U.S. Department of Education Building: Address, Official Contact, Visitor Tips and Federal Help Links
The U.S. Department of Education Building is not a city building permit office. It is the federal headquarters building for the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. People usually search this building because they need the official address, student loan direction, civil rights complaint help, ED office contact, regional office information, or visitor guidance.
This guide explains the official Department of Education building address, what the building is used for, which official links to use, when to use StudentAid.gov instead of ED.gov, how to contact the Office for Civil Rights, and what to prepare before contacting a federal education office.
Building name
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building.
Main address
400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202.
Toll-free
1-800-USA-LEARN / 1-800-872-5327.
TTY
USA.gov lists TTY as 7-1-1.
Official U.S. Department of Education Links
USA.gov lists the toll-free number as 1-800-USA-LEARN / 1-800-872-5327 and TTY as 7-1-1. Main address: Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202.
What Is the U.S. Department of Education Building?
The main U.S. Department of Education headquarters building is known as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building at 400 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, DC.
This building is a federal office building. It is not a local building department where homeowners apply for construction permits. If you need a building permit for a house, business, school, church, apartment, remodel, sign, demolition, electrical work, plumbing work or inspection, you normally need your local city or county building department.
Federal headquarters
The building is associated with the U.S. Department of Education’s headquarters operations in Washington, DC.
Official contact point
Use ED.gov and USA.gov for official department contact information, office links, hotlines and federal resources.
Not local permitting
Local construction permits and inspections are handled by local building departments, not the federal Department of Education.
How to Contact the U.S. Department of Education Correctly
The fastest way to get help is to choose the correct official route before calling or sending a message. ED handles many different topics, and the headquarters address is not always the best first step.
User need | Best official starting point | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
General ED contact | ED Contact Us page or USA.gov ED agency page. | Use the official toll-free number for general routing. |
Student loans or FAFSA | Federal Student Aid at StudentAid.gov. | Do not send sensitive loan details to unofficial websites. |
Civil rights complaint | Office for Civil Rights complaint portal. | Prepare school name, incident date, issue summary and contact information. |
Regional office | ED Information Centers and Hotlines page. | Choose the correct regional office based on state and topic. |
Department office directory | ED Offices page. | Find the exact program office before sending a question. |
Physical visit | ED Contact Us page and the specific office contact. | Do not assume walk-in access. Federal buildings may require security screening and appointments. |
Before Visiting the U.S. Department of Education Building
Federal buildings are not like a local public counter where you can always walk in and meet staff. Confirm access, appointment requirements and the correct office before traveling.
Confirm the office first
Know which ED office or program you need before going to the building. The general address alone may not solve your issue.
Check appointment rules
Contact the relevant office in advance. Federal office access can require appointments, visitor screening and identification.
Use online help first
Many ED services, student aid questions and complaints are handled online through official federal systems.
Do not bring sensitive documents blindly
Ask the office what documents are needed before bringing personal, student, financial or legal records.
Student Loans, FAFSA and Federal Student Aid: Use StudentAid.gov
Many users search for the U.S. Department of Education building because of student loans, FAFSA, repayment, forgiveness, default, servicer issues or financial aid questions. For those topics, the official starting point is Federal Student Aid.
Student aid issue | Where to start | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
FAFSA | StudentAid.gov | FSA ID, school list, tax/financial details and student information. |
Loan repayment | StudentAid.gov and your loan servicer. | Loan servicer name, account details and repayment plan questions. |
Loan forgiveness | StudentAid.gov forgiveness information. | Employment history, loan type, payment count and program eligibility details. |
Default or collections | StudentAid.gov and official servicer/collection contacts. | Loan status, notice letters and account identifiers. |
Scam concern | Official .gov resources only. | Screenshots, company name, payment request details and any contract you signed. |
Office for Civil Rights: Education Discrimination Complaints
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights handles certain civil rights complaints related to education programs and schools that receive federal financial assistance.
Use the OCR complaint portal
If you need to file a civil rights complaint, start with the official OCR complaint portal rather than mailing random documents to the headquarters building.
Prepare facts clearly
Write the school name, location, dates, people involved, issue summary and what action you already took.
Check deadline rules
Civil rights complaint processes often have timing requirements, so review the official OCR guidance before waiting too long.
Keep copies
Save your submission confirmation, evidence, email communication and any case number you receive.
U.S. Department of Education Regional Offices and Hotlines
Not every education issue should go to the headquarters building. ED also maintains regional office information, hotlines and office-specific contact resources.
Need | Official resource | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
Regional office | ED Information Centers and Hotlines | Choose the region based on your state and issue. |
Program office | ED Offices directory | Find the exact program office before sending a detailed question. |
General public inquiry | ED Contact Us | Use general contact only when you are not sure which office handles your issue. |
Education policy information | ED.gov | Search official pages first; many answers are already published. |
National Library of Education at the Department of Education
Users searching the Department of Education building may also be looking for education research, federal education publications or the National Library of Education.
Library location
The National Library of Education lists its address as 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202, Lyndon Baines Johnson Building.
Research use
Use the official library resources for education research, catalog searching and federal education publications.
Hours and access
Always verify current hours and access rules before visiting, especially for federal buildings.
Online first
Search online resources first if you need reports, data, catalog records or federal education documents.
Need a School Building Permit or Construction Inspection?
If your real goal is construction approval for a school building, classroom expansion, daycare, college facility, private school remodel, sign, electrical work, plumbing work or fire inspection, the U.S. Department of Education headquarters is usually not the permitting office.
Project type | Who usually handles it | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
Local school construction | City or county building department, school district and fire marshal. | Contact your local building department first. |
Private school remodel | Local building department, zoning office and fire department. | Check use, occupancy, accessibility and fire requirements. |
College campus building | Campus facilities, local building officials and state agencies where applicable. | Start with the campus facilities office and local permitting authority. |
Daycare or childcare facility | Local building department, licensing agency, health department and fire marshal. | Check building occupancy and licensing requirements before leasing a space. |
Federal building work | Federal property manager, GSA or federal contracting route. | Do not apply through a normal local homeowner permit path without confirming jurisdiction. |
U.S. Department of Education Building Address, Phone Number and Map
Use the official address and contact details below for the U.S. Department of Education headquarters building and general department contact routing.
Official headquarters
Building: Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building
Address: 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202
Website: ED.gov
General contact
Toll-free: 1-800-872-5327
Named line: 1-800-USA-LEARN
TTY: 7-1-1
Agency page: USA.gov ED page
Map shows the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building at 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202. Before visiting, confirm whether the office you need accepts visitors or requires an appointment.
U.S. Department of Education Building FAQs
These FAQs cover the most common user searches around the Department of Education building address, official contact number, student loans, OCR complaints, regional offices, visitor access and local building permit confusion.
QWhere is the U.S. Department of Education Building located?
The U.S. Department of Education headquarters is the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building at 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202.
QWhat is the official U.S. Department of Education phone number?
USA.gov lists the toll-free number as 1-800-USA-LEARN, which is 1-800-872-5327. TTY is listed as 7-1-1.
QIs the U.S. Department of Education Building a local building permit office?
No. It is a federal department headquarters building. Local building permits, inspections and construction approvals are handled by city, county or state building departments, not the U.S. Department of Education.
QCan I visit the U.S. Department of Education Building without an appointment?
Do not assume walk-in access is available. Federal office buildings may require appointments, identification and security screening. Contact the relevant ED office before traveling.
QWhere do I contact the Department of Education for student loan questions?
For student loan, FAFSA, repayment, forgiveness or federal student aid questions, use the official Federal Student Aid website at StudentAid.gov.
QWhere do I file a civil rights complaint with the Department of Education?
Use the official Office for Civil Rights complaint portal or OCR contact page. OCR handles certain education-related civil rights complaints.
QWhat building is the Department of Education headquarters in?
The main headquarters building is known as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building.
QDoes the Department of Education have regional offices?
Yes. The Department has regional offices around the country. Use the official ED information centers and regional office resources to find the correct office for your area.
QWhat should I prepare before contacting ED?
Prepare your topic, school name, state, relevant office, student aid details if applicable, complaint or case number if applicable, and a short written explanation of what you need.
QWho handles school building construction permits?
School construction permits are usually handled by the local city or county building department, local fire marshal, school district facilities office and sometimes state education facility agencies. The federal Department of Education headquarters does not normally issue local construction permits.
QIs Building-Department.org the official U.S. Department of Education website?
No. Building-Department.org is an independent guide. Official federal information, student aid help, complaints, records and department contact actions must be handled through ED.gov, StudentAid.gov, OCR or other official government systems.
Khushboo Bobade is a public records researcher and editorial writer specializing in government service documentation and construction permit systems.
Her research focuses on explaining building permits, inspection procedures, zoning regulations, and public permit records maintained by local government building departments across the United States.
Professional profile: View LinkedIn Profile
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Important note
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