The U.S. Department of Education (ED) was established by the Department of Education Organization Act (DEOA, P.L. 96-88) on October 17, 1979, to "ensure that education issues receive proper treatment at the Federal level" and to "enable the Federal Government to coordinate its education activities more effectively." ED operations began in May 1980. Prior to the establishment of ED as a Cabinet-level agency in 1979, an Office of Education was housed at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). Although ED has had ongoing support from Congress through appropriations and regular review of, and amendments to, the authorizing statutes for its components, the department's first 45 years have also seen efforts to reorganize ED and, in some cases, to abolish or diminish the agency. Similarly, successive Administrations have sometimes sought to alter ED through administrative actions and legislative initiatives, including, for example, by changing the office structure at the agency. This report provides information about the officers, positions, and offices that are established by the DEOA, as amended, and other statutory requirements regarding the structure of ED. The report begins with background information on the establishment of ED. This section is followed by a discussion of ED's statutorily established officers and other leadership positions established by the DEOA and other statutory provisions. The next section of the report lists ED's statutorily established subunits. This is followed by a discussion of the Secretary's administrative reorganization authority under the DEOA. The final section of the report discusses an initiative housed at ED that was created by executive order.