Key Federal Education Policymakers, 1977-1980, Carter Administration

1977 - 1980 Carter Administration

President:

James Earl Carter (D) 1977 - 1980

Secretary of H.E.W.:

Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Patricia Roberts Harris (1979)

Assistant Secretary for Education:

Mary Berry

Commissioner of Education:

Secretary of Education:

Major education actions:

1977 - Elementary & Secondary Education Amendments of 1977 (P.L. 95-112)
1977 - Consolidated Grants to Insular Areas Act (P.L. 95-134) [Note 2]
1978 - Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) amended (P.L. 95-524)
1978 - Elementary & Secondary Education Amendments of 1978 (P.L. 95-561) [Note 2]
1979 - Department of Education Organization Act (P.L. 96-88)
1980 - Creation of Department of Education [Note 1]
1980 - Elementary & Secondary Education Amendments of 1980 (P.L. 96-374) [Note 3]
1980 - Refugee Education Assistance Act (P.L. 96-422) [Note 2]

95th Congress (1977-1978)

SENATE: 61-Dem, 38-Rep, 1-Other
- Vice-President: Walter F. Mondale (D)
- Majority Leader: Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
- Minority Leader: Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
- Committee: Human Resources
  - Chair: Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (D-NJ)
  - Ranking Minority Member: Jacob K. Javits (R-NY)
HOUSE: 292-Dem, 143-Rep
- Speaker: Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. (D-MA)
- Majority Leader: James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX)
- Minority Leader: John J. Rhodes (R-AZ)
- Committee: Committee on Education and Labor
  - Chair: Carl D. Perkins (D-KY)
  - Ranking Minority Member: Albert H. Quie (R-MN)

96th Congress (1979-1980)

SENATE: 58-Dem, 41-Rep, 1-Other
- Vice-President: Walter F. Mondale (D)
- Majority Leader: Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
  Minority Leader: Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
- Committee: Labor and Human Resources
  - Chair: Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (D-NJ)
  - Ranking Minority Member: Richard S. Schweiker (R-PA)
HOUSE: 277-Dem, 158-Rep.
- Speaker: Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. (D-MA)
- Majority Leader: James C. Wright, Jr. (D-TX)
- Minority Leader: John J. Rhodes (R-AZ)
- Committee: Committee on Education and Labor
  - Chair: Carl D. Perkins (D-KY)
  - Ranking Minority Member: John M. Ashbrook (R-OH)