www.ed.gov
Open in
urlscan Pro
165.224.131.183
Public Scan
URL:
https://www.ed.gov/answers/wp-content/plugins/ioptimization/a57bze8931.php
Submission: On October 31 via manual from US — Scanned from DE
Submission: On October 31 via manual from US — Scanned from DE
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
GET https://search.usa.gov/search
<form class="search" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.usa.gov/search" method="get" id="cse-search-box" role="search">
<label class="sr-only" for="query">Search for:</label>
<div class="input-group">
<div style="margin:0;padding:0;display:inline"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"></div>
<input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="ed.gov">
<input type="search" placeholder="Search..." id="query" value="" name="query" autocomplete="off" class="form-control usagov-search-autocomplete" style="width:100%">
<span class="input-group-btn"><button value="Search" id="searchsubmit" type="submit" class="btn btn-primary" style="height:34px;"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-search"></span></button></span>
</div>
</form>Text Content
* Skip to main content
* About Us
* Contact Us
* FAQs
* Language Assistance
* English
* español
* 中文: 繁體版
* Việt-ngữ
* 한국어
* Tagalog
* Русский
U.S. Department of Education
Search for:
Toggle navigation U.S. Department of Education
* Student Loans
* Grants
* Laws
* Data
FAQS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
*
Respuestas en español | Education Resources (Brochure) [PDF, 1.5 MB]
ABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED)
BUDGET
CAN YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE ED BUDGET?
To view materials that show what the budget provides for ED programs and
activities, visit our Budget Homepage. Additionally, you may view Budget News to
track Congressional action on the Education budget as well as Budget Tables.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS AND CONTRACTS WITH ED
HOW CAN I CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH ED?
Contracts & Acquisitions Management, in the Office of Finance and Operations, is
responsible for contract execution (solicitation, award, administration, and
closeout of all contracts) and other acquisition instruments for the Department
including the ten Regional Offices, but excluding Federal Student Aid (FSA).
For an overview of the contracts process, see Doing Business with the U.S.
Department of Education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACT US & GENERAL INQUIRIES
HOW DO I CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT TO ASK A QUESTION OR FILE A COMPLAINT?
Please visit our Contact Us & General Inquiries page to find our toll free
numbers and hotlines. You can call to ask an education question at
1-800-872-5327 or file a complaint with one of our offices.
If you wish to contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center for questions
about your account, including repayment, loan discharge eligibility or
applications or to file a complaint go
to: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact or call 1-800-433-3243.
We are looking forward to staying connected! Please sign up for email
updates and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or one of our many
other social media channels.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDUCATION SECRETARY
WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO SERVE AS U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION?
Dr. Miguel Cardona was sworn in as the 12th Secretary of Education on March 2nd,
2021.
The U.S. Department of Education was established as a cabinet level agency in
1980. Since that time the following individuals have served as U.S. Secretary of
Education:
Betsy DeVos (2017-2021)
John B. King Jr. (2016-2017)
Arne Duncan (2009-2015)
Margaret Spellings (2005-2009)
Roderick Paige (2001-2005)
Richard W. Riley (1993-2000)
Lamar Alexander (1991-1993)
Lauro F. Cavazos (1988-1990)
William J. Bennett (1985-1988)
Terrel H. Bell (1981-1984)
Shirley M. Hufstedler (1979-1981)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
HOW DO I SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH ED?
Job listings and the application for employment is available on USAJOBS. USAJOBS
is the official job site of the Federal government and the Recruitment One-Stop
(ROS) resource where you can search for jobs, create resumes, and access
information regarding your individual job search.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
HOW DOES THE DEPARTMENT ENGAGE PARENTS AND FAMILIES?
The Department is leveraging the parent and family voice and facilitating
discussions between the Department and families and other stakeholders. Raising
the next generation is a shared responsibility. When families, communities and
schools work together, students are more successful and the entire community
benefits. Please visit Family and Community Engagement for resources and
information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES
HOW DO I COMMENT ON A FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT?
All comments to federal register notices must be made at
https://www.regulations.gov. However, you may access a full list of the most
recent federal register notices at: https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HISTORY AND MISSION
WHEN WAS ED ESTABLISHED AND WHAT IS ITS MISSION?
The Congress established ED on May 4, 1980 as a Cabinet level agency, in the
Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88 of October 1979).
Under this law, ED's purpose 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;
* Improve the coordination of Federal education programs;
* Improve the management of Federal education activities; and
* Increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President,
the Congress, and the public.
ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global
competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
To learn more about ED, please explore About ED and our overview of The Federal
Role in Education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT?
ED offers internships for students interested in seeking valuable work
experience in government and federal education policy and administration. ED
offers internships in the fall, winter/spring, and summer. To review the
application process, please visit our Internship program page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHOOL AMBASSADOR FELLOWSHIP
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL AMBASSADOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM?
ED designed the School Ambassador Fellowship program to enable outstanding
teachers, principals and other school leaders, like school counselors and
librarians, to bring their school and classroom expertise to the Department and
to expand their knowledge of the national dialogue about education. In turn,
School Ambassador Fellows facilitate the learning and input of other educators
and community members. For an overview of the program and to apply to be a
fellow visit our School Ambassador Fellowship program page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION
ADULT EDUCATION FUNDING
WHAT FUNDING AND RESOURCES DOES THE DEPARTMENT OFFER FOR PROFESSIONAL ADULTS?
The Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) which is part of the
Department's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, administers
programs that help American adults get the basic skills they need to be
productive workers, family members and citizens. The programs emphasize basic
skills such as reading, writing, math, English language competency and
problem-solving.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADULT LITERACY
HOW CAN I FIND AN ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM IN MY AREA?
To find a literacy program in your area you can search the National Literacy
Directory. The state Director of Adult Education can also provide information
about state and federally funded programs. You may also wish to contact a
neighborhood library, community college, and city or county human services
office for information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
ARE THERE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS TO DEVELOP WORK SKILLS?
The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors the CareerOneStop site that provides
career, training and job search resources. For assistance in locating
organizations in your state, you may want to use CareerOneStop to find the
location of your nearest One-Stop Career Center, where you can go to learn about
current job openings and training opportunities in your area.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY
CAN I TAKE AN EXAM TO RECEIVE A DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE?
You may contact your State Adult Education Agency if you would like to receive
the equivalent of a high school diploma or certificate, and subsequently, to
gain employment or begin postsecondary education or training. This state agency
will provide you with information about the exam that meets the guidelines
established by the state and assist you in locating a testing site.
Additionally, the state can assist you with locating a record of exam results
that were taken in the past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEARNING ENGLISH
WHERE CAN I FIND AN ADULT ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNER PROGRAM NEAR ME?
Search by zip code or address to find an English class offered by United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grant recipients in your area. You
can also contact the National Literacy Directory at 1-877-389-6874. Information
on adult education for English Language Learners (ELL) is also available from
the National Clearinghouse on English Language Acquisition (NCLEA).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
HOW DO I OBTAIN MY PROFESSIONAL OR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE (NURSING, SOCIAL WORK,
ACCOUNTANT, CONTRACTOR ETC.)?
State licensing and regulatory boards are responsible for licensing and
regulating most professions. For more information, please contact the
appropriate State Licensing and Certification Agency. You can also visit License
Finder to find out which careers require a license and get contact information
for the licensure process in your state. The state labor authorities can inform
you on whether further certifications are needed for your profession.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIVIL RIGHTS
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
DOES THE ADA APPLY TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES?
Title II of the ADA of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability by
public entities. It applies to any public educational institution. The U.S.
Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for
enforcing the ADA provisions with respect to public educational entities and
public libraries. OCR also enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as it applies to educational institutions. Section 504 provides protection
against discrimination on the basis of a disability in any programs or
activities receiving federal financial assistance. For information on these
laws, please visit the Disability Discrimination section of the OCR website.
Additional information on ADA is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIVIL RIGHTS DATA COLLECTION
WHAT IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS DATA COLLECTION?
The Civil Rights Data Collection is a biennial (i.e., every other school year)
survey of public schools required by OCR since 1968.
The CRDC collects data on leading civil rights indicators related to access and
barriers to educational opportunity at the early childhood through grade 12
levels.
The CRDC collects data from public local educational agencies (LEA) and schools,
including juvenile justice facilities, charter schools, alternative schools, and
schools serving only students with disabilities.
Data from the 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, and 2015-16 CRDC
surveys are available in the CRDC reporting tool at http://ocrdata.ed.gov.
Information about collecting and reporting data for the CRDC is available at
1-855-255-6901.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILE A DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT
HOW DO I FILE A COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION?
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces
several federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities that receive federal financial assistance from ED. These laws
prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
disability, or age. These laws extend to state education agencies, elementary
and secondary school systems, colleges and universities, vocational schools,
proprietary schools, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, libraries, and
museums that receive ED funds. Complaints of discrimination on the basis of any
of the referenced categories may be filed with OCR using the online complaint
form, or by contacting the OCR enforcement office that serves your state.
Further, the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act prohibits public schools,
school districts and state education agencies that provide an opportunity for
outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises before or after
school hours from denying equal access to the Boy Scouts of America or to other
youth groups listed in Title 36 of the U.S. Code.
If you believe you have been discriminated against due to your religious
preference, please contact the U.S. Department of Justice Educational
Opportunities Section
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCR INVESTIGATIONS
WHERE CAN I VIEW PENDING CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS?
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) publishes
as a public service, this list of elementary-secondary and post-secondary
institutions under investigation. The list is a snapshot of data on aspects of
law that OCR enforces as it existed at a particular point in time (i.e., the
last Friday of each month). It is not real-time data. OCR will replace the list
with a new data snapshot on the first Wednesday of each month.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 504
WHAT IS SECTION 504?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on
disability in any program or activity operated by recipients of federal funds.
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits
discrimination based on disability by public entities, regardless of whether
they receive federal financial assistance.
Examples of the types of discrimination prohibited include inequitable access to
educational programs and facilities, denial of a free appropriate public
education for elementary and secondary students, and refusal to implement or
inappropriate implementation of academic adjustments in higher education. A
fuller list of Section 504 and Title II issues OCR addresses appears on the
Disability Discrimination page. The regulations for Section 504 and Title II are
enforced by OCR and appear in the Code of Federal Regulations here: Section 504
and Title II of the ADA.
Section 504 and Title II also prohibit employment discrimination; complainants
may choose whether to pursue such complaints with OCR or with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE VI
WHAT IS TITLE VI?
Title VI is a federal law that prohibits any entity that receives federal
financial assistance (such as grants or student loans) from discriminating on
the basis of race, color, or national origin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES "RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN" MEAN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI?
Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin includes
discrimination based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, national
origin, ethnicity, or ancestry. This includes discrimination based on the
country, world region, or place where a person or his or her ancestors come
from; a person's limited English proficiency or English learner status; or a
person's actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics,
including membership in a religion that may be perceived to exhibit such
characteristics (such as Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh individuals).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE IX
WHAT IS TITLE IX?
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) implements
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on
the basis of sex in all education programs or activities that receive Federal
financial assistance. Title IX applies to institutions that receive federal
financial assistance from ED, including state and local educational agencies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
CHILD CARE RESOURCES
DOES THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDE CHILD CARE RESOURCES?
The Child Care Access Means Parents in School program supports the participation
of low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of
campus-based child care services.
Ultimately, child care resources are available from the Office of Child Care
within the Department of Health and Human Services who supports low-income
working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children's
learning by improving the quality of early care and education and afterschool
programs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY INFANT OR TODDLER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY INTERVENTION
SERVICES?
Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides early
intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their
families. These are children birth through age 2 who are experiencing
developmental delays, or who have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that
has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. They receive early
intervention services through a statewide early intervention system. The state
determines if children within that age range (0-2) who are at risk of having
substantial developmental delays may be eligible to receive services.
The Office of Special Education Programs provides a "one-stop shop" for
resources related to Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) and its implementing regulations. Part C is a program administered by
your State; therefore you may wish to call your State Special Education Agency
for further information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS
WHAT EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS DOES THE DEPARTMENT OFFER FOR SCHOOL READINESS?
The Office of Innovation and Early Learning administers discretionary grant
programs that promote school readiness and improved learning outcomes for young
children from low-income families who live in impoverished communities by
providing high quality professional development programs to improve the
knowledge and skills of early childhood educators and caregivers in communities
with high concentrations of children living in poverty.
The Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities under
the Office of Special Education Programs, ensures that appropriate early
intervention services are made available to all eligible
birth-through-2-year-olds with disabilities and their families, including Indian
children and families who reside on reservations geographically located in the
State.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEAD START SERVICES
HOW CAN I LOCATE A HEAD START PROGRAM?
The Office of Head Start (OHS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) manages grant funding and oversees local agencies providing Head
Start services. Head Start programs promote school readiness of children birth
to five from low-income families by supporting their development in a
comprehensive way. Head Start and Early Head Start programs offer a variety of
service models, depending on the needs of the local community. Head Start is
administered by the Office of Head Start at the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS). You are able to locate contact information for Head Start
or Early Head Start programs with the HHS Head Start Locator.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
HOW DO I FIND A QUALITY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR MY CHILD?
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers provide academic
enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly
students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps
students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such
as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that
can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other
educational services to the families of participating children.
To locate other afterschool or summer programs in your area, please contact your
local school district or visit youth.gov.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BULLYING
MY CHILD IS BEING BULLIED IN SCHOOL. HOW CAN YOU HELP?
In general, policies for handling bullying are developed at the local and state
level, as are policies on discipline, school safety and most other issues. For
information on these policies and what assistance may be available to you,
please contact your child's school district or the state department of
education. To determine if student bullying violates any anti-discrimination
laws, which protects students against harassment based on race, color, national
origin, sex, disability, and age, or to file a complaint of discrimination,
contact our Office for Civil Rights. For more information you may visit
stopbullying.gov
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION?
Generally, certificates of completion are used for students with Individualized
Education Plans (IEPs) who have not met state graduation requirements but still
want to participate in graduation ceremonies with their class. Below are some
important facts about certificates of completion:
* A certificate of completion, or its equivalent, is not an academic
credential, but certifies attendance in high school.
* They cannot be used as a prerequisite for admission to a postsecondary
institution, or any other program that requires a high school degree.
* Recipients of certificates are not prevented from returning to receive a full
diploma or high school equivalency degree.
* Information about state graduation requirements and certificate policies can
be found by contacting your state department of education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHARTER SCHOOLS
WHAT ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS?
Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools of choice that operate with
freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools.
The "charter" establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing
the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment,
and ways to measure success. Charter schools are accountable to their sponsor—
usually a state or local school board— to produce positive academic results and
adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept of charter schools is that
they exercise increased autonomy in return for this accountability. For the
legal definition of a charter school in a particular state, consult your state's
charter school contact. The U.S. Department of Education offers grant
opportunities, resources and information for charter schools.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPLAINT AGAINST A SCHOOL
HOW DO I FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A SCHOOL?
You should address complaints to local or state officials. First address your
public school complaint to the local school district and if necessary, to the
state department of education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSTITUTION DAY
WHAT IS CONSTITUTION DAY AND WHAT ARE SCHOOLS REQUIRED TO DO ON THIS DAY?
Under legislation passed by Congress, all education institutions receiving
Federal funding are required to commemorate the signing of the U.S.
Constitution, on September 17 of each year. If September 17 falls on a holiday
or weekend, Constitution Day is to be commemorated the preceding or following
week. To assist students and educators in their studies, the National Archives
and Records Administration offers key resources, such as "The Constitution at
Work," a matching game connecting primary resources to constitutional articles,
and "Exploring the U.S. Constitution," an eBook that explores the roots of the
three branches of government. Likewise, free online resources are available
from the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the
U.S. Senate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS. WHERE CAN I GET
INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE?
Policies on school discipline are decided mainly by your local school, school
district, and state. Your first step is to contact your school district or state
department of education.
The following resources provide information on school safety, order and related
topics:
* The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools (OSSS) addresses; the health and
well-being of students as well as school safety, security, and emergency
management and preparedness. OSSS administers, coordinates, and recommends
policy as well as administers grant programs and technical assistance centers
addressing the overall safety and health of the school community.
* The Readiness and Emergency Management (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA)
Center supports schools, school districts, and institutions of higher
education (IHEs), by providing a hub of information, resources, training, and
services in the field of school and higher education emergency operations
planning.
* The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) offers
information and technical assistance to States, districts, schools,
institutions of higher learning, and communities focused on improving school
climate and conditions for learning.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDUCATION STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM
HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND CURRICULA?
Some national professional or educational policy organizations have suggested
standards and curricula, but there are no federal national standards for any
academic area. Education is mainly a state and local responsibility in the
United States. When the U.S. Department of Education was created, Congress made
clear that the secretary of education and other Department officials be
prohibited from imposing "any direction, supervision, or control over the
curriculum program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any
educational institution, school, or school system." (20 USC 3403). It is left
to the states to create standards while States and local agencies develop
curricula. To determine specific standards or curricula in your State, please
contact your state department of education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENROLLMENT IN K-12
HOW DO I ENROLL MY CHILD IN SCHOOL?
Enrollment requirements and procedures are set by your state or your school
district. For information on how to enroll your child in school, please contact
your school district. Your local school district will also be able to give you
information on the documents needed to complete the enrollment process, the
school your child will attend, and the academic calendar. If you are having
problems enrolling your child in school and your local school district cannot
assist you, please contact your state department of education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT
WHAT IS THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT AND HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF THE LAW?
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA), the Nation's education law and longstanding commitment to
equal opportunity for all students. ESSA builds on key areas of progress in
recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents,
and students across the country.
You can view or download the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) or request a
paper copy from the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMELESS EDUCATION
WHAT RIGHTS DO HOMELESS CHILDREN HAVE TO A PUBLIC EDUCATION?
Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is intended to ensure
that homeless children have equal access to a free appropriate public education
(FAPE). The McKinney-Vento program is designed to address the problems that
homeless children and youth face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in
school. Under this program, state educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that
each homeless child and youth has equal access to FAPE, including a public
preschool education, as other children, and youth. To support the program, the
Department provides formula grants to the 50 States, the District of Columbia,
and Puerto Rico based on each State's share of Title I funds. Additional
information is available on the Assistance for Homeless Children and Youth
website and ED's National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Technical
Assistance Center website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
MY CHILD'S FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH. WHAT KIND OF BILINGUAL OR ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE? HOW DOES THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT
(ESSA) HELP MY CHILD?
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes provisions and resources geared
towards helping States support all student populations, including English
Learners. The Department's Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA)
provides leadership to help ensure that English Learners and immigrant students
attain English proficiency and achieve academic success. The National
Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) collects, analyzes,
synthesizes and disseminates information about language instruction education
programs for English language learners and related programs. Additionally, laws
enforced by the Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) requires public
schools to take steps to ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) students
or English Language Learners (ELLs), can meaningfully participate in educational
programs and services, and to communicate information to LEP parents in a
language they can understand. OCR offers ELL Resources for students, parents,
and education officials.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCATING A SCHOOL OR DISTRICT
HOW DO I LOCATE A SCHOOL OR DISTRICT?
The Common Core of Data (CCD) is the Department of Education's primary database
on public elementary and secondary education in the United States. CCD is a
comprehensive, annual, national database of all public elementary and secondary
schools and school districts. You may wish to locate a public school here and a
local school district here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN OF MIGRANT FAMILIES?
The mission of the Office of Migrant Education (OME) is to provide excellent
leadership, technical assistance, and financial support to improve the
educational opportunities and academic success of migrant children, youth,
agricultural workers, fishers, and their families. The OME administers grant
programs that provide academic and supportive services to the children of
families who migrate to find work in the agricultural and fishing industries.
The OME has identified the need for special initiatives in three programmatic
areas of the Migrant Education Program (MEP) to help attain the goal of
assisting migrant children to achieve challenging academic standards and
graduate from high school.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF RELIGION AND PRAYER IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
The relationship between religion and government in the United States is
governed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which both prevents the
government from establishing religion and protects privately initiated religious
expression and activities from government interference and discrimination. The
Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment requires public
school officials to be neutral in their treatment of religion, showing neither
favoritism toward nor hostility against religious expression such as prayer.
Accordingly, the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by
the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by private
individuals. The Department has issued Guidance on Constitutionally Protected
Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools for
clarification.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, AND HOW DO CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR IT?
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program
operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care
institutions. The program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children
each school day. Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through
the NSLP.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHOOL POLICY
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A SCHOOL POLICY OR ITS IMPLEMENTATION. CAN YOU HELP?
Education is primarily a state and local responsibility in the U.S. In creating
the Department of Education, Congress made clear its intention that the
secretary of education and other Department officials be prohibited from
exercising "any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program
of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution,
school, or school system."
For this reason, with a few exceptions related to federal legislation, most
questions or concerns about a school policy should be directed to the school
district or state department of education. Questions about a teacher, a class, a
grade, disciplinary action, or curriculum should all be addressed by the school,
school district, or state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
CONTACT FEDERAL STUDENT AID
HOW DO I CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT’S FEDERAL STUDENT AID OFFICE TO ASK A QUESTION
OR FILE A COMPLAINT?
Our Federal Student Aid (FSA) office can respond to your financial aid questions
when you visit the StudentAid.gov Contact Us page and create a Case Reference
ID.
You may also reach the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern time (ET), Saturday-Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
ET or the Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394. Monday–Friday: 8
a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern time (ET).
To view answers to FSA frequently asked questions or to receive assistance from
Federal Student Aid, please visit the StudentAid.gov Help Center.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1098-E INTEREST STATEMENT
HOW CAN I OBTAIN MY 1098-E INTEREST STATEMENT?
You will need to contact your loan servicer directly to request your 1098-E. If
you are unsure of who your loan servicer is, you may locate that information by
logging in to your account on the Student Aid website, or by calling our Federal
Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
529 PLANS
WHAT ARE 529 PLANS?
All states have college savings programs designed to meet the savings needs of
their citizens, known also as Qualified Tuition Plans. These programs seek to
make the savings options easier for the average families. There are two types of
plans:
* Prepaid Tuition: Parents, grandparents, and other interested parties may lock
in today's tuition rates, and the program will pay out future college tuition
at any of the state's eligible colleges or universities (or an equal payment
to private and out-of-state institutions).
* 529 Savings Plans: Savings plans allow participants to save money in a
special college savings account on behalf of a designated beneficiary's
qualified higher education expenses.
Both types of programs are considered "qualified state tuition programs" under
the Internal Revenue Code Section 529 (26 U.S.C. 529). This allows earnings to
be federally tax exempt beginning January 1, 2002. Most states exempt earnings
from state income tax and some states allow families to deduct the full or a
partial amount of their contribution from their state income taxes.
T>he Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines eligible institutions as "any
college, university, vocational school, or other post-secondary educational
institution eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the
Department of Education," including certain foreign institutions. Recent changes
include tuition for elementary or secondary public, private, or religious
schools. To determine eligibility for higher education institutions, please
visit the Federal School Code Search page. Each qualified state tuition program
operates under individual state laws, so programs may vary from state to state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVOIDING SCAMS
I WAS CONTACTED BY A COMPANY THAT SAYS THEY WORK WITH YOU, AND THAT I MAY BE
ELIGIBLE FOR LOAN FORGIVENESS, IS THIS TRUE?
There are many "student loan relief" companies that for a fee offer to 'assist
you prepare forms' to receive loan benefits or services like loan consolidation.
These are services you can obtain yourself FOR FREE. These companies are not
recognized, associated, nor sanctioned by the Department. So, they may assist
their customers in dealing with the Department, but they do not work with or
for, nor are part of the U.S. Department of Education. Please note there is only
one federal loan consolidation program. Any federal student loan servicer will
be able to help you apply for free. The government does not sanction debt relief
firms, so it is not true when these businesses claim they have been approved by
the government. Additionally, loan forgiveness is not available to everyone, and
there are very specific requirements to obtain loan forgiveness. The Department
does not charge you anything for applying or inquiring about forgiveness,
consolidation, or repayment plans, but you must be eligible to receive them.
Please be aware of companies that try to just offer you forgiveness without
qualification and want to charge you for that. To determine your eligibility for
any such program you may access your account or call 1-800-433-3243.
The Federal Trade Commission has a free educational website—Consumer.gov to help
people avoid scams, manage your money, use credit and loans carefully, and
protect your personal information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIDEN-HARRIS DEBT RELIEF PLAN
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE ONE-TIME STUDENT LOAN CANCELLATION?
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) will provide up to $20,000 in debt relief
to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt relief to non-Pell
Grant recipients. Borrowers with loans held by ED are eligible for this relief
if their individual income is less than $125,000 (or $250,000 for households).
To ensure you receive updates from Federal Student Aid (FSA), Log in to your
account on StudentAid.gov and make sure your contact info is up to date. FSA
will send you updates by both email and text message, so make sure to sign up to
receive text alerts. If it's been a while since you've logged in, or you can't
remember if you have an account username and password (FSA ID), FSA offers tips
to help you access your account. Once the online application form is live,
support for the form will be available at 1-833-932-3439.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLOSED SCHOOLS
CAN I GET MY LOAN DISCHARGED IF MY SCHOOL CLOSED?
There are certain criteria that make you eligible for a closed school discharge,
and there are certain steps you need to take to get a discharge. It will be
important for you to obtain your academic and financial aid records if your
school closes as you may need your academic records if you plan to attend
another school and want to have your coursework at the closed school taken into
consideration. Contact the state licensing agency in the state in which the
school was located to ask whether the state made arrangements to keep the
records. The records might also be useful in substantiating your claim for a
loan discharge. You may be eligible for up to a 100% discharge of your Direct
Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, or Federal Perkins
Loans under either of these circumstances:
* Your school closes while you're enrolled, and you do not complete your
program because of the closure. If you were on an approved leave of absence,
you are considered to have been enrolled at the school.
* Your school closes within 120 days after you withdraw.
* You are not eligible for discharge of your loans if your school closes and
any of the following is true:
* You withdraw more than 120 days before the school closes.
* You are completing a comparable educational program at another school
through a teach-out agreement with the school,
* by transferring academic credits or hours earned at the closed school to
another school,
* or by any other comparable means.
* You have completed all the coursework for the program, even if you have
not received a diploma or certificate.
Contact your loan servicer about the application process for getting your loan
discharged.
* Be sure to continue to make payments on your loan while your discharge
application is being processed.
* Find out what happens if your loan discharge is approved.
* Find out what happens if your loan discharge is denied.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFAULTED STUDENT LOANS
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO GET OUT OF DEFAULT?
If you defaulted on any of your federal student loans, contact the organization
that notified you of the default as soon as possible so you can explain your
situation fully and discuss your options.
One way to get out of default is to repay the defaulted loan in full, but that's
not a practical option for most borrowers. The two main ways to get out of
default are loan rehabilitation and loan consolidation. While loan
rehabilitation takes several months to complete, you can quickly apply for loan
consolidation. However, loan rehabilitation provides certain benefits that are
not available through loan consolidation. You can compare the benefits of loan
rehabilitation versus the benefits of loan consolidation with this chart.
Find out who holds your loan by logging in to "My Federal Student Aid" or call
the Default Resolution Group at: 1-800-621-3115.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISABILITY DISCHARGE
HOW DO I GET MY LOAN CANCELLED DUE TO DISABILITY?
Student loans may be discharged if you have a total and permanent disability.
The U.S. Department of Education considers you to have a total and permanent
disability if you are unable to work and earn money because of an injury or
illness that is expected to continue indefinitely or result in death. Borrowers
who wish to pursue this option must first submit a loan discharge application to
the lender or agency holding the loan. For further guidance contact the
Disability Discharge Loan Servicing Center at 1-888-303-7818.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR VETERANS
HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS UNDER THE GI BILL FOR VETERANS AND
THEIR DEPENDENTS?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers all education benefits under
the GI Bill, these resources can be found at the GI Bill website. The U.S.
Department Education (ED) implements competitive grant programs that provide
funding to colleges and nonprofit organizations to assist veterans in enrolling
in and completing a program of postsecondary education. These programs provide a
great opportunity for veterans to get personalized counseling and support to
achieve success in higher education. Learn more about how to utilize these
programs and connect with programs near you by reviewing our Programs Supporting
Veterans section. Ultimately, you may also be eligible for Federal Student Aid
by completing the FAFSA.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAFSA
HOW DO I APPLY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING?
To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans,
you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives
you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career
school.
In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine
your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid
providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for
their aid.
To obtain a hard copy of the FAFSA, call the Federal Student Aid Information
Center at 1-800-433-3243. Additional resources on student financial assistance
and scholarships are also available at https://studentaid.gov/resources.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS TO ATTEND COLLEGE
HOW DO I APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS FROM THE DEPARTMENT?
To apply for federal grants or student loans to go to college, you will need to
complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The
U.S. Department of Education's student financial assistance programs include:
* Grants: Financial aid you generally do not have to repay.
* Federal Work Study Program
* Direct Subsidized Loans
* Direct Unsubsidized Loans
* Direct Plus Loans
* Direct Consolidation Loans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL WORK STUDY
WHAT IS FEDERAL WORK STUDY?
The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) provides funds for part-time employment to
help needy students finance the costs of postsecondary education. Students may
be employed by: the institution itself; a federal, state, or local public
agency; a private nonprofit organization; or a private for-profit organization.
In order to apply, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) as part of the application process for FWS assistance. The FAFSA can be
completed on the Web at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Please
note that FWS is a campus based program, and as such, it may not be available in
all schools.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FSA
HOW CAN I FILE A COMPLAINT RELATED TO FEDERAL STUDENT AID?
The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Feedback System allows
constituents to file complaints concerning federal aid. If you are dissatisfied
with your experience in the federal student aid process, you can submit a
complaint, send us a suggestion, or report a suspicious activity or an alleged
scam on behalf of yourself or someone else. If you believe the resolution of a
prior complaint was in error or you disagree with the resolution, you can ask to
file a dispute with the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group. You may call them
at 1-877-557-7525.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSA SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
HOW CAN MY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION OFFER FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID?
First time applicants interested in participating in Federal Student Aid
programs will find minimum eligibility requirements and other information at the
initial applicant's site. To apply, please visit the electronic version of the
Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid
Programs. The School Participation Division for Federal Student Aid provides
information and assistance to schools interested in applying or updating their
information. For further assistance on this matter, please contact the office
that serves your state. To access guidance and policies for participating
schools see Information for Financial Aid Professionals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOAN FORGIVENESS ELIGIBILITY
CAN I HAVE MY LOANS FORGIVEN?
It is possible to have your student loan debt discharged (or canceled) or
reduced, but only under certain specific circumstances, including death or
permanent and total disability, school closure, working as a teacher in a
low-income school or in a subject-shortage area, working in the public service
sector, or in the case of Perkins Loans, working in certain other professions
(law enforcement, nursing, etc.). To view charts of discharges by loan type as
well as discharge applications, go to Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge
Charts. If you have a Federal Family Education Loan, contact the lender or
agency that holds your loan. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, contact the
school that made you the loan. If you are unsure of what type of loan(s) you
have outstanding, you can check your loan historyand find additional information
on repaying your loans.
* Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees is offered through the College
Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.
* Medical Professionals may also be eligible for loan forgiveness through the
National Health Service Corps.
* Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, administered by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, offers registered nurses substantial assistance to
repay educational loans in exchange for service in critical shortage
facilities.
Please be aware that there are many companies posing as (or claiming to work
for) the Department of Education offering loan forgiveness or discharge in
exchange for payments to them. Only your loans servicers are recognized by the
Department, no other companies, and their services are FREE. If you have been
the victim of such companies, you may report them to the Federal Trade
Commission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PELL GRANT
HOW CAN I GET A PELL GRANT FOR SCHOOL?
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income
undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to
postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of
approximately 5,400 participating post-secondary institutions. Grant amounts are
dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC); the cost of
attendance (as determined by the institution); the student's enrollment status
(full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic
year or less. If you are eligible, the amount you receive will depend not only
on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as
a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full
academic year or less. You can apply for student financial assistance, including
the Pell Grant, by completing and submitting the FAFSA online. To obtain a hard
copy of the FAFSA, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at
1-800-433-3243.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPAYMENT PLANS
CAN I CHANGE MY REPAYMENT PLAN?
Although you may select or be assigned a repayment plan when you first begin
repaying your student loan, you can change repayment plans at any time—for free.
Contact your loan servicer if you would like to discuss repayment plan options
or change your repayment plan. You can get information about all of the federal
student loans you have received and find the loan servicer for your loans by
logging in to "My Federal Student Aid." General information about repayment
options can be found on the following webpage.
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT LOAN ACCOUNT ACCESS
WHERE CAN I VIEW MY FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN AND GRANT HISTORY, AND FIND OUT WHERE
TO MAKE MY LOAN PAYMENT?
You can get information about all of the federal student loans and grants you
have received and find the loan servicer for your loans by logging in to "My
Federal Student Aid." Please note that you will need to create an FSA ID in
order to access your account. If you have questions about your account, contact
the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 or the Federal
Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING
A-Z LIST OF ALL PROGRAMS
WHERE CAN I OBTAIN A LIST OF ALL OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS AWARDED BY THE
DEPARTMENT?
You can find a list of grant programs by title and office here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFDA
WHAT IS A CFDA NUMBER AND HOW CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON A SPECIFIC PROGRAM?
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is a publication and database
produced by the General Services Administration that lists the domestic
assistance programs of all federal agencies. All grant programs have a CFDA
number, which indicates the sponsoring agency. All U.S. Department of Education
grants begin with 84 followed by a period and three digits and, in some cases a
letter (i.e. 84.XXX and/or 84.XXXA). You can search for grants by CFDA number in
ED Programs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRANT FORECAST OF FUNDING
WHICH GRANTS ARE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS?
The grants that are inviting applications for new awards are listed in our
Forecast of Funding Opportunities. This document lists virtually all programs
and competitions under which the Department has invited or expects to invite
applications for new awards and provides actual or estimated deadline dates for
the transmittal of applications under these programs. The lists are in the form
of charts -- organized according to the Department's principal program offices
-- and include programs and competitions we have previously announced, as well
as those we plan to announce at a later date.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRANT ELIGIBILITY
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A FEDERAL GRANT?
You can find programs by eligibility and select one of the eligibility types
(Individuals, Institutions of Higher Education, Local Education Agencies,
Nonprofit Organizations, Other Organizations and/or Agencies and State Education
Agencies) for a list of all ED programs for which that type of organization or
individual is eligible to apply.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRANT READERS
HOW CAN I APPLY TO BE A GRANT READER FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?
ED sponsors over 100 grant competitions each year, which are administered by
program offices throughout the Department. Program offices recruit individuals
from outside the federal government to serve as "field readers" or "peer
reviewers." These individuals have expertise in the subject area(s) of the
applications being considered. If you are interested in being a peer reviewer
for a particular office, please contact the principal office directly to inquire
about upcoming opportunities. Keep an eye out for requests posted in the federal
register or sign-up for email updates when we are seeking peer reviewers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREVENTING FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE
HOW DO I REPORT FRAUD, WASTE, ABUSE, MISUSE OR MISMANAGEMENT OF ED PROGRAM
FUNDS?
To report fraud, waste, abuse, misuse or mismanagement of ED program funds (this
could include complaints concerning employees, fund recipients, educational
institutions, contractors, collection agencies, or lending institutions); please
use the online Hotline Complaint Form. Additionally, the Department's Office of
Inspector General (OIG) is available to further assist constituents suspecting
fraud, waste, or abuse involving U.S. Department of Education funds. Complaints
or concerns received through the Hotline are evaluated, consistent with
established agency performance measures published in the OIG Annual Plan, and
may be referred for OIG investigation, audit, inspection or other review. Please
direct any related questions or concerns to the Department's Office of the
Inspector General by calling 1-800-647-8733.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGHER EDUCATION
ACCREDITATION
HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THE SCHOOL I WANT TO ATTEND IS ACCREDITED?
In order to ensure a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose
in the United States as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluation
of educational institutions and programs. Private educational associations of
regional or national scope have adopted criteria reflecting the qualities of a
sound educational program and have developed procedures for evaluating
institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are operating at basic
levels of quality.
The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit institutions or programs.
Accreditation is done by independent accrediting agencies; however, the
Department maintains a list of accrediting agencies and accrediting bodies that
it recognizes. You can find these lists of agencies on the following website:
http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
The Department has a website that provides access to a master list of accredited
colleges, universities, and career and trade schools. The database lists
approximately 6,900 postsecondary educational institutions and programs, each of
which is accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized
by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority as to the quality of
postsecondary education. To access the database, please visit
https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPLAINT AGAINST A COLLEGE
HOW DO I FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COLLEGE?
Colleges and universities operate independently, although they have some state
supervision. If you have complaints against a postsecondary institution contact
the state department of higher education for help with resolving the complaint.
For issues about financial aid, fraud, waste or abuse of federal funds, special
education or civil rights contact the U.S. Department of Education. Listed below
is contact information for these issues:
* Office of the Inspector General investigates fraud, waste or abuse of federal
educational funds, including federal student aid funds.
* Federal Student Aid's Ombudsman will help resolve issues regarding student
loan complaints, by working with you and the lender.
* Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces several Federal civil rights laws that
prohibit discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal
financial assistance from the Department of Education. You may contact OCR at
1(800) 421-3481 or locate the enforcement office that serves your state or
territory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINDING A COLLEGE
HOW CAN I FIND WHICH COLLEGES OFFER THE PROGRAM I'M INTERESTED IN?
College Navigator is a database of over 7,000 institutions of higher education.
You can search for a college based on its location, program, or degree
offerings. You can also find out about colleges: their programs, costs,
admissions, results, and more at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/.
Additionally, the Information for Students section of the Office of
Postsecondary Education's website provides a variety of related resources for
students considering college.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT
WHAT IS THE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT?
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA) was enacted on
August 14, 2008, and reauthorizes the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA). Visit the legislation page to learn about new or revised regulations for
institutions of higher education that receive funding from the Department.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONLINE OR DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
HOW CAN I FIND A LEGITIMATE ONLINE OR DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM?
The U.S. Secretary of Education publishes a list of Accrediting Agencies
Recognized for Distance Education and Correspondence Education. The U.S.
Department of Education does not accredit educational institutions or programs.
However, the Department provides oversight over the postsecondary accreditation
system through its review of all federally recognized accrediting agencies. The
Department holds accrediting agencies accountable by ensuring that they enforce
their accreditation standards effectively. For more information on
accreditation and the full list of recognized accrediting agencies, please see
Accreditation in the United States. To conduct a search to determine whether
your online or distance education program is accredited, please visit
https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
NOTE: The recognition of accrediting agencies only applies to domestic
postsecondary institutions (not high schools). To inquire about a high school's
accreditation, you must contact the state education agency where the school is
located.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON CAMPUS SAFETY?
The Office of Postsecondary Education's Campus Safety and Security website
provides access to the security statistics of all institutions participating in
the Federal Financial Aid program (Title IV), as well as those receiving Federal
grant program funding from the Department. If you are thinking of attending
college in a large urban city, a small liberal arts college, a specialized
college, or a community college, you can find their security statistics here.
The Campus Safety and Security Survey allows schools to enter in their updated
security data each year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS ON INSTITUTIONS
HOW CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF COLLEGES, POSTSECONDARY DEGREES OR
FACULTY IN THE U.S.?
The information you seek is available through the Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS provides data on enrollments, program
completions, faculty, staff, and finances. These data are made available to
students and parents through the College Navigator college search web site and
to researchers and others through the IPEDS Data Center. These data come from
surveys of all institutions and educational organizations whose primary purpose
is to provide postsecondary education. IPEDS is the core postsecondary education
data collection program of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
NCES provides summaries of IPEDS data in the Digest of Education Statistics.
Please note that some information may not be up to date, as this information is
processed and analyzed after schools provide their reports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
AUTHENTICATION
I WANT TO STUDY ABROAD. HOW CAN I AUTHENTICATE MY U.S. DIPLOMA OR DEGREE?
Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague
Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public
Documents (Only). The Convention provides for the simplified certification - the
"apostille"- of public documents to be used in countries that have joined the
convention.
Since the majority of education-related documents are executed and signed by
state officials, in order to obtain the apostille you would need to contact the
state department for the state where the documents were issued. General contact
information for the Secretary of State for all states is available here.
Documents requiring certifications with an apostille by the U.S. Department of
State (federal agency) are those that have been signed by a federal official
with the official seal of that agency, American Consular Officer, Military
Notary (10 USC 1044a) or Foreign Consul (Diplomat Officials must be registered
with the Office of Protocol).
The U.S. Department of State issues both Authentication Certificates and
Apostilles. The determination of which certificate is issued is based on the
country in which the document will be used. Authentication Certificates are
issued for documents which are destined for use in countries that are not
parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostille Certificates are issued for
documents destined for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille
Convention. For more information visit the Office of Authentications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
I AM FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, BUT AM INTERESTED IN ATTENDING A UNIVERSITY IN THE
USA. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES?
Unlike in many countries, the United States has no Federal Ministry of Education
or other centralized authority exercising single national control over
postsecondary educational institutions in this country. The states assume
varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of
higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and
autonomy. U.S. colleges and universities can vary widely in their admissions
policies and requirements. Therefore, you should contact the institution(s) you
are interested in attending for more information about admissions requirements.
The institution(s) can also provide information about policies concerning the
evaluation of non-U.S. credentials.
For visa requirements, you must visit your local U.S. Embassy or consult
the U.S. Department of State website. If you are in the United States, you may
contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Please note that the U.S.
Department of Education does not oversee or influence the issuance of visas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREDENTIAL EVALUATIONS
I HAVE A DIPLOMA OR DEGREE THAT WAS AWARDED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. WILL MY
DIPLOMA/DEGREE BE RECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES? HOW DO I GET MY CREDENTIALS
EVALUATED?
In the United States, the ultimate decision to recognize or accept an education
credential rests with (1) individual employers (for those seeking employment);
(2) state-level licensing agencies (for those seeking professional licensure);
(3) universities (for those seeking to continue their studies); and (4) federal
immigration authorities (for those seeking a visa or a change in immigration
status).
With regard to the evaluation of non-U.S. credentials, employers and other
entities will often request that an applicant obtain a "credential evaluation"
to determine how one's non-U.S. credentials compare to U.S. credentials. Such
evaluations are carried out by private, non-governmental entities called
"credential evaluation services," which charge a fee that varies depending on
the level of detail needed. The U.S. Department of Education does not evaluate
education credentials.
Before selecting a credential evaluation service, consult with the prospective
recipient of the evaluation (e.g., employer, university admissions office) to
find out if there are specific policies in place concerning the evaluation of
non-U.S. credentials. If you do not have a specific recipient in mind, you can
research online to identify and select a credential evaluation service on your
own. Additional resources and information can be found at U.S. Network for
Education Information. (There is no federal or state regulation of credential
evaluation services, and the U.S. Department of Education does not endorse or
recommend any individual credential evaluation service or any individual
association of credential evaluation services.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOREIGN SCHOOLS
There are approximately 500 foreign post-secondary institutions that are
eligible to participate in the Federal Student Aid Program. If you attend one of
these institutions, you would be eligible to apply for a student loan through
this program. To search for an eligible institution, visit our Federal School
Code Search page. Once on this site, select the latest year and "Search." On the
next page you may either select "foreign schools" in the state field and get a
full listing of overseas schools, or search for a specific school using the
institution's name. Additional information about studying abroad is also
available at https://studyabroad.state.gov/.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDYING ABROAD
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON STUDYING ABROAD?
For general information about studying abroad, as well as links to relevant
organizations, see the U.S. Department of State's USA Study Abroad website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDYING IN THE U.S.
I AM FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND AM INTERESTED IN STUDYING IN THE UNITED STATES.
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE U.S. AND APPLYING
TO STUDY THERE?
For general information about studying in the United States, as well as links
to other relevant organizations, see the U.S. Department of State's EducationUSA
website and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States
website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEACH IN THE U.S.
WHAT STEPS DO I NEED TO FOLLOW TO BECOME CERTIFIED AND LICENSED TO TEACH IF I AM
MOVING FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY?
In the U.S., each state determines the requirements for licensing and certifying
teachers in that state. Individual schools and school districts, not the U.S.
Department of Education, are responsible for the hiring of teachers.
For more information about licensure requirements in any state that may interest
you, contact the state department of education. The state's department of
education can also provide information about its policy for evaluating and
recognizing non-U.S. education qualifications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISA REQUIREMENTS
WHAT ARE THE VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS?
The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security oversee all visa
requirements for students from other countries coming to the United States.
Information and assistance is available from the following sources:
* For information on student visa requirements, visit the U.S. Department of
State Student Visa website.
* The U.S. Department of State provides support to a network of Educational
Advising/Information Centers around the world. These centers advise
prospective international students and other audiences on higher education
and study opportunities in the United States.
Foreign students in the U.S. with questions about their visas, and schools with
questions about student visas, should contact 1-800-375-5283 or visit United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for more information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-PUBLIC EDUCATION
HOMESCHOOLING
DOES THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OVERSEE HOME SCHOOLING FOR ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS?
The U.S. Department of Education does not regulate or provide financial support
for home schooling elementary and secondary students. Regulation of home
schooling, including curriculum requirements, is a State and local
responsibility.
Some federal education programs can serve home schooled students if they are
regarded as private school students by their State. This is entirely dependent
on each State's policies and definitions. These federal education programs would
be the same programs that serve private school students as authorized by federal
laws.
To read more about the participation of private schools in federal education
programs, visit the Office of Non-Public Education's page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF NON-PUBLIC EDUCATION
WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS OR ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STAFF?
The Office of Non-Public Education (ONPE) fosters maximum participation of
non-public school students and teachers in federal education programs and
initiatives. Since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed
in 1965, private school students and teachers have been eligible to participate
in certain federal education programs. ONPE's activities reflect this mission
and direction by:
* Representing the U.S. Department of Education to the non-public school
community;
* Offering advice and guidance within the Department on all matters affecting
non-public education;
* Communicating with national, State and local education agencies and
associations on non-public education topics;
* Communicating the interests and concerns of the non-public school community
to the Department;
* Providing parents with information about education options for their
children; and
* Providing technical assistance, workshops and publications.
For more information see Frequently Asked Questions Related to Nonpublic Schools
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONLINE SCHOOLS
I AM LOOKING FOR AN ON-LINE K-12 SCHOOL THAT IS APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. CAN YOU ASSIST ME WITH LOCATING A PROGRAM?
The U.S. Department of Education does not approve, recognize or accredit any
schools or their programs. The extent of the Department's involvement in the
accreditation process is to recognize various accrediting agencies for
postsecondary (college) education only. Your State Department of Education can
provide options for obtaining a high school diploma and assist in determining
on-line high school programs that are approved by the State.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
HOW DO I LOCATE A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE U.S.?
The Private School Survey produces data on private schools in the U.S. With
increasing concern about alternatives in education, the interest and need for
data on private education has also increased. NCES has made the collection of
data on private elementary and secondary schools a priority. You may access this
data here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATIONS
COPYRIGHT STATUS NOTICE
CAN I USE SOMETHING I FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE?
Unless specifically stated otherwise, all information on the U.S. Department of
Education's (Department) website at www.ed.gov is in the public domain, and may
be reproduced, published or otherwise used without the Department's permission.
This statement does not pertain to information at web sites other than
www.ed.gov, whether funded by the Department or not. You can view our Website
Policies and Important Links online.
Some photographs in www.ed.gov's major banners and navigation headings are
commercially licensed and cannot be reproduced, published or otherwise used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ED WEBSITE
WHEN WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE CREATED?
The U.S. Department of Education's (Department) website (http://www.ed.gov) was
launched March 1994. More information on the Department's early internet
presence can be found here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORDERING PUBLICATIONS
HOW DO I ORDER AN EDUCATION PUBLICATION?
You can order publications and products from the ED Pubs website. Other
publications and resources related to financial aid for college or career school
can be found at www.StudentAid.gov/resources.
If you have questions or issues regarding ED Pubs materials, you may contact the
ED Pubs Call Center by phone at 1-877-433-7827 or by email at
customerservice.edpubs@gpo.gov.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERMISSION TO USE ED PUBLICATION
DO I NEED PERMISSION TO USE MATERIAL FROM ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S
PUBLICATIONS?
Unless specifically stated otherwise, all publications issued by the U.S.
Department of Education (Department) and all information available on the
Department's website are in the public domain. These publications and
information may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes without prior consent
(with attribution to the U.S. Department of Education or the appropriate
source). For further guidance read our Copyright Status Notice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECOGNITION PROGRAMS
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM?
Established in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) Program recognizes
public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools based on their
overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among
student subgroups. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School
nominations from the top education official in all States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education
Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by
the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
All schools, representing the full diversity of American schools, including
charter schools, magnet/choice schools, Title I schools, parochial, and
independent schools are eligible in one of two performance categories, based on
all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
1. Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing
schools (top 15%) in Reading/English and Mathematics as measured by state
assessments or nationally normed tests.
2. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools have made the greatest advances in
closing achievement gaps (top 15%) between a school's subgroups and all
students in Reading/English and Mathematics as measured by state
assessments.
The program also honors a handful of awardee principals with the Terrel H. Bell
Award for Outstanding School Leadership. A list of current and past awardees
including recent awardee applications, school profiles, and excerpts from
applications on promising practices can be found at NBRS Program website. Please
contact the NBRS Program directly if you have any additional questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESIDENT'S EDUCATION AWARDS PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE PRESIDENTS EDUCATION AWARDS PROGRAM?
Founded in 1983, the President's Education Awards Program (PEAP) honors
graduating elementary, middle and high school students for their achievement and
hard work. The program has provided individual recognition from the President
and the U.S. Secretary of Education to those students whose outstanding efforts
have enabled them to meet challenging standards of excellence. Each year,
thousands of elementary, middle, and high schools participate by recognizing
deserving students.
Please note school principals play a leading role and have sole discretion in
choosing recipients, not employees at the U.S. Department of Education. Program
guidelines, criteria and ordering information are available at
http://www.peap-aca.org. We recommend reviewing the PEAP FAQs or contacting the
PEAP office directly for further guidance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RISE AWARD
WHAT IS THE RISE RECOGNITION AWARD?
The Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award recognizes and promotes
the commitment and excellence exhibited by full or part-time classified school
employees (public and non-public) who provide exemplary service to students in
pre-kindergarten through high school.
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) invites the governor of each State
and the chief executive of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the
Outlying Areas to nominate up to two classified school employees by November 1
annually. Governors must document nominees' performance in the following areas:
(A) Work performance; (B) School and community involvement; (C) Leadership and
commitment; (D) Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community
members, etc., who speak to the nominee's exemplary work); (E) Enhancement of
classified school employees' image in the community and schools.
The Secretary of Education will select a single classified school employee to
receive the RISE Award for that school year by the following spring. The
Department will communicate the selectee's story in order to inspire other
innovative practices and excellence among classified school employees.
For information on being nominated by your State, contact your governor's
office. You may also review our RISE FAQs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS
WHAT IS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM?
Since it was created in 2011, the aim of the U.S. Department of Education Green
Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition award is to inspire schools, districts, and
postsecondary institutions to strive for 21st century excellence by highlighting
promising sustainable practices and resources that all can employ. To that end,
the award recognizes schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions that:
* Reduce environmental impact and costs;
* Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and
* Provide effective environmental and sustainability education.
Schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions apply to their state
education authorities for nomination to the U.S. Department of Education.
Therefore, we recommend contacting your State Education Agency or postsecondary
authority if you are interested in applying to be nominated by your State for
the ED-GRS award. Additional resources and webinars can be found on the Green
Strides website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM?
Established in 1964, via an executive order by the President, the U.S.
Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors some of our nation's most
distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended
to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual,
creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to
recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and
technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as
Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation's highest honors for high school
students.
Application is by invitation only; therefore, students may not apply
individually to the Program, nor may their schools nominate them. U.S.
Presidential Scholars are guests of the Commission during National Recognition
Weekend and enjoy an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with
government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists, and other
accomplished individuals. Scholar and Teacher Awardee lists by year can be found
on the awards page and for further information concerning this program, please
visit the program's FAQ page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
ED DATA EXPRESS
WHERE CAN I FIND STATISTICAL INFORMATION?
ED Data Express consolidates relevant data collected by the Department from
several different sources and provides a variety of tools that allow users to
explore the data and create individualized reports. More research, evaluation
and statistics are available at our Research and Statistics page. This page
contains links to:
* The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal
entity for collecting and analyzing education-related data in the U.S. and
abroad. The NCES Website puts that data at your fingertips.
* The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), sponsored by the
Department's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), produces the world's
premier database of journal and non-journal education literature. ERIC
provides the public with a centralized website for searching the ERIC
bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million citations going back to 1966.
* The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the Department's main agency for
research, evaluation, and dissemination; statistics; and guidance to further
evidence-based policy and practice.
* The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established by the Department to
provide an independent, trusted source of scientific evidence regarding
programs, products, practices and policies what works in education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAST FACTS
WHERE CAN I FIND QUICK FACTS ON THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. ETC.?
The primary purpose of the Fast Facts website is to provide users with concise
information on a range of educational issues, from early childhood to adult
learning. Fast Facts draw from various published sources and are updated as new
data become available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCES KIDS' ZONE
IS THERE A RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR KIDS WHO WANT TO CONDUCT RESEARCH?
The NCES Kids' Zone provides information to help you learn about schools; decide
on a college; find a public library; engage in several games, quizzes and skill
building about math, probability, graphing, and mathematicians; and to learn
many interesting facts about education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION DATA
WHERE IS HIGHER EDUCATION DATA HOUSED?
Higher education data is housed primarily in the Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS provides data on enrollments, program
completions, faculty, staff, and finances. These data come from surveys of all
institutions and educational organizations whose primary purpose is to provide
postsecondary education. IPEDS is the core postsecondary education data
collection program of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). NCES
provides summaries of IPEDS data in the Digest of Education Statistics. Please
note that some information may not be up to date, as this information is
processed and analyzed after schools provide their reports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCIENTIFICALLY BASED RESEARCH
DO YOU REVIEW RESEARCH TO SEE WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION?
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the existing research on different
programs, products, practices, and policies in education. Their goal is to
provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based
decisions. They focus on the results from high-quality research to answer the
question "What works in education?"
SPECIAL EDUCATION DATA
WHERE CAN I FIND DATA ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SERVED UNDER
THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)?
The IDEA Data Center provides the most recent data about children with
disabilities served under IDEA. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of
Special Education Programs in accordance with Section 618 of IDEA collects this
data annually. This data is provided in the form of tables produced for the
annual reports to Congress.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE-BY-STATE INFORMATION
DOES THE DEPARTMENT RANK SCHOOLS?
The U.S. Department of Education does not rank schools or school districts.
State-by-state information on academic achievement and other topics can be found
at:
* The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state
information on achievement, attainment, demographics, enrollment, finances
and teachers at the elementary, secondary and postsecondary levels.
* The National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) also known as "the
Nation's Report Card" is the only nationally representative and continuing
assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject
areas. NAEP provides information about student performance in states that
choose to participate in the state-level NAEP.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
I HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. HOW DO I DETERMINE IF THE SCHOOL IS PROVIDING
MY CHILD WITH AN APPROPRIATE EDUCATION AND SERVICES?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) aims to ensure that all
children receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and special services
to assist in meeting their educational needs. Under Part B of IDEA, each state
and its public agencies must ensure that FAPE is made available to all students
with specified disabilities in mandated age ranges, and that the rights and
protections of Part B are extended to eligible students and their parents. FAPE
includes, among other elements, the provision of special education and related
services provided at no cost to parents, in conformity with an individualized
education program (IEP). Additional information and assistance can be found at
the Center for Parent Information & Resources and the State Department of
Special Education.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GAIN ACCESS
TO TECHNOLOGY?
All states have assistive technology programs to support consumer-driven,
statewide, technology-related assistance for individuals of all ages with
disabilities. These programs are largely funded by the U.S. Department of
Education, under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. For more information
visit the Center for Parent Information & Resources.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MY STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REPORT THAT MY
CHILD'S SCHOOL AND THE DISTRICT WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION
LAWS. HOW DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORK WITH STATES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE?
Educational programs for children with disabilities and for infants and toddlers
and their families are supported through grants to states under Parts B and C of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The U.S. Department of
Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) monitors those programs
to make sure they are administered in ways that are consistent with federal
requirements. In addition, OSEP has designated customer service specialists and
state contacts for each state. The staff helps people understand IDEA
requirements and access appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms. If you need
assistance, please contact the OSEP customer service specialist or state contact
assigned to your state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS AND SECTION 504
MY CHILD HAS A DISABILITY, BUT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES UNDER THE
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA). HOW CAN MY CHILD RECEIVE
APPROPRIATE EDUCATION SERVICES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM?
If you find that your child does not qualify for services under the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), then you should inquire about services
under Section 504. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)
is designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs
and activities that receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
Section 504 requires a school district to provide a "free appropriate public
education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the
school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the
disability. Your child does not have to qualify under IDEA in order to qualify
for FAPE under Section 504. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil
Rights enforces Section 504 in programs and activities that receive federal
education funds. For more information, visit Protecting Students with
Disabilities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY SCHOOL-AGED CHILD IS ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION? HOW
WOULD I HAVE MY CHILD EVALUATED AND ASSESSED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY?
Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) gives eligible
children with disabilities ages 3 through 21 (upper age limit varies depending
on state law) the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). According
to the regulations, a child qualifies for special education and related services
under IDEA if a team of professionals evaluates the child and determines that:
1. the child has a disability, as defined in Section 300.8 of the IDEA
regulations, and
2. the child needs special education services because of that disability.
The evaluation must consider all areas related to the suspected disability; it
also must use a variety of assessment tools and strategies. Within 30 days of
concluding that your child qualifies for services, the school district must hold
a meeting to create an individualized education program (IEP) for your child.
To have your child tested, contact your child's teacher, the principal of the
school, or the local or state director for special education.
Additional resources:
* IDEA Website: The law, regulations, training materials, topic briefs, and
related notices.
* Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) State Contacts: This is a listing
of U.S. Department of Education staff members who can provide assistance,
organized by state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDEA
WHAT LAW PROTECTS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes
available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with
disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related
services to those children. The IDEA governs how states and public agencies
provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than
6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
You can search the statute and regulations here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IEP
HOW IS AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) DEVELOPED FOR MY CHILD?
The cornerstone of the IDEA is the entitlement of each eligible child with a
disability to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that emphasizes special
education and related services designed to meet the child's unique needs and
that prepare the child for further education, employment, and independent
living. 20 U.S.C. §1400(d) (1) (A). Under the IDEA, the primary vehicle for
providing FAPE is through an appropriately developed Individualized Education
Plan (IEP) that is based on the individual needs of the child. An IEP must take
into account a child's present levels of academic achievement and functional
performance, and the impact of that child's disability on his or her involvement
and progress in the general education curriculum. IEP goals must be aligned with
grade-level content standards for all children with disabilities. The child's
IEP must be developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with the requirements
outlined in the IDEA [34 CFR 300.320 through §300.324]. To obtain guidance and
resources visit: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/topic-areas/.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY GAIN SKILLS,
PURSUE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, AND FIND A JOB?
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) provides grants to designated
state agencies to operate a program of vocational rehabilitation (VR) in each
state and territory. There is federal guidance over all the state programs, but
states also have the authority to design their own programs within those
guidelines.
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is the Department office
responsible for overseeing this program. The designated state VR agencies assist
individuals with disabilities in securing gainful employment depending on their
abilities, capabilities, and informed choice. The state VR agencies also provide
training, assistive technology, and transportation. Individuals who receive
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) benefits are presumed to be eligible for VR services leading to
employment, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that they are too
significantly disabled to benefit from VR services.
Although the RSA administers the VR program in each state, its authority to
intervene in individual cases is limited. However, one of its primary roles is
to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to exercise
their rights to due process when they believe their rights have been violated.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, establishes an appeals process
for individuals who are dissatisfied with the services that VR is or is not
providing. The Act gives individuals the right to pursue mediation as a means of
resolving the complaint against the agency. The Act also establishes a formal
hearing process and a judicial review process for individuals. You may utilize
any or all of these methods of appeal in order to resolve your concerns.
The Act also establishes the Client Assistance Program (CAP) to provide
assistance and advocacy. CAP services help clients or client applicants pursue
concerns they have with programs funded under the Rehabilitation Act. Please
contact your state's CAP or your appropriate state liaison within RSA.
For additional information, please visit the RSA website. To apply for benefits,
or for more information about the services in your area, please contact your
state VR agency.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT RECORDS AND PRIVACY
FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)?
The U.S. Department of Education's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is
responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law that gives parents the
right to have access to their children's education records, the right to seek to
have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure
of personally identifiable information from the education records. When a
student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age,
the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS
HOW DO I GET A COPY OF MY HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS?
Contact the school district where you attended high school or your state
department of education. If you attended a non-public school, you will want to
contact the school directly. Please note that the U.S. Department of Education
does not maintain transcript records of any school.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MILITARY RECRUITERS
CAN SCHOOLS SHARE STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION WITH MILITARY RECRUITERS?
Congress has passed two major pieces of legislation that generally require local
educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to give military recruiters the same
access to secondary school students as they provide to postsecondary
institutions or to prospective employers. LEAs are also generally required to
provide students' names, addresses, and telephone listings to military
recruiters, when requested.
The information is used specifically for armed services recruiting purposes and
to inform young people of scholarship opportunities. Schools are required to
provide notice to parents, allowing them an opportunity to opt out of providing
the information to recruiters. For more information view FAQs and Guidance at:
Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA)
DOES MY CHILD'S SCHOOL NEED CONSENT TO CONDUCT A SURVEY?
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) is a federal law that affords
certain rights to parents of minor students with regard to surveys that ask
questions of a personal nature. Briefly, the law requires that schools obtain
written consent from parents before minor students are required to participate
in any U.S. Department of Education funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that
reveals information concerning the following areas:
1. Political affiliations;
2. Mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student
and his/her family;
3. Sex behavior and attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close
family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of
lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student's
parent*; or
8. Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for
participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such
program.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIPTS FROM CLOSED SCHOOLS
HOW DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF MY TRANSCRIPT FROM A COLLEGE THAT IS CLOSED?
When schools close, the generally accepted practice is for the school to make
arrangements with the state-licensing agency to store their records. If you are
trying to find your academic records from a closed school, you should contact
the state licensing agency in the state in which the school was located to ask
whether the state made arrangements to store the records. Information about
financial aid and closed schools is also available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEACHING INITIATIVES AND RESOURCES
TEACHER CERTIFICATION
HOW DO I BECOME CERTIFIED OR LICENSED TO TEACH?
The requirements for teacher certification and licensing are determined by state
departments of education. Licensing is the process by which a government agency
grants a license to an individual who has met certain requirements.
Certification is the process by which an individual with certain qualifications
is recognized. For information on the requirements for obtaining a license and
certification, please contact the state department of education in the state
where you wish to teach.
If you have credentials from overseas, you may need to seek credential
evaluation services to become certified as a teacher in the U.S. Degree,
diploma, and credit recognition are not performed or regulated by the federal
government. Recognition is not usually done by state or local governments
either. In many cases this work is delegated to private credential evaluation
services and the resulting evaluations are recognized as valid. For more
information on this topic, please see the foreign qualifications page.
Currently, there is no certification program that is accepted in all states.
Some states offer reciprocity for certifications obtained in other states.
Contact your state department of education to ask about reciprocity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS
WHAT KINDS OF PROGRAMS DO YOU HAVE TO HELP TEACHERS PAY BACK THEIR LOANS?
If you are a teacher serving in a low-income or subject-matter shortage area, it
might be possible for you to cancel or defer a portion of your federal student
loans. Eligibility requirements are determined by the type of loan(s) the
teacher has out:
Cancellation for Perkins Loans: If you have a loan from the Federal Perkins Loan
Program, you may be eligible for loan cancellation for full-time teaching at a
low-income school or in certain subject areas.
Cancellation for Stafford Loans: If you received a Stafford loan on or after
October 1, 1998, and have taught full-time for five years in a low-income
school, you may be eligible to have a portion of the loan cancelled. This
applies to FFEL Stafford Loans, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and,
in some cases, Consolidation Loans. Eligible teachers apply for Perkins loan
forgiveness from the office that administers the Perkins loan program at the
college or university that holds his or her loan, and for Stafford loan
forgiveness through the lender or servicer of his or her loan. More information
is available at Student Aid on the Web. You may also be eligible for the Federal
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TROOPS TO TEACHERS
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP MILITARY PERSONNEL BECOME TEACHERS?
The Troops-to-Teachers program provides assistance, including stipends of up to
$5,000 or bonuses of $10,000, to eligible members of the armed forces so that
they can obtain certification or licensing as elementary school teachers,
secondary school teachers, or vocational/technical teachers and become highly
qualified teachers in high-need local education agencies (LEAs). In addition,
the program helps these individuals find employment in high-need LEAs or charter
schools.
Members of the armed forces who wish to receive the program's assistance for
placement as an elementary or secondary school teacher must have a baccalaureate
or advanced degree, and their last period of service in the armed forces must
have been honorable. In selecting members of the armed forces to participate in
the program, the Department of Defense must give priority to those members who
have educational or military experience in science, mathematics, special
education, or vocational/technical subjects and who agree to seek employment as
teachers in high-need LEAs in a subject area compatible with their educational
backgrounds.
To apply for this program, visit the Troops-to-Teachers website. The program is
administered by the Department of Defense's Defense Activity for Non-Traditional
Education Support (DANTES).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
WHERE CAN I OBTAIN RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS?
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) supports teachers,
principals, school leaders, and other educators as they help to launch the
problem-solvers and innovators of the future. OESE supports State and local
efforts to implement evidence-based teacher development programs, enhance
professional development for new teachers, and encourage alternative routes to
teaching certification through grants to states, local education agencies
(LEAs), institutes for higher education (IHEs), or other organizations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAVE A QUESTION THAT ISN'T LISTED ABOVE? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO THE INFORMATION
RESOURCE CENTER.
*
HOW DO I FIND...?
* Student loans, forgiveness
* Higher Education Rulemaking
* College accreditation
* Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
* FERPA
* FAFSA
* 1098, tax forms
* More...
INFORMATION ABOUT...
* Elevating Teaching
* Family and Community Engagement
* Early Learning
* Engage Every Student
* Constitution Day
* Cybersecurity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global
competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
* Student Loans
* Repaying Loans
* Defaulted Loans
* Loan Forgiveness
* Loan Servicers
* Grants & Programs
* Apply for Pell Grants
* Grants Forecast
* Apply for a Grant
* Eligibility for Grants
* Laws & Guidance
* Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
* FERPA
* Civil Rights
* IDEA Website
* Data & Research
* Education Statistics
* Postsecondary Education Data
* ED Data Express
* Nation's Report Card
* What Works Clearinghouse
* Open Data Platform
* COVID Relief Data
* About Us
* Contact Us
* ED Offices
* Jobs
* Press Releases
* FAQs
* Recursos en español
* Budget, Performance
* Privacy Program
* Subscribe to E-Mail Updates
* Homeroom Blog
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Notices
* FOIA
* Privacy Policy
* Accessibility
* Security
* Information Quality
* Inspector General
* Whitehouse.gov
* USA.gov
* Benefits.gov
* Regulations.gov