The roles and activities of the Office of Non-Public Education (ONPE) fall into two major categories: leadership and outreach. ONPE represents the interests, activities and needs of the private elementary and secondary school community, and also consults with the private school community on the participation of students and teachers in programs and initiatives at the U.S. Department of Education.

ONPE fosters maximum participation of nonpublic school students and teachers in federal education programs and initiatives. Since the initial passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965, private school students and teachers have been eligible to participate in certain federal education programs. ONPE's activities reflect this mission and direction by:

• Representing the U.S. Department of Education to the nonpublic school community;
• Offering advice and guidance within the Department on all matters affecting nonpublic education;
• Communicating with national, state and local education agencies and associations on nonpublic education topics;
• Communicating the interests and concerns of the nonpublic school community to the Department;
• Providing parents with information regarding education options for their children; and
• Providing technical assistance, workshops and publications.

• Frequently Asked Questions – General Issues Related to Nonpublic Schools (August 2019) [PDF, 710KB]
• Federal Education Laws and Programs Affecting Nonpublic Education
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA)
• Blue Ribbon Schools and Green Ribbon Schools
• Policy Letters
• Non-Public Education Organizations
• Non-Public Education Publications
• Non-Public Education Statistics
• Other Federal Agency Laws and Programs
• Other Department of Education Programs and Resources
• Interactive Map for State Regulation of Private and Home Schools
• Search for Private Schools
• Selected U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Related to Private and Home Schools