The department of education’s mission is to: strengthen the federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual; supplement and complement the efforts of states . . [and] local school systems . . to improve the quality of education; –united states department of education mission statement 2013 based on the quote, how does the department of education reach its goals? it gives all responsibility for education to state and local leaders. it works to support the efforts of state and local leaders. it relies on other organizations to make new education policy. it supervises individual districts and schools directly.