@inet.ed.gov
The Department’s purpose and role in the Federal government: establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most Federal assistance to education. It’s mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation.
A summary statement of the Department’s purpose mission and role in the Federal government along with it’s "Our National Education Goals" (updated: two more goals have been added to the original six) is in the initial "The Education Organization Act".
This Cabinet-level department was established on May 4, 1980 (Public Law 96-88 of October 1979).
The following material was condensed and edited from of the Department of Education’s Web site--with added content to further inform visitors to the Federal Gateway site.
More Detailed Information
- Homepage and Introductory Information
- News, Public Affairs, History, etc.
- Customer Service
- Addressing Some Education Publics
- Some Education Subject Area Resources
- Organization
- Information Technology
- Educational Resources
- Business Matters
- Other Items of Interest
Homepage and Introductory Information 
Department of Education Homepage
Secretary of The U.S. Department of Education
Welcome - ED states national goals, customer service standards, mission, copyright policy, etc.
Secretary’s Initiatives this section gives you a comprehensive presentation of the Department’s major initiative.
Programs and Services is an organization directory of major program themes.
Directories and Guides education, teacher, students, and parents topics.
Topics from A to Z extensive subject search utility.
News, Public Affairs, History, etc.
News - ED updates the budget, legislative, and other happenings as they develop at ED.
Education Headlines resume of current happenings.
Current Awareness Program - Public Schools of North Carolina updates of over 200 current education and technology topics of interest to educators.
Newsletters - ED topics include research syntheses, reports and studies about research and practice, statistics, resource directories, guides to the Department, and a database of ED publications.
Education Statistics - GPO Access draws on the National Center for Education Statistics, National Science Foundation, Government Information Sharing Project, and the National Forum on Education Statistics.
Education Statistics - White House
The United States of America - USIA American History educational site.
Scholarly Resources - Scout Select Bookmarks comprehensive, high quality academic coverage.
Parents Guide to the Internet an educational piece on the Web.
Customer Service
General
Educational Resources Information Center - ERIC (R)
Federal Government Internet Library Resources
Other Federal Agency Resources
Career Education - GPO career/vocational programs.
Overview of ED Programs and Services
The Federal Resource Center for Special Education
IDEA'97 The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
Programs and Services policy responsibilities that define ED’s services.
ED Job Vacancies online vacancies.
U.S. Consumer Gateway extensive consumer information.
Critical Comparison of American Colleges
College and University Rankings - University of Illinois
Other On-Line Educational Resources covers ED-funded Internet resources, state agencies, etc.
Funding Education
College Selection and Financial Aid Help
Office of Postsecondary Education includes financial and other assistance.
Women’s Education Equity Act Program promotes educational equality for women.
National Assembly - ED this group focuses on youth and careers--lists many summer and year-round internships.
Addressing Some Education Publics
Teaching
Career Education - GPO Access career/vocational education programs.
Federal Teaching Jobs - Domestic and Overseas
NASA's Education Program provides programs and materials for teachers and students from elementary to the university level.
NASA Observatorium Education suggests ideas and materials for teachers and students through its many programs and centers.
College Selection and Financial Aid Help
Adult Education
The Office of Vocational and Adult Education
BRAINTRACK - University Index higher education institutions in over 150 countries.
Young Peoples’ Education
Kids Web - Syracuse University covers art, sciences, social studies, reference materials, games, sports, digital libraries, etc.
Volcano World excellent learning adventure.
Getting Real for teens contemplating life after graduation- -shares real life experiences.
Virtual Frog Dissection excellent interactive educational adventure.
National Geographic solid multimedia journey with exploration interactions with authors.
Exploratorium presents interactive museum learning.
Why Files sends you (twice monthly) a new feature on science, engineering, everyday life, etc.
National 4-H - More Than You Ever Imagined
School District Data Book Profiles years covered 1989-1990.
School District Data Book extensive data on children, their households, etc.
American School Directory interactive gateway to 106,000 K-12 schools - leave a message to your classmates that may drop back.
Some Education Subject Area Resources
Social Science
Learning Page of the Library of Congress comes from the "American Memory Library" (history)---excellent!
Social Science Databases Available via MELVYL University of California gatherings that have great depth in coverage and topic areas like psychology, political policy, finance, sociology, etc.
Social Sciences Reference - Internet Public Library
Education Reference - Internet Public Library covers Adult, Alternative, K-12, Higher Education, and Vocational education.
Science and Math
Mathematics & NSA: A Long Term Partnership National Security Agency K-12 outreach program to promote mathematics and science education---NSA conducts a Mathematics Speakers Bureau, School Partnerships Programs, Excess Equipment Program, etc.
Students and Educators - NSF concerned with students of all ages---addresses science fellowships and student aid.
Teacher Resources - NSF concerns interactive question answering and partnering on scientific areas.
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics
Ask Dr. Math answers to math questions.
ERIC (R) Library and Information Science Links .
Science & Technology Reference - Internet Public Library
Guide to Math and Science Reform involves K-12 students.
Special Note: See the Federal Gateway to the National Science Foundation site for further information about grants, fellowships, student aid, etc. concerning science education and research projects.
Language Arts
Internet Directory of Literacy
National Institute for Literacy
National Technical Information Service offers over 60 foreign language courses produced by the Department of State---includes 37 languages.
Spanish Language survey document.
Spanish Language Web Site Directory.
ERIC (R) Reading, English, and Communication
Arts
ArtsEdge linking the arts and education through technology.
Organization
U.S. Department of Education Staff Organization introduces this Departments’ Management, Program Offices, and Staff Offices.
ED Regional Offices offers address, phone and FAX number listings plus the name of Secretary’s Regional Representatives.
National Public School and School District Locator lists the address and other basic particulars,
The Department of Education supports (in part) the following federally Aided Corporations:
- American Printing House for the Blind, P. O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206
- Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue, N. E., Washington, D. C. 20002
- Howard University, 2400 6th Street, N.W., Washington, D. C. 20059
- National Institute for Literacy, 800 Connecticut Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C.20006
- National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623
Information Technology
Used to Enhance Education
Office of Education Technology charged with bringing technology into the classroom.
ERIC IT Clearinghouse on Information Technology
Industry, Trade, and Technology Review
On-Line Educational Resources - Search Results
Education Virtual Library lists education newsgroups and more.
Educause "transforming education through information technologies."
Educational Resources
Education - Charles Sturt University covers online libraries and newsgroups---search the ED Virtual Library.
Libraries - GPO Access catalogs all the leading federal government related facilities in the United States.
The National Library of Education
National Institute for Literacy
Distance Education concerns online courses, resources, etc.
California Virtual University electronic course offerings via the Internet.
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention - ED
ED Technical Assistance shows how educational programs can support activities in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.
The Digital Classroom - NARA encourages the use of historical documents in the classroom.
Welcome to the Family Education Network U.S. resources in education.
Marr/Kirkwood Official Guide to Business School Webs
Harnessing The Web tutorial shows K-12 teachers how to use the WWW in the classroom.
Title IV School Code Search code of schools you to receive your Application for Federal Student Aid---this document lists participating schools code.
College Selection and Financial Aid Help
Business Matters
College Selection and Financial Aid Help
Education Contract Reference Library
Doing Business with the Department of Education
U. S. Government and Grant Resources
Grants - Innovation Research Awards (Community of Science)
Consumer Guide grant information on At-Risk Students.
Federal Government Internet Educational Resources
Special Note: See the Federal Gateway National Science Foundation and U. S. Department of Health & Human Services "Business Matters" locations for more on Grants.
Other Items of Interest
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Corporation For National Service bipartisan service volunteer organizations.
America Reads Challenge an opportunity to volunteer.
Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources health subjects from the prevention aspect---free information from the University of Wisconsin.
Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
Center For Education Statistics
Educational Statistics - FEDSTSAT also covers other federal communities.
Health Sciences Libraries Consortium details computer based learning.
Commonwealth of Education speaks to improving education.
College and University ROTC Web Sites
Chronicle of Higher Education job openings and campus news.
Center for Media Education (CME) concerns quality of children's television.
ThinkQuest ages 12 to 19 - an award winning site.
Violence and Discipline Problems in U. S. Public Schools: 1996-97
Federal Gateway is a Trademark of the SBCC, Inc. © 1996