author
United States. Office of Education
A long-running federal education agency, it gathered national school statistics, published research, and helped shape education policy in the United States for more than a century.
1 Audiobook
Americans All, Immigrants All
by United States. Office of Education, Inc. Columbia Broadcasting System
About the author
Created by Congress in 1867, the Office of Education began as a small federal agency charged with collecting information about schools and education across the country. It was first placed in the Department of the Interior, and for part of its history its publications appeared under the name Bureau of Education.
Over time, the office took on a wider role in studying educational issues, supporting programs, and sharing guidance with states, schools, and libraries. Its work reflected major changes in American education, from basic data gathering in the 19th century to a broader federal presence in the 20th.
In 1972, the Office of Education was reorganized, and its functions were eventually divided among newer federal education agencies. Today it is remembered as an important predecessor to the modern U.S. Department of Education.