Immediate Office

Title

Name

Phone

Program Services

Elementary, Secondary, Adult & Vocational Education Division (DESAVE)

The Division of Early, Elementary, Secondary, Adult, and Vocational Education (DESAVE) provides legal advice for pre-school, elementary, and secondary education programs (including most of the programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended), career and technical education programs, and adult education programs (including those authorized under the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act).

Educational Equity Division (DEE)

The Division of Educational Equity (DEE) provides legal assistance to the Secretary in connection with the civil rights enforcement activities of the Department pertaining to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age discrimination. It also provides legal assistance in connection with the administration of formula and discretionary grant programs intended to ensure and support equal opportunities for infants, toddlers, children, and adults with disabilities, such as those authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. DEE also provides legal assistance in connection with the Magnet Schools Assistance Program, the Randolph-Sheppard Act, and the SOAR Act programs, including the DC Opportunity Scholarships Program.

Postsecondary and Departmental Law Service

Postsecondary Education Division (DPE)

The Division of Postsecondary Education (DPE) provides legal services related to the Department’s postsecondary education programs, including student financial aid programs, such as the Direct Student Loan, Pell Grant, and Federal Family Education Loan programs, as well as grant programs that provide support to institutions of higher education and students.

Business and Administrative Law Division (DBAL)

The Division of Business and Administrative Law (DBAL) provides legal services concerning business management and administrative activities throughout the Department, including contracts, procurement, employment, labor relations, appropriations, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, intellectual property, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Federal Records Act and the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Ethics, Legislative Counsel and Regulatory Services

Ethics Division

The Ethics Division is responsible for managing and implementing the Department’s ethics program, including providing ethics counseling for current and past Department employees; conducting ethics training; reviewing and certifying employees’ financial disclosure reports; advising on public-private partnerships, gifts to the Department, the Hatch Act and lobbying limitations; and serving as liaison with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and the Office of White House Counsel on ethics matters. It also serves as ethics counsel to the Department’s advisory boards and committees, the National Council on Disability, and the National Assessment Governing Board.

Legislative Counsel Division (DLC)

The Division of Legislative Counsel (DLC) drafts the Department’s legislation and related documents, reviews all education-related legislation pending in Congress, and acts as the Department’s liaison to the Office of Management and Budget with respect to the clearance of legislative matters. 

Regulatory Services Division (DRS)

The Division of Regulatory Services (DRS) advises on matters of administrative law, and manages the development and clearance of regulations and documents related to the discretionary grant programs (e.g., priorities, application notices) that are published in the Federal Register. DRS also serves as the liaison to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with respect to the clearance of regulations and guidance documents.