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U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education

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# Laws & Guidance

## Overview

Legislation, regulations, guidance, and other policy documents can be found here for the **Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)**, and other topics.

Please note that in the U.S., the federal role in education is limited. Because of the Tenth Amendment, most education policy is decided at the state and local levels.  So, if you have a question about a policy or issue, you may want to check with the relevant organization in your state or school district.

### Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended

                - Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Information page
                - Text of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended through 12/27/22:    PDF (1.2M)  |    Text (3.3M)
                - Guidance and Regulations

### FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

                - Overview
                - Regulations

### Civil Rights

                - Disability Discrimination  (Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act)                   - Section 504 FAQ 
                - Sex Discrimination  (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
                - Race and National Origin Discrimination  (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
                - OCR Reading Room: Policy Guidance and Other Resources

### IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)

                - IDEA Website
                - Text of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  (PDF, 529KB)

### WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act)

                - Text of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act

### Higher Education Act

                - Text of the Higher Education Opportunity Act
                - Postsecondary Policy Initiatives
                - Dear Partner/Colleague Letters
                - Negotiated Rulemaking 2023-2024
                - Foreign Gifts and Contracts--Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965

### Regulations and Rulemaking

                - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
                - Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Title 34, Education
                - Recent Federal Register Documents
                - Submit a Petition for Rulemaking through Docket ID ED-2023-OGC-0071  on  www.regulations.gov
                ED’s Instructions for submitting a petition for rulemaking
Log of petitions for rulemaking received by ED

### Guidance

                - Guidance Homepage
                - Significant Guidance
                - Key Policy Letters

## How Do I Find...

          - Student loans, forgiveness
          - College accreditation
          - Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
          - FERPA
          - FAFSA
          - 1098, tax forms

More >

## Information About...

          - Elevating Teaching
          - Early Learning
          - Engage Every Student
          - Unlocking Career Success
          - Cybersecurity

 

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