Department of Education Organization Act

Purpose

Under the Department of Education Organization Act, the department's mission is to:

• Strengthen the federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual;
• Supplement and complement the efforts of states, the local school systems and other instrumentalities of the states, the private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions, community-based organizations, parents, and students to improve the quality of education;
• Encourage the increased involvement of the public, parents, and students in federal education programs;
• Promote improvements in the quality and usefulness of education through federally supported research, evaluation, and sharing of information;
• Increase the accountability of federal education programs to the president, the Congress, and the public.

Voting

In the Senate, 69 voted in favor and 22 voted against separating education from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In the House of Representatives, 215 voted in favor and 201 voted against. President Carter signed the bill on October 17, 1979.

Notes

References

1. [http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/mission/mission.html Mission]. Education Department. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
2. Allen, Ira R. (September 25, 1979). "New Education Division Facing Trouble In House". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
3. (September 28, 1979). "Department of Education Approved by House".
4. (October 18, 1979). "Education Department Created".