Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§922 Administration of defense dependents’ education system

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 25A— - OVERSEAS DEFENSE DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATION › § 922

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Department of Defense runs schools for military children through a civilian-led office called the Department of Defense Education Activity. The Secretary of Defense picks a civilian Director to lead that office. The Director reports to an Assistant Secretary the Secretary names for these matters. The Secretary can have the Director carry out most duties under this law, except making regulations. The Director must set employee rules (consistent with the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 901 et seq.)); move professional staff between positions; prepare one yearly budget that includes construction and upkeep and put it into the DoD budget; set up local school advisory committees under section 928; arrange staff training; and do other tasks given by the Secretary or the designated Assistant Secretary. The Director must create regional or area offices to run the schools well. If the Education Activity is reorganized in a way that affects the schools, the Secretary must report that reorganization to Congress. With the Secretary’s approval, the office may have a suitable number of civilian employees in its central and regional offices.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §922

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The defense dependents’ education system is operated through the field activity of the Department of Defense known as the Department of Defense Education Activity. That activity is headed by a Director, who is a civilian and is selected by the Secretary of Defense. The Director reports to an Assistant Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this chapter.
(b)Except with respect to the authority to prescribe regulations, the Secretary of Defense may carry out his functions under this chapter through the Director.
(c)The Director shall—
(1)establish personnel policies, consistent with the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), for employees in the defense dependents’ education system,
(2)have authority to transfer professional employees in the defense dependents’ education system from one position to another,
(3)prepare a unified budget for each fiscal year, which shall include necessary funds for construction and operation and maintenance of facilities, for the defense dependents’ education system for inclusion in the Department of Defense budget for that year,
(4)have authority to establish, in accordance with section 928 of this title, local school advisory committees,
(5)have authority to arrange for inservice and other training programs for employees in the defense dependents’ education system, and
(6)perform such other functions as may be required or delegated by the Secretary of Defense or the Assistant Secretary of Defense designated under subsection (a).
(d)(1)The Director shall establish appropriate regional or area offices in order to provide for thorough and efficient administration of the defense dependents’ education system.
(2)Whenever the Department of Defense Education Activity is reorganized in a manner that affects the defense dependents’ education system, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to the Congress describing the reorganization.
(3)Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense Education Activity is authorized an appropriate number of civilian employees in its central office and such regional or area office as are established pursuant to paragraph (1).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is Pub. L. 86–91, July 17, 1959, 73 Stat. 213, which is classified generally to chapter 25 (§ 901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 901 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 106–398 struck out “the” before “the Assistant Secretary of Defense”. 1999—Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(A), amended section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(A), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: “(1) There is established within the Department of Defense an office to be known as the Office of Dependents’ Education. “(2) The Office of Dependents’ Education shall be headed by a Director of Dependents’ Education (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the ‘Director’), who shall be a civilian and who shall be selected by the Secretary of Defense and shall report to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Logistics.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(B), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to this chapter. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(C), inserted “(20 U.S.C. 901 et seq.)” after “Personnel Practices Act”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(D), substituted a comma for the period at end. Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(E), substituted “the Assistant Secretary of Defense designated under subsection (a)” for “Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Logistics”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(F), struck out “for the Office of Dependents’ Education” after “area offices”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(G), struck out first sentence which read: “Not later than six months after November 1, 1978, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Congress a report (A) describing the organization of the Office of Dependents’ Education in accordance with paragraph (1), (B) describing the assignment of personnel to the central office of the Office of Dependents’ Education and to such regional or area offices as are established pursuant to paragraph (1), and (C) detailing the personnel requirements of the defense dependents’ education system.” and substituted “Whenever the Department of Defense Education Activity” for “Whenever the Office of Dependents’ Education”, “in a manner that affects the defense dependents’ education system” for “after the submission of the report required under the preceding sentence”, and “a report” for “an additional report”. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(H), substituted “the Department of Defense Education Activity” for “the Office of Dependents’ Education”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 922

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73