Department of Education Act

Department of Education Act - Cites the importance of education to the interests of the Nation; and states that the United States is the only major Nation which does not have a Cabinet level department of education.

Establishes a Department of Education.

Creates the office of the Secretary, Under Secretary, six Assistant Secretaries, and General Counsel.

States that the function of the Department is to promote the cause and advancement of education throughout the United States, to advise the President respecting the programs of education, to develop policies and programs to foster the orderly growth and development of educational resources and facilities, to coordinate Federal activities affecting education, to conduct surveys, collect and analyze data, and disseminate information, to provide information and assistance to aid in the maintenance of school, college, and university systems, to encourage long-range planning by State and local government, and to facilitate the continuing renewal of the American educational system.

Transfers to the Department of Education all the officers, employees, assets, liabilities, contracts, property, and records of the following agencies and organizations: the Office of Education, the Office of Child Development, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for Education, and any advisory committee in HEW concerning education.

Transfers the following functions to the Department: those of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare respecting educational television broadcasting facilities and of the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962 relating to institutional manpower training.

Transfers the following programs and activities to the Department: Head Start; Follow Through; Job Corps; Department of Defense dependents' schools; schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Graduate School operated by the Department of Agriculture; and the National School Lunch Act.

Transfers to the Department the provisions, under the Housing Act of 1950, for college housing; and transfers the functions of the Secretary of Labor under Title III of the Manpower Development and Training Act which relate to institutional manpower training and the functions of the National Science Foundation relating to curriculum development, computer innovations in education, and teacher retraining.

Redesignates the Department of Health Education, and Welfare as the Department of Health and Welfare.

Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Education to make those recommendations necessary to assure effective coordination of Federal programs affecting education. Authorizes the Committee to be composed of a Chairman and a representative from each of the following departments: Department of State; Department of Defense; Department of Agriculture; Department of Labor; Department of Health and Welfare; National Science Foundation, Atomic Energy Commission, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Endowment for the Arts; and National Endowment for the Humanities.

Establishes a National Advisory Commission on Education composed of 15 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to: review the operation of Federal education programs, advise the Secretary on educational needs, goals, and renewal, conduct objective evaluations of education programs and projects, make recommendations for the improvement of Federal programs, consult with Federal, State and local agencies respecting the improvement of the quality of education, and conduct conferences on the assessment, improvement, and renewal of education.

Authorizes the Commission to assist the Secretary of Education in establishing a rational and well-integrated advisory structure for the Department.

Defines the powers and duties of the Secretary. Requires an annual report containing objective data on education including the results and outcomes of education, five-year budget projections, progress toward the renewal of education in the Nation, a report on the advisory structure of the Department, and a complete analysis of major educational policy issues.

Makes provisions for all transferred personnel insuring no loss of rank, grade, senority, or rate of compensation because of transfer.

Revises the Communication Act of 1934 by making the Secretary of Education an ex officio member of the Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Requires the Secretary to submit within two years of enactment a proposed codification of all laws which contain functions transferred to the Secretary by this Act.

Prohibits Federal control of education with respect to any State or local educational agency.

Establishes the effective date of the Act as 90 days after enactment.