In 1867, the foundation for Department of Education was laid. The purpose of it was to observe and interpret the information collected from institutions regarding their teaching policies, and use this information in order to make the education system even better. Even though the name and place of its executive branch has changed several times still its aims remain the same. The department took the responsibilities of administering the land grant universities and college, after the Second Morrill Act was passed in 1890.

Expansion in Federal support for education was followed by the World War 2. The passage of Lanham Act in 1941 and the impact Aid laws in 1950, reduced the load for communities by paying to school districts. In 1994 another bill was passed that approved an educational assistance that would help 8 million war veterans to receive post-secondary education.

Later in 1958, Cold War became the reason for first ever federal legislation for education. As US government wanted highly skilled and trained personals that would be able to stand against Soviet Unions highly trained individuals in scientific and technical fields, hence the congress passed the National Defense Education Act or NDEA. The purpose of NDEA was to support the college loans and formulate improvement in science, mathematics and foreign language on elementary and secondary level.

Department's mission was further commenced, during 1960's and 1970's, when anti-poverty and civil rights laws were passed. These series of laws also forbid the discrimination among sexes and races, there fore, making it a fundamental aim and goal of Department Of Education. And when Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed in 1965, department announced federal aid to poor students for their elementary and secondary education. Also in 1965 another Act was passed that was Higher Education Act which also announced financial assistance to needy students for their post-secondary and college education.

Even with the growing rate of federal role in the education system, Department of Education never let go of its primary objective that is to increase the rate of student's academic achievement and preparing the youth, by providing them with academic excellence with uniform accessing opportunities, for the global competitiveness.

The department of Education has implements and fulfils its aims in two way, first one is to take the leadership role in the national education scenario and observe and interpret the teaching methodologies and find out what works the best with students and hold a dialogue on national level discussing how to improve the American Education System. And secondly administers a number of programs for all levels from elementary to research level, to increase the excellence of the National Education System.

Today, there are different kinds of programs, administered by the Education Department, that are held at all levels of education in US. Department's programs designed for Elementary and secondary education level are providing services to 56 million students, which are being education in 97,000 public schools and 28,000 private schools in 14,000 school districts, across USA. Approximately 11 million postsecondary students are being provided with grants, loans, and work-study assistances, by departemenst programs.