Secretary of Education
Secretary of Education
Office of the Secretary
14 reports
U.S. Department of Education
Functional structure organized around education policy, grants, civil rights, and student aid
Government · Functional structure · 4K employees · Washington, DC
14
Agency head span
↑ wider than peers (avg 10)
1
Avg span
tight
2
Max depth
2 levels
Interactive org chart
U.S. Department of Education organizational chart
Explore the agency leadership model, component structure, and reporting layers from official public sources.
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The Department of Education is organized around 17 major offices that manage federal education policy, grants, research, and civil rights enforcement nationwide, led by the Secretary of Education. Source: ed.gov/about/ed-offices
What to model
Use the chart to test org decisions, not just view reporting lines
Start with the public baseline, then use the scenario views and source-backed changes to ask what happens when leadership, span, or team ownership shifts.
Scenario views in the chart
- Add Department-wide AI and Data Governance Role Model the addition of a Chief Data and AI Officer to coordinate AI use cases and data governance across all ED offices.
- Move English Language Acquisition under Elementary and Secon Evaluate the impact of aligning English Language Acquisition more closely with K–12 program administration.
Atlas work this supports
- Compare public operating models Use this official-source baseline to compare agencies, components, reporting layers, and field-office networks.
- Model vacancies and transitions Create planning scenarios for acting leaders, new offices, component moves, and cross-agency coordination changes.
- Keep an official source trail Track source URLs, leadership updates, and agency structure changes in one Atlas workspace for review.
The people
Key leaders and offices
12 senior leadership roles or offices from official public sources. Use this section as a current agency-leadership index, not a private-company filing table.
Deputy Secretary
Deputy Secretary of Education
Office of the Deputy Secretary
0 reports
Under Secretary
Under Secretary of Education
Office of the Under Secretary
0 reports
General Counsel
General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel
0 reports
Inspector General
Inspector General
Office of Inspector General
0 reports
Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer
Office of the Chief Information Officer
0 reports
Director, Communications and Outreach
Director
Office of Communications and Outreach
0 reports
Assistant Secretary, Civil Rights
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
Office for Civil Rights
0 reports
Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education
Assistant Secretary
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
0 reports
Assistant Secretary, Postsecondary Education
Assistant Secretary
Office of Postsecondary Education
0 reports
Commissioner, Education Sciences
Director
Institute of Education Sciences
0 reports
Chief Operating Officer, FSA
Chief Operating Officer
Federal Student Aid
0 reports
The operating model
How U.S. Department of Education divides the work
5 offices, branches, or components organize the agency mission. Tile size scales with estimated staff where public estimates exist.
Federal Student Aid
p12
Administers federal student financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act.
Office for Civil Rights
p8
Enforces federal civil rights laws to ensure equal access to education.
Institute of Education Sciences
p11
Provides independent research, evaluation, and statistics on education.
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
p9
Administers programs supporting K–12 education nationwide.
Office of Postsecondary Education
p10
Strengthens the capacity of colleges and universities and oversees postsecondary programs.
The agency brief
What this U.S. agency structure tells us
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is a Cabinet-level department responsible for establishing federal education policy, administering federal assistance, and enforcing federal civil rights laws in education. Authority flows from the Secretary of Education, who serves as the principal adviser to the President on education matters. ED is organized functionally, with major offices focused on policy domains (K–12, postsecondary, special education), cross-cutting missions (civil rights enforcement, research, student financial aid), and enterprise support (legal, IT, communications, finance). Structurally distinctive features include Federal Student Aid’s large operational footprint relative to the Department’s size, the independence of the Institute of Education Sciences for rigorous research, and a strong civil rights enforcement arm that directly affects states, districts, and institutions nationwide.
- Cabinet-level department with functional organization
- Federal Student Aid operates one of the largest federal grant and loan programs
- Independent research arm through the Institute of Education Sciences
The comparison
Compare with related agencies
Compared with the Department of Health and Human Services, ED is smaller and more policy- and grant-focused, with limited direct service delivery. Relative to the Department of Justice, ED’s enforcement role is narrower and concentrated in education-specific civil rights. Compared with the National Science Foundation, …
Senior office count
Reporting depth
U.S. Department of Education
2 levels
3 levels
Current signals
What changed recently
No recent leadership changes documented in the provided official sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the U.S. Department of Education?
The U.S. Department of Education is led by the Secretary of Education, a Cabinet member who serves as the principal adviser to the President on education policy.
What does the U.S. Department of Education do?
The Department establishes education policy, administers federal education funding, collects data and conducts research, and enforces federal civil rights laws in education.
What are the major offices or components of the U.S. Department of Education?
Major components include Federal Student Aid, the Office for Civil Rights, the Institute of Education Sciences, and offices focused on elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and special education.
Who does the U.S. Department of Education report to?
The Department of Education is part of the Executive Branch and reports to the President of the United States.
How can this org chart be used for planning or analysis?
The org chart helps policymakers, researchers, and administrators understand reporting lines, major components, and where to align programs or coordinate cross-office initiatives.
Sources
Reference
Cite this page
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APA 7th
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Creately. "U.S. Department of Education Organizational Structure." Last modified April 1, 2026. https://creately.com/org-chart/us-government/department-of-education/.Permanent URL: https://creately.com/org-chart/us-government/department-of-education/ · last updated 2026-04-01