United States Office of Education facts for kids

The Office of Education was a small part of the U.S. Federal Government for many years. It was also known as the Department of Education or the Bureau of Education. This office worked within the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1867 to 1972. Today, its work is done by two separate groups: the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Why Was the Office of Education Created?

Before the Civil War, most schools in the U.S. were funded and controlled by local communities. But after the war, many people wanted the federal government to play a bigger role in education. They believed that having a central office could help gather important information about schools across the country.

In 1857, a lawmaker named Justin Smith Morrill suggested a plan. He wanted to use public land to help states create colleges. These colleges would teach farming and mechanical skills. Later, during the time of President Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865), it became very important to collect information about all the schools that existed or were being built. This need for information helped lead to the creation of the Office of Education.

How the Office of Education Started and Grew

The Office of Education began on March 2, 1867. It was first called the Department of Education. A key person who helped make this happen was an educator named Zalmon Richards.

The first leader of this new department was Henry Barnard. He was called the United States Commissioner of Education. His personal book collection later became the start of the National Library of Education.

However, the Department of Education soon changed. On June 30, 1869, it became the Office of Education and moved under the Department of the Interior. For a long time, from 1870 to 1929, it was even called the Bureau of Education.

Over the years, the Office of Education moved to different parts of the government. In 1939, it joined the new Federal Security Agency (F.S.A.) during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's time. Later, in 1953, it became part of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. This was a big step, as it meant education was now handled by a group directly under the President.

Finally, in 1979, under President Jimmy Carter, the old Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split. This created two new, separate groups that are still around today: the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

What Did the Office of Education Do?

The main job of the Office of Education was to collect and share information about schools. It gathered facts and figures on how many schools existed, how many students they had, and what they taught. This information was shared with state and local education leaders.

Many people hoped the Office would become a very powerful federal agency. However, Congress did not want the federal government to control what states and local communities did with their schools. They believed that states should decide their own education policies. This idea, called "states' rights," was very strong back then.

The Office of Education was part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. This meant it was overseen by the Secretary of the Interior. It did not have the power to tell schools what to do. Its role was mainly to gather and provide helpful information.

Each year, the Commissioner of Education had to write a report. This report was printed and given to members of Congress, like Senators and Representatives, and other government officials. For example, in 1875, 20,000 copies of the 1874 report were printed!

The Office also collected information on different kinds of schools. This included schools built to provide education and job training for American Indians, like the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The federal government had a special role in the education of Native Americans.

The End of the Office and Its Lasting Impact

In 1972, a new law ended the Office of Education. This change took effect on July 1, 1972.

Even though it no longer exists, the Office of Education had an important impact. By sharing information, it helped different schools and education leaders across the United States learn from each other. This helped create a more connected education system.

Today, a direct descendant of the Office of Education is the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This group is part of the U.S. Department of Education and continues the important work of collecting education data.

What Came Next?

• United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (1953–1979)
• United States Department of Education (1980–present)

Separated:

• United States Department of Health and Human Services (1980–present)