what

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Overview
of the
U.S. Department of
Education
U.S. Department of Education
2010

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U.S. Department of Education
Arne Duncan
Secretary
Office of Communications and Outreach
Peter Cunningham
Assistant Secretary
November 2009
Revised September 2010
This publication is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in
whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not
necessary, the citation should be: U.S. Department of Education, Office of
Communications and Outreach, Overview of the U.S. Department of Education,
Washington, D.C., 2010.
To obtain copies of this report:
Write to ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department of
Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA, 22304
Or fax your request to 703-605-6794.
Or e-mail your request to [email protected].
Or call in your request toll free to 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-
PUBS). Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or
a teletypewriter (TTY) should call 1-877-576-7734. If 877 service is not
available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327
(1-800-USA-LEARN).
Or order online at http://edpubs.gov.
This publication is also available on the Department’s Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/whattoc.html.
On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille,
large print or computer diskette. For more information, please contact the
Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818.
All URLs in this publication were last acessed on July 14, 2010.

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Contents
A Message From the Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
What Is the Department of Education? ................... 1
How Does the Department of Education Serve
America’s Students? ................................... 5
What Is Not Part of the Department of Education’s Role? . . . 9
How Is the Department of Education Organized? ..........11
Where Is the Department of Education? ..................17
Where Can I Get More Information?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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