US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 922

Administration of defense dependents’ education system

(a)

Operation; Director

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)

Implementation of program functions of Secretary of Defense through Director

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)

Functions of Director

The Director shall—
(1)
20 U.S.C. 901 establish personnel policies, consistent with the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act ( 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)
section 928 of this title have authority to establish, in accordance with , 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)

Establishment of regional or area offices; reports to Congress on reorganizations; authorized number of civilian employees

(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).

Pub. L. 95–561, title XIV, § 140392 Stat. 2365Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title III, § 354(2)113 Stat. 572Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A]114 Stat. 1654(, , ; , , ; , title X, § 1087(g)(8)], , , 1654A–294.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 86–9173 Stat. 213section 901 of this titleThe Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is , , , 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 and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–3982000—Subsec. (c)(6). struck out “the” before “the Assistant Secretary of Defense”.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(A)1999—, amended section catchline.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(A)Subsec. (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.”

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(B)Subsec. (b). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to this chapter.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(C)20 U.S.C. 901Subsec. (c)(1). , inserted “( et seq.)” after “Personnel Practices Act”.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(D)Subsec. (c)(2). , substituted a comma for the period at end.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(E)Subsec. (c)(6). , substituted “the Assistant Secretary of Defense designated under subsection (a)” for “Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Logistics”.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(F)Subsec. (d)(1). , struck out “for the Office of Dependents’ Education” after “area offices”.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(G)Subsec. (d)(2). , struck out first sentence which read: “Not later than six months after , 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”.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 354(2)(H)Subsec. (d)(3). , substituted “the Department of Defense Education Activity” for “the Office of Dependents’ Education”.