The executive branch of the government is responsible for the U.S. Department of Education. What purpose does the U.S. Department of Education serve? How does this department work with States’ Departments of Education and local school districts? In your opinion, does having a U.S. Department of Education benefit K-12 education in the United States? Why or why not?
Discussion Board One Topic One
The U.S Department of Education is charged with the responsibility of maintaining educational policies as well as advancing the education system. The main objective of this department is making sure that education in the United States is of high quality and accessible to everyone (education department). The major focus areas of this department are the creation of policies on financial aid, data collection regarding education, and identification and addressing of educational issues together with preventing discrimination.
The maintenance and operation responsibility of public schools is charged with the states. The states also claim a major share in the establishment, the selection, curriculum regulation, the teaching methods as well as the provision of instructional materials in their specific schools. Nevertheless, each state has its policies and standards that may impact the education quality provided but it must be guided by the provisions of the U.S Department of Education (education department). The state governments are known to delegate some responsibilities for accountability and operation purposes in running the schools locally. Therefore, state education departments are responsible for school districts creation. The school districts are managed by school boards of whose the members are elected publicly or through appointments.
The U.S Department of Education in my view is highly beneficial to K-12 education in the United States in that it brings in the national interest in ensuring quality education in public schools. Through the legislative process, the federal government brings in aid to the states as well as the schools with a view to supplementing their educational provisions (education department). Through this department, grants are provided for the elementary and the secondary school programs mainly for children from low-income backgrounds.
Reference
https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/what_pg2.html