EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES 

A BRIEF OVERVIEW

U.S. Department of Education 

September 2005
2

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Margaret Spellings 

Secretary 

First published September 2003. Revised September 2005. 

This report 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, International Affairs Staff, Education in the United States: A Brief 

Overview, Washington, D.C., 2005.

To order copies of this report, 

Write to: ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 

1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398; 

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computer diskette. For more information, please contact the Department’s Alternate Format 

Center at (202) 260-9895 or (202) 205-0818. 
3

FOREWORD 

From its earliest days, the United States of America has valued education. Our Founding Fathers 

believed, as do we, that learning promoted liberty. Pioneer settlers built schools so their children 

could become productive citizens. Great expanses of land were set aside to create one of the 

finest systems of higher education in the world. 

This tradition continues. Today, the U.S. educates 54 million students from kindergarten to 

grade 12, and over 17 million in colleges and universities, many of them foreign-born. As we 

do, we are constantly at work to improve the way we teach and learn. 

In 2001, faced with stagnant test scores and an “achievement gap” between rich and poor, 

President Bush led Congress to pass the No Child Left Behind Act. This revolutionary law 

committed our nation to providing every single child with a quality education – something that’s 

never been done before in the history of the United States. 

A revolution in education is taking place in many other nations as well. This is a truly hopeful 

sign. In this Age of Information, a quality education has never been more valuable or highly 

sought. It is the key to unlocking opportunity for an individual, a family or a society. 

As the world becomes closer and more competitive, the United States is eager to learn from other 

nations and cultures, and to share the lessons we’ve learned. That is why we have written this 

booklet. It details the history of education in America, and the unique leadership role played by 

states and local governments under our Constitution. It explains the many different types of 

schools and the great advances being made in teaching and instruction. It tells you what we are 

doing to provide a quality education to all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, family income 

or place of birth. 

I hope you find this information useful and interesting. We invite you to visit our country and 

see for yourself what education means to Americans. In the end, we want to see all of the 

world’s children receive a quality education, so that the 21st century is one of hope, prosperity 

and peace. 

Margaret Spellings 

U.S. Secretary of Education 
4

CONTENTS 

FOREWORD...................................................................................................3 

PREFACE.......................................................................................................5 

INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................6 

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.................................................................................7 

PART I: ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF U.S. EDUCATION..........................12 

Early Childhood Education..................................................................................14 

Elementary and Secondary Education.....................................................................14 

Vocational and Technical Education.......................................................................23 

Postsecondary Education....................................................................................24 

Adult and Continuing Education...........................................................................29 

PART II: EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION.......................................30 

The Role of State Governments............................................................................30 

The Role of Local Governments...........................................................................31 

The Role of the Federal Government......................................................................31 

Others Who Influence Education Policy and Practice...................................................34 

Financing of Education......................................................................................31 

CONCLUSION...............................................................................................39 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES..............................................................................40 

NOTES.........................................................................................................41 

FIGURES......................................................................................................... 

Figure 1: Structure of Education in the United States...................................................12 

Figure 2: Highest Level of Education Attained by Persons 25 Years and Older....................24 

Figure 3: Top 10 Bachelor’s Degrees.....................................................................25 

Figure 4: Funding for Elementary and Secondary Education..........................................36 

Figure 5: Funding for Public Postsecondary Education................................................37 

Figure 6: Funding for Private Postsecondary Education................................................37 

TABLES......................................................................................................... 

Table 1: U.S. Education System at a Glance.............................................................13 

Table 2: Basic Information on U.S. Public School Teachers..........................................22 
5

PREFACE 

The U.S. Department of Education receives many inquiries each year from citizens of other 

countries who wish to better understand education in the United States. Some of these inquiries 

are received via correspondence, while others come from the Department’s many international 

visitors. 

In an effort to address these questions and to provide contextual information, this publication 

aims to briefly describe the important features and general characteristics of education in the 

United States. It is important to note that, due to the highly decentralized nature of U.S. 

education, policies and practices can vary considerably from state to state and from school 

district to school district. This publication cites national averages and general patterns of 

education practice. 

 

To learn about specific policies and practices, readers are encouraged to contact local or state 

education agencies. Internet addresses have been inserted throughout the document for 

additional information on specific topics.
6

INTRODUCTION

The United States has a highly decentralized system of education. The Tenth Amendment 

(1791) of the U.S. Constitution (1787) states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by 

the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to 

the people.” Therefore, the general authority to create and administer public schools is reserved 

for the states. There is no national school system nor are there national framework laws that 

prescribe curricula or control most other aspects of education. The federal government, although 

playing an important role in education, does not establish or license schools or govern 

educational institutions at any level.1

 

The decentralized nature of U.S. education has its origins in the early history of the United 

States. In the 17th and early 18th centuries, what was to become the United States began as 

separate colonies established by settlers from several European countries. In the 13 British 

colonies that formed the original United States, the colonial governments or, in some colonies, 

local communities were responsible for education. It was customary for each locality to 

establish and support its own school(s) and to educate its children according to its own priorities, 

values and needs. This history helps to explain why state and local governments today retain 

primary responsibility for administering elementary and secondary education in the U.S. 

In the pages that follow, you will find a description of the historic No Child Left Behind Act of 

2001. Part I contains a general description of the organization and structure of U.S. education, 

while Part II describes the roles played by all three levels of government in education policy, 

administration and financing, with an emphasis on elementary and secondary education. 
7

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND—THE LAW THAT USHERED IN A NEW ERA 

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (No Child Left Behind)

2

 is a landmark in education reform 

designed to improve student achievement and change the culture of U.S. schools. The law was 

passed by Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President 

George W. Bush on January 8, 2002. 

No Child Left Behind reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—the 

principal federal law affecting education from kindergarten through high school. In amending 

ESEA, the new law represents a sweeping overhaul of federal efforts to support elementary and 

secondary education in the United States. In exchange for federal aid for education, states must 

establish systems of accountability that ensure that funds are used to improve the quality of 

education offered to every child in the state. 

WHY NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND IS IMPORTANT 

From 1965, when Congress first passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, through 

2005, the federal government has spent almost $300 billion to help educate children, particularly 

those who are disadvantaged3

. Despite this investment, the latest National Assessment of 

Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading showed that less than one-third of our fourth-graders 

can read at the proficient or advanced levels. And while NAEP Long-Term Trend data from 

2004 show a narrowing of achievement gaps between white and minority students, these gaps 

remain unacceptably large. 

The good news is that some schools in cities and towns across the nation are achieving strong 

academic results for all their children, including those in socioeconomic subgroups that have a 

history of low performance. If some schools can do it, then all schools should be able to do it. 

That is the purpose of No Child Left Behind. The law is built on four common-sense pillars: 

accountability for results, an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research, 

expanded parental options, and increased local control and flexibility. 

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RESULTS 

IDENTIFIES SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT

As part of the accountability provisions set forth in the law, No Child Left Behind has set the goal 

of having every child achieving proficiency according to state-defined educational standards by 

the end of the 2013–14 school year. To reach that goal, every state has developed benchmarks to 

measure progress and make sure every child is learning. States are required to conduct annual 

assessments in reading and mathematics for students in grades 3–8, and to report results 

disaggregated by various subgroups so that overall averages do not mask a failure to meet the 

educational needs of key student groups. Data is analyzed separately for children of different 

racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, students from economically disadvantaged 

homes, and children who are learning English as a second language. This analysis enables 
8

schools to identify groups of students who need additional assistance to meet the state's academic 

expectations. 

Under No Child Left Behind, schools that do not meet the state's definition of "adequate yearly 

progress" for two straight years (schoolwide or in any major subgroup) are identified as “in need 

of improvement,” and they are given assistance to improve. Annual assessment data help 

schools identify subject areas and teaching methods that need improvement. For example, if 

reading scores do not reach the state's benchmark, the school knows it needs to improve its 

reading program. 

In the past, these schools might not have received the attention and the help they needed to 

improve. Through No Child Left Behind, every state has made a commitment that it will no 

longer ignore when schools are not meeting the needs of every student in their care. 

PROVIDES HELP TO SCHOOLS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT

Title I of ESEA: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged awards grants to 

states and local school districts and schools with the highest concentrations of economically 

disadvantaged students to help them improve the education of disadvantaged students, turn 

around low-performing schools, improve teacher quality and increase choices for parents. When 

a Title I school is found to be "in need of improvement," school officials are required to work 

with parents, school staff, the district and outside experts to develop a plan to improve the 

academic achievement of all the students who attend the school. 

The school's improvement plan must incorporate strategies, relying on scientifically based 

research, that will strengthen the teaching of core academic subjects, especially in the subject 

areas that resulted in the school being designated as in need of improvement. Schools in need of 

improvement are also expected to develop strategies to promote effective parental involvement 

in the school and to incorporate a teacher-mentoring program. 

IMPROVES TEACHING AND LEARNING BY PROVIDING BETTER INFORMATION TO TEACHERS 

AND PRINCIPALS

Annual assessments to measure children's progress provide teachers with independent 

information about each child's strengths and weaknesses. With this knowledge, teachers can 

develop lessons to meet the academic needs of each student and meet or exceed the states’ 

approved content standards and targets. In addition, principals can use the data to assess where 

the school should invest resources, such as in professional development. 

ENSURES THAT TEACHER QUALITY IS A HIGH PRIORITY

No Child Left Behind outlines the minimum qualifications needed by teachers and 

paraprofessionals who work on any facet of classroom instruction. It requires that states develop 

plans to ensure that all teachers of core academic subjects are highly qualified4 by the end of the 

2005–06 school year. 
9

GIVES MORE RESOURCES TO SCHOOLS

Today, local, state and federal taxpayers spend over $8,000 per pupil on average.5 States and 

local school districts are now receiving more federal funding than ever before for all programs 

under No Child Left Behind: $24.4 billion for the 2005–06 school year. This represents an 

increase of 46 percent from 2001 to 2005.6

 Nearly half of these funds are for grants under Title I 

of ESEA: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged to ensure that schools in 

need of improvement have the funds needed to improve instruction for their students. 

SCIENTIFICALLY BASED RESEARCH 

FOCUSES ON WHAT WORKS

No Child Left Behind puts a special emphasis on implementing educational programs and 

practices that have been clearly demonstrated to be effective through rigorous scientific research. 

Federal funding is targeted to support such programs, and schools are expected to use research 

and evidence of effectiveness to identify and select instructional resources, instructional practices 

and professional development strategies. For example, the Reading First program makes $1 

billion in federal funds available each year to help reading teachers in the early grades strengthen 

old skills and gain new ones in instructional techniques that scientifically based research has 

shown to be effective. 

EXPANDED PARENTAL OPTIONS 

PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION FOR PARENTS ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S PROGRESS

Under No Child Left Behind, each state must measure every public school student's progress in 

reading and math in each of grades 3 through 8 and at least once during grades 10 through 12. 

By school year 2007-2008, assessments in science will be added. These assessments must be 

aligned with state academic content and achievement standards. They will provide parents with 

objective data about their child's academic strengths and weaknesses. 

ALERTS PARENTS TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR 

CHILD'S SCHOOL

No Child Left Behind requires states and school districts to give parents easy-to-read, detailed 

report cards on schools and districts, telling them which ones are succeeding and why, and the 

progress they are making. Included in the report cards are student achievement data 

disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, English language proficiency, migrant status, disability 

status and low-income status, as well as important information about the professional 

qualifications of teachers. With these provisions, No Child Left Behind ensures that parents have 

important, timely information about the performance of the schools their children attend. 
10

GIVES PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOLS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT 

NEW OPTIONS

In the first year that a Title I school is identified as in need of improvement, parents receive the 

option to transfer their child to another public school, including a charter school, in the same 

school district. Transportation must be provided to the new school, subject to certain cost 

limitations. If a Title I school is identified for improvement for two or more years, it must 

provide public school choice and offer students from low-income families who remain in the 

school the option of obtaining free supplemental educational services (tutoring).

EXPANDED FLEXIBILITY AND LOCAL CONTROL 

ALLOWS MORE FLEXIBILITY

In exchange for strong accountability, No Child Left Behind gives states and local school districts 

more flexibility in the use of their federal funding. As a result, principals and administrators 

spend less time filling out forms and have more time to devote to students’ needs. They have 

more freedom to implement innovations and allocate resources as policymakers at the state and 

local levels see fit, thereby giving local people a greater opportunity to affect decisions regarding 

their schools’ programs. 

ENCOURAGES TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

No Child Left Behind gives states and districts the flexibility to find innovative ways to improve 

teacher quality, including alternative certification, merit pay for master teachers, and bonuses for 

people who teach in high-need schools and core subject areas like math and science. 

 

The Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program (from Title II of the reauthorized ESEA) 

gives states and districts flexibility to choose the teacher professional development strategies that 

best meet their needs to help raise student achievement. 
11

PART I: ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION 

The structure of education in the United States provides different paths to graduation from high 

school or a postsecondary institution (see Figure 1 below), and it is common for students to 

move between different types of schools, or to leave the system and return later in life. 

Figure 1: Structure of Education in the United States 

 

 

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Figure 1. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 

2004). Note: Adult education programs, while not separately delineated above, may provide instruction at the 

elementary, secondary or higher education levels. Chart reflects typical patterns of progression rather than all 

possible variations. Numbers in parentheses represent the number of years spent in elementary and secondary 

schools, depending on the path being followed. 
12

Table 1: U.S. Education System at a Glance 

 

Total elementary and secondary school 

enrollment 

54 milliona

Percentage of population age 6-17 enrolled in 

school 

98 percentb

Number of elementary and secondary school 

teachers (public and private) 

3.4 millionc

Number of public elementary and secondary 

schools 

96,000d

Number of private elementary and secondary 

schools 

29,000e

Percentage of elementary and secondary 

students attending private schoolsf 

 12percentg

Average expenditure per pupil in public 

elementary/secondary school 

$8200h

Number of public school districts 15,000i 

Number of higher education students 17 millionj

Number of 2-year colleges 1,700k

Number of 4-year colleges and universities 2,500l

Percentage of adults over age 25 who have 

completed at least 5 years of elementary school 

98 percentm 

Percentage of adults over age 25 who have 

completed at least high school 

85 percentn

Percentage of adults over age 25 who have 

completed 4 or more years of college 

27 percento

Sources: Data from: 2004 Digest of Education Statistics. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, 

National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2005); 2000 Condition of Education. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 

2000); and Findings from the Condition of Education: 2002 Private Schools—A Brief Portrait. (Washington, D.C.: 

NCES, 2002). Figures have been slightly rounded. 

(a) Digest, Table 2 

(b) Condition, Table 1-1 

(c) Digest, Table 4 (2003 Digest) 

(d) Digest, Table 5 

(e) Digest, Table 5 

(f) See page 18 for a description of private schools. 

(g) Digest, Table 2 

(h) Digest, Table 166 

(i) Digest, Table 87 (2003 Digest) 

(j) Digest, Table 2 

(k) Digest, Table 5 

(l) Digest, Table 5 

(m) Digest, Table 8 

(n) Digest, Table 8 

(o) Digest, Table 8 
13

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 

Early childhood education (preprimary) in the United States comes in a variety of forms, 

including nursery school, preschool, day care centers, prekindergarten and kindergarten. It also 

includes Head Start, a federally funded child development program that serves low-income 

children. Free Head Start programs are offered for 3- and 4-year-old children from low-income 

families. The Early Reading First program provides federal funds to enhance instructional 

content in early childhood education settings, thus helping to ensure that children start 

kindergarten with the language and literacy skills needed for later academic success. Overall, 64 

percent of 3- to 5-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood education and 52 percent of these 

children attend full-day programs.7

 

The majority of 5-year-olds attend free public kindergartens.8

 Most public elementary schools 

offer free kindergarten education, and the average class size is 20 students.9

 Almost all public 

school kindergartens report that teachers read stories aloud to the children each day. The 

majority also arrange for the students to engage each day in running, climbing and other motor 

skill activities; language development, dramatic play, arts, crafts and music; and free play. 

For more information on Head Start, see www.headstartinfo.org/index.htm. 

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION 

BASIC INFORMATION

Elementary (primary) and secondary education spans twelve academic years, or grades. 

However, the organization of elementary and secondary education varies among school districts 

and states. Generally students spend from six to eight years in elementary education. Elementary 

education is followed by four to six years of secondary education. The last four years of 

secondary school are generally referred to as “high school.” Students normally complete high 

school by age 17 or 18. High school graduates who decide to continue their education may enter 

a technical or vocational institution, a two-year community or junior college, or a four-year 

college or university. Each of these educational levels is further described later. 

The average public elementary school enrolls 477 pupils.10 The grade levels included in 

elementary school vary by district, based on educational philosophy and school building size. 

The average public secondary school enrolls 7,18 students.11 Secondary education is usually 

broken into two parts: middle school (or junior high school) and high school. Middle school 

usually encompasses grades 6-8 or 7-8, depending on the district. High school typically includes 

grades 9-12.12 

All states require students to attend school, but the ages of compulsory attendance vary by state. 

Compulsory schooling ends by law at age 16 in 30 states, at age 17 in nine states, and at age 18 

in 11 states plus the District of Columbia. U.S. public schools are tax-supported and free to 

students and their families. 
14

Students borrow free textbooks from the school for the year, but they must bring their own paper 

and pencils from home. In most public schools, students are allowed to wear whatever clothing 

they like within broad guidelines, while a small but growing number of public schools require 

uniforms. Boys and girls generally attend class together, although a small number of public 

schools do provide single-sex classes. 

School Calendar and Daily Routine. In most states, the school year lasts 180 days13. School 

begins in most districts in late August or early September and continues until June, and most 

school districts have a two-week break at the end of December and a one-week break in March 

or April. Generally, the school day runs from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; however, daily schedules 

vary significantly from school to school. 

Most elementary school students study in the same classroom all day with one teacher who 

teaches all subjects. The class may visit the gymnasium and library once or twice a week. 

Students have a daily lunch break of about 30 minutes. Most schools have one or two 

playground breaks, although playground time is being reduced or eliminated in a growing 

number of schools for a variety of reasons. In most elementary schools, daily instructional time 

is not divided into periods; instead, teachers decide how much time to spend teaching particular 

subjects based on students’ learning needs and their own expertise. 

 

The secondary school day usually consists of five to six instructional periods, with short breaks 

between periods. Each secondary school student has a unique schedule and set of classes, which 

is determined by the parents, school counselor and student, based upon local graduation 

requirements and the student’s interests, career goals and academic ability. Middle and 

secondary school teachers remain in their own classrooms throughout the day and teach 

specialized subjects rather than the whole curriculum. At the end of each period, every student 

moves to a different classroom depending on his or her own schedule. 

Students generally eat lunch in the school cafeteria. Some students bring their lunch from home, 

and others purchase their meals at school. About a third of U.S. students—those from lowincome families—receive free or reduced-price breakfast and/or lunch each day, paid for by the 

federal government.14 For more information on the federal programs that provide school meals, 

see www.fns.usda.gov/cnd. 

Student Transportation. For students attending schools located beyond walking distance from 

their homes, transportation via school bus is generally provided free of charge by the school 

district. More than half of U.S. public elementary and secondary students use this service to 

travel to and from school each day.15 Many parents drive their children to school, while many 

students age 16 and older drive themselves. 

Extracurricular Activities. Many schools, especially at the secondary level, sponsor activities 

such as sports, clubs, performing arts and community service opportunities. In some school 

districts, prospective graduates are encouraged or required to perform a prescribed number of 

hours of community service. 
15

In addition to attending school, many high school students work limited hours at part-time jobs 

during the academic year. For example, 68 percent of 12th-grade students work during the 

academic year, with 77 percent of students working fewer than 20 hours per week.16 Food 

service, grocery clerk and retail sales are the most common types of work for high school 

students.17 Persons under the age of 18 are considered minors under U.S. law, and federal and 

state child labor laws strictly govern the types of work minors can perform, how it is supervised 

and how long they can work for pay. 

CURRICULUM 

States set broad curriculum guidelines for what students should know and be able to do. School 

districts or schools generally select textbooks, adhering to state guidelines. Within these 

guidelines, schools, and even individual teachers, are generally expected to determine content 

details and the pace of instruction so that it is suited to the characteristics of students. 

Elementary schools do not generally assign students to specific teachers or classes based on their 

ability. However, within classes, teachers often set up reading or mathematics groups based on 

student achievement levels. Students in different achievement groups may receive differentiated 

assignments so that they can progress at an appropriate pace in mastering the class curriculum. 

At the secondary school level, each student’s coursework is generally composed of courses 

required for graduation—with requirements varying by district and state—and elective courses. 

As a statistical average, public high school students complete the following one-year-long 

courses between 9th and 12th grades: four years of English; four years of history or social 

studies; three years of mathematics; three years of science; two years of foreign language; two 

years of the arts; four years of vocational, technical or business education; one year of computer 

science; and two to three years of other subjects.18

Most students graduate from high school at the age of 17 or 18.19 Some students graduate from 

school later because they have been retained in grade. Others drop out and return to school a 

year or two later, or drop out and decide to complete the General Educational Development 

(GED) certificate program, which is recognized in all states as the equivalent of a high school 

diploma.20 

ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT

 

Standards. During the 1990s, most states made significant gains in the use of standards to define 

educational inputs and desired outcomes. By 2001, almost all states, plus the District of 

Columbia, had developed and put in place academic standards that described what students 

should know and be able to do in mathematics, language arts, science and social studies. Most 

states also now have content standards that describe the body of knowledge that all students 

should know, and achievement standards that describe what level of performance is considered 

basic, proficient and advanced. (The exact terms used vary by school system.) Despite significant 

progress in setting academic standards, debate often takes place over whether standards are too 

high, too low, clear enough or sufficiently relevant. 
16

Grading. Students receive classroom grades to describe their academic performance in each 

subject area. The grading system used is generally on a letter scale, with “A” being the highest 

and “F” being the lowest and representing failure. Letter grades are often converted into numeric 

“grade point averages” (“GPAs”)—especially at the secondary school level—to describe a 

student’s overall performance. In this case, A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1 and F=0, with a 4.0 grade 

point average indicating a perfect grade record. Grading generally assumes a starting point of 

100, or perfect, and subtracts points for mistakes or poor-quality reasoning, rather than assuming 

a starting point of zero and adding points, as in some other grading systems. Typically, 

classroom teachers are entirely responsible for determining grades, basing their decisions on the 

quality of a student’s work, classroom test scores and level of participation. 

Promotion. A student’s promotion to the next year of schooling is based primarily on his or her 

classroom grades. If a student’s grades are poor and the teacher believes that he or she is not 

ready to be promoted to the next grade, the student may be retained. Parents also generally play 

an important role in making such a decision. Students are most likely to be retained during the 

early grades of elementary school. Some states require students to pass an examination in order 

to graduate from secondary school.21 These examinations vary in content, format and rigor. 

Student Achievement Testing. States administer tests on a regular basis to assess student 

performance at designated grade levels. One of the key factors determining the relevance of a 

state’s testing regimen is its alignment with the state’s academic content and achievement 

standards. Achieving this alignment is often challenging due to the time and expense required. 

Some states use tests purchased from a commercial test developer, while others develop original 

test instruments that are specifically designed to measure state standards. Another challenge is 

how to define and ensure test quality. For example, states must determine whether tests will 

primarily contain open-ended essay questions and mathematical problems, or multiple-choice 

questions. 

The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires states to test all students in reading and 

mathematics in grades 3–8 and at least once in high school. Science assessments will be required 

at least once during grades 3–5, 6–9, and 10–12 starting in the 2007–08 school year. Each state, 

school district and school is expected to make adequate yearly progress toward meeting state 

standards in these subject areas and to measure this progress for all students. Special focus is 

placed on the progress of students who are economically disadvantaged, are from racial or ethnic 

minority groups, have disabilities or have limited English proficiency. 

The results of state-level tests do not generally affect an individual student’s grades or promotion 

but instead are used to assess the educational quality in a school, a district or the entire state. In 

many communities, the media report the results of districts’ or schools’ performance on 

standardized measures. 

National-level student assessment takes place through the National Assessment of Educational 

Progress (NAEP), which includes a random sample of U.S. schools and is designed to provide 

the public with information on the nation’s progress in a number of subjects. NAEP does not 

provide scores for individual students or schools; instead, it offers results regarding subjectmatter achievement, instructional experiences and school environment for populations of 
17

students (e.g., fourth-graders) and subgroups of those populations (e.g., female students, 

Hispanic students). 

In 1988, the Congress passed legislation enabling NAEP to assess student performance also at 

the state level, and in 2002, NCLB added a requirement for state-level NAEP testing as a 

benchmark for the rigor of state assessment systems. Many schools also participate in 

international assessments to measure how well U.S. students perform in comparison to students 

in other countries. 

For more information on NAEP, see http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/. For information on 

such international assessments, see http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/international. 

SCHOOL CHOICE

Public school districts generally assign students to particular schools based on place of residence, 

and those schools generally accept all students assigned to them. Nonetheless, in an effort to 

provide parents with more options for their children, many state governments and public school 

systems expand school choice through options such as open enrollment programs, magnet 

schools, charter schools, virtual schools, dual enrollment programs, scholarship programs 

(“vouchers”) and tax credit/deduction programs. 

 

 Open enrollment programs allow parents the opportunity to choose from among all 

schools in their district, or even from among schools in other districts in their state. 

 Magnet schools are public elementary or secondary schools that offer a special 

curriculum capable of attracting substantial numbers of students of different racial and 

socioeconomic backgrounds. 

 Charter schools are public schools that provide enhanced parental choice and are exempt 

from many statutory and regulatory requirements. In exchange for increased flexibility, 

charter schools are held accountable for improving student academic achievement. The 

objective is to replace rules-based governance with performance-based accountability. 

 Virtual schools are education organizations that provide online learning opportunities 

offering benefits and access to a broad range of students. 

 Dual enrollment programs give high school students the opportunity to attend college 

classes and receive both high school and postsecondary credit.

 Scholarship programs, also known as “vouchers,” direct public education funding to 

parents in order to pay all or part of their child’s tuition at a school of their choice. 

Depending on the program, parents can choose from private schools—either secular or 

religious—and from public schools. 

 Tax credit/deduction programs reimburse education expenses fully or partially via tax 

relief. Tax credits or deductions may be available to individual or corporate taxpayers 
18

who contribute to scholarship-granting organizations, or to parent taxpayers to help pay 

for education-related costs, including private school tuition. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

Public school choice programs provide parents with additional options as to where to enroll their 

children. Although such programs have not been available everywhere, the proportion of public 

school children attending a chosen school (rather than the school assigned by their place of 

residence) has increased in recent years. In 2003, for example, 15 percent of public school 

students in grades 1–12 attended a school the family had chosen, up from 11 percent in 1993.22

With the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, public school choice has taken on a 

new dimension. Now all children who attend Title I schools identified by their states as in need 

of improvement must be offered the option of transferring to another school in the district not 

identified for improvement. (Title I schools are those schools that receive federal funds under 

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act [ESEA]: Improving the Academic 

Achievement of the Disadvantaged. Title I supports programs to improve the academic 

achievement of children of low-income families; and currently about 55 percent of U.S. public 

schools receive funds under Title I.) 

No Child Left Behind also provides eligible parents with the option to enroll their children in free 

tutoring programs through the supplemental educational services provisions of Title I. Lowincome families whose children attend Title I schools in year two of improvement or later are 

eligible for supplemental educational services, which are extra academic enrichment services 

offered outside of the regular school day. The services must be research-based and aligned with 

state standards and local curriculum, and their goal is to help students improve their academic 

achievement while also offering parents the option of selecting the education program that best 

meets their children’s needs. 

For additional information on school choice, see http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice/index.html. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Private schools were the original schools in the U.S. and continue to provide parents a variety of 

options for educating their children. Private schools account for about 24 percent of all 

elementary and secondary schools, 10 percent of all students and 12 percent of all teachers in the 

United States. Seventy-seven percent of all private schools have a religious affiliation while the 

remainder are nonsectarian.23 Private schools are owned and governed by entities that are 

independent of any government—typically religious bodies or independent boards of trustees. 

Choice is a defining characteristic of private schools as families may choose private education, 

and private schools may generally choose which students to accept. Although nonpublic 

governance and enrollment choices are features that all private schools share, there is wide 

variation within the private sector on many measures. 

Private schools receive funding primarily from nonpublic sources: tuition payments and other 

private sources, such as foundations, religious bodies, alumni or other private donors. Average 
19

annual tuition costs at private elementary and secondary schools are $4,689 per pupil,24 although 

tuition rates for individual schools can be less or significantly more than this average. 

In addition, a growing number (about 2 percent) of U.S. students ages 5–17 receive their 

education through homeschooling. Parents cite several primary motivations for selecting 

homeschooling for their children. These include, among others, concerns about the environment 

of other schools (including safety, drugs, and negative peer pressure); religious and moral 

beliefs; and dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools.25 

For more information on private schools, see 

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/nonpublic/index.html.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

A number of federal laws govern the provision of educational services to students with 

disabilities and specifically prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities or 

institutions that are recipients of federal financial assistance. The primary federal governing 

legislation for special education is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended in 

2004. 

About 96 percent of students with disabilities attend regular schools, while only 4 percent attend 

separate institutions dedicated to education for students with disabilities.26 Among those students 

attending local public schools, most are educated in regular classes with appropriate aids and 

supports, such as designated periods of time meeting with a qualified special education teacher. 

The amount of time spent outside the regular classroom varies and depends on the needs of the 

student. About half of all students with disabilities spend 80 percent or more of their day in 

regular classrooms.27 

For more information about special education, including federal laws prohibiting discrimination 

against persons with disabilities, see the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special 

Education Programs Web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html and 

its Office for Civil Rights Web site at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/aboutocr.html. 

GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION

Special services are often also provided for students that are specially gifted or talented. Gifted 

and talented students are usually served via special programs in regular school settings. About 6 

percent of U.S. students benefit from these services.28 In some states, special services for gifted 

and talented students are included under the state’s special education law. 

OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Religion and Schools. The U.S. Constitution calls for a separation between government and 

religion; therefore, public schools are not allowed to have a religious affiliation or teach religious 

doctrine. (They may, however, teach about religions as part of academic studies such as history, 

social studies or literature.) Parents who desire a religiously oriented education for their children 
20

may send them to private religious schools instead of public schools or may homeschool their 

children, as described above. 

Student Diversity. Students in U.S. schools represent nearly every ethnic background and 

nationality in the world. The most diverse school districts are those in major metropolitan areas 

such as Los Angeles, New York, Washington and Chicago, but diverse student populations are 

increasingly found even in smaller cities, towns and rural areas. As a national average, U.S. 

students in public schools are 60 percent white, 17 percent black, 17 percent Hispanic, 4 percent 

Asian or Pacific Islander and 1 percent American Indian or Alaskan Native.29 However, the 

population characteristics of a given local school or district often vary from the national average. 

In the United States, English is clearly the predominant language for government, business, 

society and instruction. English is taught to all students in U.S. schools, but more than 400 

native languages other than English are represented in these same schools.30 In some schools, 

especially at the elementary level, students with limited English proficiency receive content 

instruction in their native language while they learn English. More than 9 percent of public 

school students (prekindergarten through 12th grade) are considered to have limited English 

proficiency. 31 

For more information, see the Web site for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English 

Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English 

Proficient Students at www.ed.gov/offices/OELA. 

English Language Proficiency. There are approximately five million non-English speaking or 

limited English proficient (LEP) students who attend U.S. public schools. Although there are 

over 400 languages spoken by children throughout the United States, 80 percent of LEP children 

are native Spanish speakers. The annual growth rate of the LEP population in America has 

hovered at 10 percent over the past five years. To date, it is the fastest-growing student group in 

the country. About 52 percent of the children are born in the U.S., while the other 48 percent 

come to U.S. schools from other countries at different times and enter at different grade levels 

throughout the year. Currently, one in every nine students in the classroom is LEP and the 

numbers are projected to increase to one in five by the year 2030. According to a descriptive 

study titled: Descriptive Study of Services to LEP Students and LEP Students with Disabilities

commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education published September 2003, 43 percent of all 

teachers in the nation have at least one non-English speaking student in the classroom.32

Historically, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to accurately calculate the drop-out rate or 

the graduation and completion rates of America’s limited English proficient students. 

For the first time, with No Child Left Behind public education legislation, specifically addresses 

the English language proficiency and academic achievement of limited English proficient 

students and their families. NCLB Title III annually distributes formula grant funds to states for 

limited English proficient students who are identified by the state through a language assessment 

and requires the state to develop a system within the state that focuses on two legislated goals: 

that all limited English proficient children learn English and that they achieve at the same high 

academic level established by the state for all students. Currently, states are actively engaged in 
21

including LEP students in the their accountability systems and measuring and reporting their 

language acquisition progress and academic success. 

Parental Involvement. Parents’ involvement in the schools and in their children’s education is 

generally encouraged by principals and teachers. Most parents attend general school meetings 

and parent-teacher conferences each year, and many volunteer at their children’s school by 

tutoring, presenting special programs of interest, supervising students on field trips or assisting 

with special events. 33 Parents of children with disabilities must be involved in the development 

of their child’s specially designed instruction, which is referred to as the child’s Individualized 

Education Program. There are also organizations—such as parent-teacher associations—that 

work to support schools and increase the involvement of families in the educational progress of 

their children. 

Technology. The use of technology is widespread in U.S. elementary and secondary schools, as 

well as in colleges and universities. Students use computers to write reports, collaborate with 

classmates, conduct research on the Internet and engage in many other activities. In fall 2003, 

nearly 100 percent of public schools had access to the Internet, while 93 percent of public school 

instructional rooms had Internet access. While technology in schools has become increasingly 

common, several related challenges have presented themselves. These challenges include 

providing adequate training to teachers on how to effectively integrate technology into the 

curriculum and ensuring that the benefits of educational technology are available to students of 

all socioeconomic backgrounds. For more information on current activities in applying 

technology to U.S. classrooms, see the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational 

Technology Web site at www.ed.gov/Technology/.

TEACHERS AND TEACHING

U.S. elementary and secondary school teachers receive their preservice training at four-year 

colleges and universities. Although the requirements for coursework and practice teaching vary 

by university and state, most prospective teachers must complete an undergraduate degree and 

pass one or more examinations in order to be licensed. A growing number of states and some 

school districts have developed alternative certification programs or routes to train prospective 

teachers. 

 

The majority of public school teachers earn master’s degrees and complete additional training 

during their careers.34. In general, public school teachers are required to be licensed by the 

teacher certification authority of the state in which they teach. The No Child Left Behind Act

also addresses the issue of teacher quality and establishes certain requirements designed to 

ensure that all students have high-quality teachers. 
22

Table 2: Basic Information on U.S. Public School Teachers 

Median age 44 years 

Gender Women 79%, Men 21% 

Highest degree held Bachelor’s 44%, Master’s 55%, Doctorate 1.7% 

Median years of teaching experience 14 years 

Average hours per week spent on teaching 

duties 

50 hours 

Average teaching days per year 181 days 

Average annual salary as a classroom teacher $43,262 

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Table 69. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 

2004). 

Each state administers its own teacher certification exam. Teachers certified in one state are not 

certified to teach in another state, unless there is a special reciprocity agreement between the 

states. Since reciprocity is rare, teachers moving to another state are usually required to 

complete additional coursework and another exam. To obtain employment, prospective teachers 

apply to and are hired by the public school district in which they wish to teach or the individual 

private school. Most teachers teach the same grade and subject for several years, and they rarely 

teach the same students for more than a year. Due to teacher retirements, attrition, increased 

student enrollments and other factors, teacher recruitment and teacher quality are currently 

important issues in the United States. 

On average, teachers make up 52 percent of the staff in U.S. school districts.35 District-level 

administrators make up 2 percent; principals and assistant principals 2 percent; teacher aides 11 

percent; and other staff 33 percent.36

VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION 

Historically, the purpose of vocational education has been to prepare students for entry-level jobs 

in occupations requiring less than an undergraduate degree. However, this traditional focus has 

now shifted toward broader preparation that develops the academic, vocational and technical 

skills of students in vocational education programs. Vocational and technical education is 

offered at the secondary, postsecondary and adult education levels. 

At the secondary school level, most every public school, and many private and charter schools, 

offer one or more vocational education programs and/or courses. Many states fund area 

vocational centers where students can enroll in vocational education programs on a part-time 

basis. Some states have well-developed vocational education programs with apprenticeships or 

work-based learning opportunities. In these states, most public high school students in 

vocational education programs work in part-time situations jointly supervised by teachers and 
23

employers during their senior year (grade 12) of high school. These work experiences may be 

provided by the school or obtained independently by the student. Different types of work-based 

learning experiences can be offered, including internships, apprenticeships and mentoring. U.S. 

child labor laws, previously mentioned, limit the level and intensity of vocational instruction that 

can be provided to students under 18 years of age. As a consequence, most occupationally 

specific vocational education programs——especially for licensed occupations—are at the 

postsecondary level. 

At the postsecondary and adult education levels, thousands of institutions and other providers 

offer degree and non-degree vocational and technical training. These institutions include public 

community colleges and vocational/technical institutes, as well as private trade and technical 

schools, employers, unions, professional associations and independent training services. 

Postsecondary vocational education generally prepares students for occupational fields and 

terminates in a certificate, diploma or associate degree. Such fields include the craft and 

industrial trades, certain areas of health care, equipment operation and personal services. Given 

the need in many career fields for individuals with some education beyond high school, an 

increasing number of vocational education programs are preparing students for entry into higher 

education programs. This is generally true for fields such as nursing and engineering 

technology, courses which are often available at both the community college and university 

levels. 

For more information, see Vocational Education in the United States: Toward the Year 2000 at 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2000029. Also, see the Web site for the U.S. 

Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education at 

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/grntprgm.html. 
24

Figure 2: Highest Level of Education Attained by Persons 25 Years and Older 

 

Doctorate

1%

Professional 

Degree

2%

Master's Degree

6%

Associate Degree

8%

Some College

17%

High School 

Graduate

32%

Not High School 

Graduate

16%

Bachelor's 

Degree

18%

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Figure 5. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 

2004). Figures have been slightly rounded. [GRAPHIC DESIGNER: A couple of the number labels were revised. 

Because the number changes were so small, the size of the pie slices probably didn’t change noticeably] 

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION 

Postsecondary education in the United States is widespread and diverse. There are approximately 

9,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States.37 This total includes over 4,000 degreegranting institutions,38 such as colleges, universities39 and community colleges, and over 5,000 

non-degree-granting institutions that provide specific vocational, technical and career training. 

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

There are more than 600 public and 1,700 private, four-year colleges and universities in the 

United States.40 The academic titles awarded by these institutions include undergraduate degrees 

such as the bachelor’s degree and graduate degrees such as the master’s degree and the doctorate. 

U.S. degree titles are not governed by national laws; therefore, colleges and universities exercise 

wide discretion in the nomenclature they use for degrees and program requirements for 

graduation. Accrediting associations, described below, may exert some influence on degree 

titles, as do the labor market and the professional academic community. 

Undergraduate Degrees. The basic undergraduate degree in the United States is the bachelor’s 

degree. It generally requires four or more years of full-time study. The associate degree, which

is offered at community colleges, described below, typically requires two years of full-time 

study. 
25

Figure 3: Top 10 Bachelor’s Degrees 

60256

281330

62791

106383

59481

53162

70517

76671

132874

66773

0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000

Biology / Life Sciences

Business

Communications

Education

Engineering

English Language / Literature

Health Sciences

Psychology

Social Sciences

Visual and Performing Arts 

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Table 252. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 2003). 

Graduate Degrees. The basic graduate degree is the master’s degree, which usually requires 

one to two years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree. The research doctorate degree

(Ph.D. or equivalent) usually requires a minimum of five to seven years beyond the bachelor's. 

However, the total time required can vary significantly depending on the institution, student and 

field of study. 

Education and training for professional occupations can take place at the undergraduate or 

graduate level. For example, engineering, the engineering technology fields, nursing and 

accounting generally require an undergraduate degree. Architecture and teacher education 

require a bachelor’s or a master’s degree depending on the entry point, and a first professional 

degree following a prior undergraduate degree is required to become a physician, dentist or 

attorney. 

Admissions. Regardless of place of residence, all students are free to apply for admission to 

higher education institutions located anywhere in the country. However, tuition and fees at 

public universities are generally higher for out-of-state residents. Although a number of factors 

are weighed when institutions consider students for admission, decisions generally take into 

account the following: 

 success in appropriate secondary school coursework (e.g., types of courses taken and 

grade point average); 

 scores on standardized tests, which are designed to determine a student’s aptitude for 

success in postsecondary education (e.g., Scholastic Aptitude Test [SAT]); 

 recommendation letters from teachers and others; 
26

 student-written essays; and 

 demonstration of leadership potential and participation in extracurricular activities (e.g. 

student government, school newspapers, sports teams, clubs, artistic activities and 

volunteering in the community). 

For a searchable list of accredited colleges and universities in the United States, see 

http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The community college system originated in the United States in the early 20th century. 

Community colleges (sometimes called junior colleges) fulfill several key missions: (a) form a 

transitional academic link between high school and the university; (b) offer vocational and 

technical training; (c) provide adult and community education services; and (d) 

serve the education and training needs of local employers. They generally offer two-year degree 

programs leading to the associate degree, as well as short certificate and diploma programs in a 

variety of academic and vocational fields. There are approximately 1,100 public and 700 private 

two-year colleges in the United States.41 

Many students enroll in the community colleges to acquire or update specific job skills, attain 

basic skills and pursue personal interests, while others complete one or two years of study at a 

community college before transferring to a four-year college or university to complete the 

remainder of a bachelor’s degree program. Most community colleges also offer GED programs 

and adult literacy programs. Community colleges generally attempt to be responsive to the 

community in which they operate, offering coursework that addresses the needs of local citizens 

and employers. 

For additional information on community colleges, see 

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Template.cfm?section=AboutCommunityColleges. 

FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS 

In addition to public institutions and private nonprofit institutions, the U.S. higher education 

sector also includes private for-profit institutions often referred to as “proprietary schools.” 

Proprietary schools are especially prevalent at the non-degree level, where they comprise about 

70 percent of such institutions. At the college and university level, 19 percent42 of institutions 

are for-profit, but they enroll only about 3 percent43 of all college and university students. 

Proprietary vocational schools offer practical training in specific fields, such as business 

administration and computer technology, and degrees in a number of subject areas. Degreegranting proprietary colleges and universities offer a range of awards—from certificates that can 

be earned in a week to undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

Most schools offer programs that are available at night or on weekends so that classes fit into the 

schedules of working adults, and some schools offer instruction via distance education. While 

they also offer courses designed to strengthen general competencies, proprietary schools 
27

continue to be market-driven institutions that primarily provide students with career-focused 

programs of study. A growing number of proprietary institutions are accredited by recognized 

accrediting associations. 

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE

All private and most public institutions at the postsecondary level are chartered or licensed as 

corporations under U.S. law and are legally independent and self-governing in terms of academic 

affairs, administration, fund-raising, resource allocation and public relations. Institutions are 

generally governed by a board of citizens—often called a “Board of Trustees” or “Board of 

Regents.” This governing board is the highest authority for institutional policy, although other 

lesser boards—such as those composed by faculty or students—also generally participate in 

governance to varying degrees. The Board of Trustees (or Regents) is generally responsible for 

hiring the institution’s chief executive officer (president). 

Administrative staff, including the president or chief executive officer, deal primarily with nonacademic matters and delegate academic concerns to the academic deans, department chairs and 

faculty. Oversight boards have the ultimate responsibility to vote on hiring staff and faculty, and 

to approve decisions on hiring, promotion, tenure, discipline, and the granting of degrees. 

However, in practice, they rarely go against the decisions of the faculty and deans unless there is 

compelling reason to do so, such as the violation of institutional regulations or civil rights.

Degree-granting institutions generally depend on the following sources of income: student 

tuition and fees, government funding, institutional investments and holdings, private gifts and 

grants, and auxiliary enterprises.44 Research institutions also receive money from grants and 

contracts with government and the private sector, and teaching institutions may earn money from 

providing instructional services to employers. Almost all institutions, public or private, charge 

tuition, with tuition being relatively lower at public institutions than at private institutions. 

 

PAYING FOR COLLEGE 

Many college students obtain part-time employment to help pay for their studies, while others 

also receive grants, scholarships and loans to help meet expenses. More than half of all U.S. 

undergraduate students—55 percent—receive some form of financial aid to help pay education 

costs, as do 60 percent of all graduate students.45 Scholarships and grants are generally awarded 

by a variety of nongovernmental organizations, as well as by states. However, the largest single 

source of such student financial aid is the federal government, which provides more than $73 

billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance.46 

For more information on student financial aid, see www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/fsa/index.html. 
28

HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION

The United States has no centralized authority exercising national control over postsecondary 

educational institutions. The states assume varying degrees of control over education, but, in 

general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence 

and autonomy. As a consequence, U.S. educational institutions can vary widely in their missions 

and the quality of their programs. 

In order to ensure a basic level of quality, the practice of voluntary accreditation arose in the 

United States as a means of conducting nongovernmental, peer evaluation of educational 

institutions and programs. The entities that conduct accreditation are associations of higher 

education institutions and academic specialists. These associations define procedures for 

assessing the quality of institutions and programs and formally recognize those institutions 

meeting their standards while withholding or withdrawing recognition from those that do not. 

Institutions that have been accredited generally have an advantage over non-accredited 

institutions with regard to student recruitment, receipt of federal and state funds and their general 

public image. All recognized accrediting associations are members of the Council on Higher 

Education Accreditation (CHEA), and a list of those entities recognized by the U.S. Secretary of 

Education is published annually. 

For more information on accreditation, see www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html and 

http://wwwchea.org. 

STUDY ABROAD AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

More than 170,000 U.S. college and university students earn academic credit each year through 

study at postsecondary institutions in other countries. The top five destinations for 

undergraduate students are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Australia, and the most 

popular fields of study are the social sciences, business and management, and the humanities. 

The number of U.S. students going abroad has more than doubled in the past decade and 

continues to rise.47

 The United States welcomes more than 550,000 international students to study at U.S. colleges 

and universities each year. The top five countries of origin for undergraduate students are China, 

India, Japan, South Korea and Canada, and the most popular fields of study are business and 

management, engineering, and math and computer sciences.48 

For further information, refer to http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/. 
29

ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION 

Adult education encompasses a wide variety of educational services for adult learners and 

extends across all educational levels, subjects and purposes. Services are generally oriented to 

meet the needs of mature adults who have life, work and family experience but who desire 

additional education in order to improve knowledge and skills for personal or work-related 

reasons. 

Adult basic education provides instruction in reading, math, writing and critical thinking skills at 

or below the level of secondary school completion. Adult basic education applies particularly to 

school dropouts and to immigrants whose prior educational opportunities were limited. Many of 

these foreign-born adults also require basic instruction in listening, speaking, reading, and 

writing to improve English language proficiency. 

Adult secondary education programs are designed for students, 16 years and older, who did not 

complete high school. These credential programs include the General Educational Development (GED) 

program, the National External Diploma Program (EDP) and the Adult High School Credit Diploma 

Program. 

For additional information, see the Web site for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of 

Vocational and Adult Education at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html. 

Adult continuing education generally refers to education provided for adults who have already 

graduated with a secondary school diploma or a higher education degree. Continuing education 

may be at the undergraduate or graduate levels and usually consists of individual courses, 

certificate programs or degree programs for students seeking improved work-related skills, new 

skills to change careers or personal enrichment. In the United States, such programs are 

provided by postsecondary education institutions, employers, private training institutions and 

adult education centers. 

Continuing professional education (CPE) is a special type of adult continuing education 

provided to professionals working in licensed occupations. These professions generally require 

practitioners to complete refresher courses on a regular basis in order to have their licenses 

renewed. 
30

PART II: EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION 

The United States is composed of 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. As 

mentioned earlier in the Introduction, education in the United States is highly decentralized. 

Each state has authority to make and implement education policy within its jurisdiction so long 

as such policy does not violate the provisions of the U.S. Constitution or federal law. 

The following pages briefly explain the roles of the three levels of government in making and 

implementing education policy, beginning with the state level and subsequently addressing the 

local and federal levels. Part II ends with a short description of the roles played by 

nongovernmental organizations and the courts, as well as a brief section on the financing of 

education. 

THE ROLE OF STATE GOVERNMENTS 

In most states, the topic of education is addressed in the state constitution, with the state 

legislature having the ultimate authority over education matters. This authority includes enacting 

education-related legislation and appropriating state funds for education. 

State Legislatures. Generally, state legislatures delegate a significant amount of policy-making 

authority to the state board of education. State boards of education are bodies of citizens 

appointed by the legislature or governor, or popularly elected, depending on the state. The state 

board is responsible for approving statewide educational policies and determining budget 

priorities. In some cases the state board is responsible for all levels of education, including 

vocational and postsecondary education, while in many states the board concentrates on 

education at the elementary and secondary levels.49 

State Departments of Education. Most states have a state department of education that serves 

as the executive agency for education. A chief state school officer is generally responsible for 

overseeing the state department of education and reporting periodically to the state board of 

education, the legislature and the governor. Depending on the state, this person may be called a 

superintendent, commissioner, director or secretary of education. Most chief state school officers 

are appointed by the state board of education or the governor, while some are popularly elected. 

In most cases, State Governments are responsible for the following: 

 Developing curriculum guidelines and performance standards; 

 Providing technical assistance to school districts and schools; 

 Licensing private elementary and secondary schools to operate within their jurisdictions; 

 Licensing or certifying school teachers and administrators; 

 Administering statewide student achievement tests; 

 Developing accountability plans and reporting on student performance to the U.S. 

Department of Education; 

 Defining minimum requirements for high school graduation; 

 Distributing state and federal funding to school districts; and 
31

 Establishing the minimum number of school days per year. 

For information on state education agencies and other state education authorities, see 

http://bcol02.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm. 

THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 

Local School Districts. Although state governments have ultimate authority over education, 

most states delegate some decision-making powers and the operation of public elementary and 

secondary schools to local education agencies, or school districts. There are approximately 

15,000 school districts in the United States, each overseeing its jurisdiction’s public schools.50 

The amount of control exercised by local school districts varies by state. Most states give 

districts considerable authority to determine school budgets and to implement curriculum. In 

fact, many school districts further delegate decision-making and budgetary authority to 

individual schools, a practice known as site-based (or school-based) management. 

Local School Boards. Each school district is governed by a local school board, whose policies 

must generally conform to the regulations of the state school board and the statutes of the state 

legislature. School board members are generally elected, although, in some districts, they may 

be appointed by other government officials. The school board selects and hires the district 

superintendent, who is responsible for implementing policy and managing the day-to-day 

operations of the school district. 

In most cases, School Districts are responsible for the following: 

 Determining the budget; 

 Allocating money to individual schools and programs; 

 Hiring teachers and other staff; 

 Preparing and disseminating annual reports on student performance; 

 Setting teacher and administrator salaries; 

 Implementing the curriculum; 

 Planning and administering teacher inservice training; 

 Coordinating the transportation of students on school buses; 

 Constructing and maintaining school buildings; and 

 Purchasing equipment and supplies. 

To search for school districts in the United States, see the National Public School District 

Locator Web site at http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/. 
32

THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

As described above, education is primarily a state and local responsibility. Nevertheless, the 

federal government plays a limited but important role in affecting education policy and practice 

at all levels and throughout the nation. 

U.S. Congress. The Congress is the supreme lawmaking body of the country and has passed 

numerous laws directly and indirectly affecting education. For example, in late 2001, the 

Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which reformed the Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act to reflect key principles promoted by President George W. Bush, including 

stronger accountability for results, more choices for students and parents, greater flexibility and 

local control, and the use of research-based instruction. 

U.S. Department of Education. The federal Department of Education is the primary agency of 

the federal government that implements the laws that the Congress enacts to support education at 

the federal level. In doing so, the Department establishes policy for, administers and coordinates 

much of the federal financial assistance for education, in accordance with these laws. In 2005, 

the Department had over 4,400 employees and a budget of more than $72.8 billion.51 Its stated 

mission is “to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence 

throughout the nation.” 

The Department carries out its mission in two major ways. First, the Secretary and the 

Department play a leadership role in the ongoing national dialogue over how to improve 

education for all students. This involves such activities as raising national and community 

awareness of the education challenges confronting the nation, disseminating the latest 

discoveries on what works in teaching and learning and helping communities work out solutions 

to difficult educational issues. Second, the Department pursues its twin goals of access and 

excellence through the administration of programs that cover every area of education and range 

from preschool education through postdoctoral research. 

Specifically, the Department’s major activities are the following: 

1. Implementing laws related to federal financial assistance for education, administering the 

distribution of those funds and monitoring their use. 

The Department distributes financial assistance to eligible applicants throughout the nation 

for elementary, secondary and college education; for the education of individuals with 

disabilities and individuals who are illiterate, disadvantaged or gifted; and for the education 

of immigrants, American Indians and people with limited English proficiency. 
33

2. Collecting data and overseeing research on America's schools and disseminating this 

information to educators and the general public. 

The Department oversees research on most aspects of education; collects data on trends; and 

gathers information to help identify approaches, ideas and successful teaching techniques. 

Employees of the Department, as well as contractors and grant recipients, conduct the 

research. Research findings and statistics are disseminated to educators, policymakers, 

parents and the general public in the form of reports and publications—both printed and 

online. 

3. Identifying the major issues and problems in education and focusing national attention on 

them. 

The Secretary of Education advises the President and leads the Department in implementing 

the President's education policies—from the preparation of legislative proposals for Congress 

to decisions about education research priorities. In addition, the Secretary brings national 

attention to education issues through speeches, publications, the media and personal 

appearances. The Department further highlights education issues by sponsoring and 

participating in national conferences and other activities. 

 4. Enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination in programs and activities that receive 

federal funds. 

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces laws that prohibit 

discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age in programs 

that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. These laws include: 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting discrimination based on race, color and 

national origin); Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting sex discrimination 

in education programs); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting disability 

discrimination); Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibiting age discrimination); and Title II of 

the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibiting disability discrimination by public 

entities, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance). OCR also enforces the Boy 

Scouts of America Equal Access Act, enacted in 2002 as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. 

Under this law, no public elementary school or state or local education agency that provides an 

opportunity for one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in 

school facilities shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, 

any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group listed in 

Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. 

OCR's primary objectives are to promptly investigate complainants' allegations of 

discrimination, and to accurately determine whether the civil rights laws and regulations have 

been violated. OCR also initiates compliance reviews and other proactive initiatives to focus on 

specific civil rights compliance problems in education that are particularly acute or national in 

scope. In addition, OCR pursues compliance by federal fund recipients by promulgating 

regulations implementing the civil rights laws, by developing clear policy guidance interpreting 

those laws, and by broadly disseminating this information in many different media, including 
34

through the Internet and by direct provision of technical assistance, to educational institutions, 

parents, students, and others. 

Other Federal Agencies. While the Department of Education is the lead federal agency in 

matters of education, a number of other federal agencies provide funding and other support for 

educational activities in areas related to their missions. Among these agencies are the 

Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, 

Homeland Security, Interior, Labor and State; the National Endowments for the Arts and 

Humanities; the National Institute of Museum and Library Services; and the National Science 

Foundation. 

For more information on the federal government’s role, see 

www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html. For more information on No Child Left Behind, see

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml?src=fb, and to learn more about U.S. Department of 

Education programs, see http://web99.ed.gov/GTEP/Program2.nsf. To access the Web site for 

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE), go to www.ed.gov/free. 

OTHERS WHO INFLUENCE EDUCATION POLICY AND PRACTICE 

As noted above, legislative bodies, school boards and government agencies all play important 

roles with regard to education in the United States. However, other sectors and entities can also 

influence education policy and practice. 

Courts of Law. The courts—both at the federal and state level—have historically played a 

crucial role in providing direction and settling public policy debates that are directly and 

indirectly related to education, including subjects as varied as educational quality, school 

funding, equal access and religion in the schools. One notable example is the U.S. Supreme 

Court’s 1954 decision in the case of Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, 347 

U.S. 483 (1954).52 In that case, the court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public 

schools was inherently unequal, thus reversing the position it had held since 1896. As a result of 

this ruling, federal courts succeeded over time in eliminating a system of legalized racial 

segregation in southern schools. 

Nongovernmental Organizations. Many nongovernmental organizations also play an important 

role in influencing policy at all three levels of government and educational practice in the 

schools. Such organizations include charitable foundations, teacher unions, parent-teacher 

associations and many others interested in education. The missions and functions of these 

identities vary considerably and can include supporting or carrying out research, providing 

education-related services, disseminating information or working to influence legislation and 

public opinion. Representatives of nongovernmental organizations often participate on advisory 

boards that work with policymakers at all levels of government. 

Business Sector. The business community is also often involved in supporting education and 

influencing education policy in a variety of ways. Private businesses often donate resources to 

nearby schools or encourage employees to volunteer at schools as tutors or in other capacities. 
35

Many business representatives also participate in education-related conferences and serve on 

education-related advisory boards. 

FINANCING OF EDUCATION 

The financing of education in the United States is highly decentralized, and funding sources 

include the federal, state and local governments, as well as private and nongovernmental 

contributors. Of the approximately $780 billion spent nationwide on education at all levels,53

approximately 59 percent of total education expenditures occur at the elementary and secondary 

levels, while 41 percent are at the postsecondary level.54 These expenditures altogether represent 

about 8 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.55 

Public elementary and secondary schools receive most of their funding from state and local 

governments, although additional funds are provided by the federal government and, in some 

cases, through grants or donations from corporations and foundations and parent- or studentinitiated fundraising activities. State governments are generally the largest source of education 

funding. As a national average, state and local governments contribute about 90 percent of 

education funding at this level, while the federal government, nongovernmental entities, and 

private contributors together provide about 10 percent of all funding.56 
36

Figure 4: Funding for Elementary and Secondary Education 

Local

41%

Private

2%

Federal

7% 

State

50%

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Table 157. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 2003). Figures have been 

slightly rounded. 

While state and local governments together provide most funding, the proportion of funding 

coming from each of these two levels of government can vary significantly by state. In general, 

state governments generate the revenue necessary for educational expenditures from income 

taxes, corporate taxes and sales taxes, while local school districts rely heavily on property taxes. 

Due to this reliance on property tax revenue, the amount of funding available for education at the 

local level can vary considerably depending on a community’s property values. To mitigate the 

funding inequalities that may result, some states have “equalization of funding” laws that require 

them to ensure that all schools have a specified amount of funds available per student. The 

federal government likewise provides supplemental funding to schools with limited resources 

through compensatory education programs such as Title I, described earlier. 

Most postsecondary institutions rely on a variety of sources to generate revenue. These resources 

typically include student tuition and fees, with private institutions generally charging more than 

public institutions. Other revenue sources often include government funds, sales and services, 

private donations, grants and contracts, and endowment income.57 Sources of funding can differ 

significantly when comparing public and private institutions, and even among individual 

institutions of the same category. 
37

Figure 5: Funding for Public Postsecondary Education 

Tuition and Fees

18%

Federal

11%

Local

4%

Private Gifts, 

Grants and 

Contracts

5%

Endowment 

Income

1%

Sales and 

Services

22%

Other

4%

State

36%

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Table 33. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 2003). 

Figures have been slightly rounded. 
38

Figure 6: Funding for Private Postsecondary Education 

State

1% Federal

16%

Local 

1%

Student 

Tuition & 

Fees

39%

Investment 

Return & 

Other

24%

Private Gifts 

& Grants

19%

Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Table 341. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 2004). Figures have been 

slightly rounded. [GRAPHIC DESIGNER: This graph has been modified, including the number labels and pie 

slices.] 

For additional information on federal expenditures for education, see 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/digest2001/ch4.asp. 
39

CONCLUSION 

As you can see, education in the United States relies on many people at many levels of 

government. But it is designed to lead to one outcome: a quality education for every single 

child. 

Achieving that goal is no simple matter. It depends on highly qualified teachers holding students 

to high standards. It depends on regular assessment to see what’s working and what isn’t. It 

depends on involved parents armed with choices and information. And, it depends on us. 

In 1983, the landmark American study A Nation at Risk was published. It concluded that the 

U.S. education system was unprepared for the demands of an increasingly competitive global 

economy. It took us years to agree on what to do on a national level. Today, we are seeing a 

renewed commitment to excellence sparked by the No Child Left Behind Act. 

Of course, there are new challenges. Student interest in science and technology is waning as 

other nations look to fill the gap. But for the first time in a long time, America is holding itself 

accountable for results. 

With significant reforms at the federal level and innovations at the state and local levels, 

education in the United States is continually evolving and growing. We are committed to 

helping our children reach their highest potential as individuals and citizens in a world where 

freedom is on the march. 
40

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

U.S. Department of Education 

www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 

http://nces.ed.gov

Digest of Education Statistics 

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/

The Condition of Education 

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe

Findings from the Condition of Education 2002: Private Schools—A Brief Portrait 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2002013

What Works Clearinghouse 

http://w-w-c.org

 

Information on Public Schools and School Districts 

http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/quickfacts.html

U.S. Network for Education Information 

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/edlite-index.html

State Education Agencies (State Departments of Education) 

http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/ccseas.asp

A number of additional Web sites also appear throughout this document. 
41

NOTES 

 

1

 The only exceptions are the following: schools which serve the children of military personnel stationed overseas, 

operated by the Department of Defense; and the five service academies of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard 

and Merchant Marine. 

2

 The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB or No Child Left Behind) is the name of the statute that reauthorized 

the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). For the purposes of this document, the law is referred 

to as No Child Left Behind. 3

 U.S. Department of Education: Budget Service. 

4

 Under NCLB, “highly qualified” is defined as holding a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, possessing full state 

certification or licensure, and demonstrating subject area competence in each of the academic subjects that the 

teacher teaches. 

5

 U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Digest of Education Statistics, 2004, (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 2005), 

Table 166. 

6

 U.S. Department of Education: Budget Service. 

7

 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2003 Digest of Education 

Statistics, Table 43. 8

 NCES, 2004 Digest, Table 43. 9

 U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 2000 Condition of Education, p. 67. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 2000). 10 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 94. 11 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 94. 12 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 98. 13 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 126. 14 U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Schools and Staffing Survey, 1999-2000, Table 1.07. (Washington, D.C.: 

NCES, 2000). 

15 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 167. 16 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 381. 17 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 381. 18 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 137. 

19 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 102. 20 Higher Education Act, Title IV, Parts A & B, Section 418A (Title 20, Chapter 28, United States Code). 21 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 154. 22 U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 2004 Condition of Education, Indicator 25. (Washington, D.C.: NCES, 

2004) 

23 U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Characteristics of Private School in the United States: Results from the 

2001-2002 Private School Universe Survey (Washington, D.C: NCES, 2004). 24 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 60. 25 U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 1.1 Million Homeschooled Students in the United States (Washington, 

D.C.: NCES, 2004. 

26 U.S. Department of Education, Twenty-third Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals 

with Disabilities Education Act (2001), Table III-1. (Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, 2001). 27 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 53. 28 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 55. 

29 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 42. 30 U.S. Department of Education, Survey of the States’ Limited English Proficient Students and Available 

Educational Programs and Services, 2000-2001 Summary Report. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of 

Education, 2002). 

31 U.S. Department of Education, Survey of the States’ Limited English Proficient Students. 

32 Descriptive Study of Services to LEP Students and LEP Students with Disabilities, Washington: U.S. Department 

of Education, September 2003. 

33 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 25. 34 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 69. 
42

 35 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 79. 36 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 79. 37 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 5. 38 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 5. 

39 The terms “college” and “university” are used interchangeably, as are sometimes the terms “academy,” “institute,” 

“school,” and “conservatory.” U.S. law and practice does not protect these terms or distinguish among types of 

institutions at the postsecondary level. Instead, the level of an institution is indicated by the highest degree it awards 

and the type is indicated by the variety of subjects offered for study. The most commonly used classification of U.S. 

higher education institutions is the Carnegie Classification. (See http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/Classification/). 40 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 247. 41 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 5. 42 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 5. 43 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 174. 44 NCES, 2003 Digest, Tables 335 and 341. 45 NCES, 2003 Digest, Tables 319, 328 and 329. 46 U.S. Department of Education: Budget Service. 

47 Institute of International Education, Open Doors 2004. (Washington, D.C.: Institute of International Education, 

2002). Available at http://opendoors.iienetwork.org. 

48 Institute of International Education, Open Doors 2004. (Washington, D.C.: Institute of International Education, 

2002). Available at http://opendoors.iienetwork.org. 

49 States do not generally regulate postsecondary education as closely as they do elementary and secondary 

education. Although states exercise some control over higher education institutions through specialized boards or 

commissions, the autonomy of such entities is generally recognized in law and policy. Vocational and technical 

education, special education and adult education are often associated with both the secondary and postsecondary 

levels of education and are sometimes administered by specialized state agencies. Professional education and 

training for licensed occupations is usually overseen by the state’s postsecondary education authorities, its agencies 

responsible for professional services, and/or specially appointed licensure boards. 50 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 86. 51 U.S. Department of Education: Budget Service. 

52 Volume 347, p. 483, United States Reports (Supreme Court decisions) 53 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 29. 54 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 29. 55 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 29. 56 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 157. 57 NCES, 2003 Digest, Table 333.