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Office of Safe and Drug-Free and private entities that have been identified by the
Schools Congress in appropriations legislation.
The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools supports Office of Postsecondary Education
efforts to create safe schools, respond to crises, prevent
The Office of Postsecondary Education formulates policy
drug and alcohol abuse, ensure the health and well-being
and coordinates programs that assist postsecondary
of students, and teach students good citizenship and
educational institutions and students pursuing a
character. Programs administered by this office include
postsecondary education. This office administers the
the following:
following programs:
• Health, Mental Health, and Physical Education
• The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary
programs promote the health and well-being of
Education provides grants to colleges and
students and families as outlined by Title IV, Safe
universities to promote reform, innovation, and
and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.
improvement in postsecondary education.
• Drug and Violence Prevention—State and
• Higher Education Programs (HEP) administer
National Programs are designed to develop and
discretionary funds and provide support services
maintain safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools.
that improve student access to postsecondary
Office of Innovation and education and foster excellence in institutions of
Improvement higher education. The TRIO programs, under
HEP, are outreach and support programs targeted
The Office of Innovation and Improvement makes to help disadvantaged students progress from
strategic investments in educational practices through middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.
grants to states, schools, and community and nonprofit
organizations. The office leads the movement for greater Office of Federal Student Aid
parental options and information in education. Programs The Office of Federal Student Aid administers
administered by this office include the following: need-based financial assistance programs for students
• The Charter Schools Program supports the pursuing postsecondary education. The Department
planning, development, and initial makes available federal grants, loans, and work-study
implementation of charter schools. Charter funding to eligible undergraduate and graduate students.
schools provide enhanced parental choice and are The Department’s two major loan programs are as
exempt from many statutory and regulatory follows:
requirements. In exchange for increased • The Federal Family Education Loan Program
flexibility, charter schools are held accountable operates with state and private nonprofit
for improving student academic achievement. Guaranty Agencies to provide loan guarantees
• The Fund for the Improvement of Education and interest supplements through permanent
provides authority for the Secretary to support budget authority on loans by private lenders to
nationally significant programs to improve the eligible students.
quality of elementary and secondary education at • The William D. Ford Direct Student Loan
the state and local levels and help all students meet Program is a direct lending program in which
challenging state academic content standards and loan capital is provided to students by the federal
student achievement standards. Funds also government through borrowings from the U.S.
support “Programs of National Significance” Treasury.
through grants to state and local educational
agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other public
Office of Special Education and programs, practices, and policies, including the
Rehabilitative Services application of technology to instruction and
assessment. The goal of its research programs is
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative to provide scientific evidence of what works and
Services supports programs that assist in educating for whom and under what conditions.
children with special needs. It provides for the
rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities and • The National Center for Education Evaluation
supports research to improve the lives of individuals with and Regional Assistance is responsible for
disabilities. This office includes three components: conducting evaluations of the impact of federal
programs and disseminating information from
• The Office of Special Education Programs evaluation and research, and for providing
administers programs and projects relating to the technical assistance to improve student
education of all children, youth, and adults with achievement. The National Library of
disabilities from birth through age 21 by Education, established within the center, is the
providing leadership and financial support to largest federally funded library devoted entirely
assist states and local districts. The largest to education and provides services in three areas:
program is the Grants to States under the reference and information services, collection
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. and technical services, and resource sharing and
• The Rehabilitation Services Administration cooperation.
oversees programs and projects related to • The National Center for Education Statistics is
vocational rehabilitation and independent living responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting
of individuals with disabilities to increase their education information and statistics on the
employment, independence, and integration into condition and progress of education at the
the community. The largest program is the preschool, elementary, secondary, postsecondary,
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants. and adult levels, including data related to
• The National Institute on Disability and education in other nations. Among its data
Rehabilitation Research provides leadership and collection efforts is the National Assessment of
support for a comprehensive program of research Educational Progress.
related to the rehabilitation of individuals with
disabilities.
Office of English Language
Acquisition
Institute of Education Sciences The Office of English Language Acquisition administers
The Institute of Education Sciences is the main research programs designed to enable students with limited
arm of the Department. It compiles statistics; funds English proficiency to become proficient in English and
research, evaluations, and dissemination; and provides meet challenging state academic content and student
research-based guidance to further evidence-based policy achievement standards. Programs from this office
and practice. Its three operational divisions are as include the following:
follows:
• The State Formula Grant Program is designed
• The National Center for Education Research to improve the education of limited English
(NCER) supports research that contributes to the proficient children and youths by helping them
solution of significant education problems in the learn English and meet challenging state
United States. Through its research initiatives academic content and student academic
and the national research and development achievement standards. The program provides
centers, NCER supports research activities that enhanced instructional opportunities for
examine the effectiveness of educational immigrant children and youths.
Program Outcomes higher earnings, better job opportunities, and jobs that
are less sensitive to general economic conditions.
Education is the stepping-stone to higher living
Returns related to the economy and society include
standards for American citizens. Education is key to
reduced reliance on welfare subsidies, increased
national economic growth. But education’s
participation in civic activities, and greater productivity.
contribution is more than increased productivity and
incomes. Education improves health, promotes social Over time, the returns of developing skills through
change, and opens doors to a better future for children education have become evident. Statistics illustrate the
and adults. rewards of completing high school and investing in
postsecondary education.
Economic outcomes, such as wage and salary levels,
historically have been determined by the educational Unemployment rate. Persons with lower levels of
attainment of individuals and the skills employers educational attainment were more likely to be
expect of those entering the labor force. Recently, both unemployed than those who had higher levels of
individuals and society as a whole have placed educational attainment. The 2004 unemployment rate
increased emphasis on educational attainment as the for adults (25 years old and over) who had not
workplace has become increasingly technological and completed high school was 8.8 percent compared with
employers now seek employees with the highest level 4.8 percent of those with four years of high school and
of skills. For prospective employees, the focus on 2.6 percent for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
higher-level skills means investing in learning or Younger people with high school diplomas tended to
developing skills through education. Like all have higher unemployment rates than persons 25 and
investments, developing higher-level skills involves over with similar levels of education.
costs and benefits.
Unem ploym ent Rate by Educational Level Annual Income. For 2004, the median annual income
12 for adults (25 years and over) varied considerably by
10
education level. Men with a high school diploma
No High earned $32,968, compared with $59,072 for men with a
Percentage
8
school college degree. Women with a high school diploma
6 degree
High
earned $25,532 compared with $44,668 for women with
4
School a college degree. Men and women with college degrees
2 Degree
earned 71 percent more than men and women with high
College
0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Degree school diplomas. Earnings for women with college
degrees have increased by 43 percent since 1979, while
those of male college graduates have risen 26 percent.
These returns of investing in education directly translate
into the advancement of the American economy as a
whole.