This report sheds a new light on the history of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), its abuses of policy, and recommendations for a path forward. The report's evidence, and the long-term political dispositions of America's citizenry, supports the wholesale reform of ED, but not its elimination. The authors have structured their report in this…

President Obama's FY 2013 budget request includes another major spending increase for the Department of Education--2.5 percent more than last year--to nearly $70 billion. American taxpayers are calling for spending restraint in Washington, yet President Obama's proposals would exacerbate the existing bureaucratic maze of federal programs and…

The transition out of high school to postsecondary education or the workforce can be a challenging time, especially for students with disabilities. Multiple federal agencies fund programs to support these students during their transition. In 2003, GAO reported that limited coordination among these programs can hinder a successful transition. GAO…

This publication provides a nontechnical summary of the U.S. Department of Education's discretionary grants process and the laws and regulations that govern it. This document is intended for individuals and organizations that are interested in applying to the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) for discretionary grants and cooperative…

The Obama Administration has signaled that it will include a $1.35 billion expansion of the "Race to the Top" (RTTT) fund in its FY 2011 budget. This is in addition to the $4.35 billion for RTTT included in last year's stimulus bill. Under the Department of Education's (DOE) guidelines for RTTT, states must meet certain requirements to…

These seven symposium papers examine the record of federal intervention in the workplace and focus on the forces that gave rise to federal intervention. Although a precise calculus for evaluation has not yet been designed, the presenters attempt to assess whether federal actions have served the interests of labor, management, and the public at…

Agencies and departments of the federal government may find that they own property that they no longer require. This may occur because of a change in their program requirements, a reduction in their operations or the relocation of programs to other sites. These properties are reported to the General Services Administration as excess. Military…

The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, establishes deficit targets to lead to a balanced unified budget by fiscal year 1993. If the Office of Management and Budget projects a deficit in excess of the target amount plus $10 billion, the President must issue a sequester order to reduce budget resources…

The mission of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) rehabilitation program is to assist injured workers, covered by Federal Employees' Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, to return to gainful employment through vocational rehabilitation services. Information that certified counselors who work…

A study explored the changes in the federal role in education prior to and after the May 1980 Implementation Plan for the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The documents related to the creation of ED determine if any change in the federal role in education was expressed through program components included in the new ED, and those programs not…

This excerpt from a newsletter presents an interview with Robert Lee Chartrand, senior specialist in information policy and technology for the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, on issues related to information technology and the U.S. Congress. A brief biography of Mr. Chartrand presents his major professional experience,…

This publication provides a non-technical summary of the Department of Education's discretionary grants process and the laws and regulations that govern it. It was written for readers who have received an award, or are simply interested in knowing more about the Department's discretionary grants process. It describes how grant programs are…

In the late 1980s, the Department of Justice began a campaign of prosecuting dairy companies and individuals associated with these companies for colluding on contract bids to supply milk to schools and military installations. Data were derived from: (1) interviews with officials from the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, and Justice; (2) a…

The purpose of this report is to determine how well the Federal Government has done its civil rights enforcement job, particularly in eliminating discrimination in housing, during the period from January 1975 through August 1978. Reported on are the Government's activities under the following laws: (1) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968;…