In the summer of 1744, Indian chiefs from the six Iroquois nations came to Lancaster to meet with representatives of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to resolve land disputes.
The primary functions of the Department of Education are to establish policy for, administer and coordinate most federal assistance to education, collect data on US schools, and to enforce federal educational laws regarding privacy and civil rights..
Despite the growth of the Federal role in education, the Department never strayed far from what would become its official mission: to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.