Find the Correct Education Office Before You Travel, Mail Documents or Call the Wrong Number
The headquarters building is not a local construction-permit office. Most visitors actually need Federal Student Aid, the Office for Civil Rights, FOIA, special-education contacts, fraud reporting or a specific ED program office.
This guide shows the current headquarters address, the announced August 2026 relocation, Metro directions, visitor-security expectations and the exact official route for the most common education questions.
What Do You Actually Need From the Department of Education?
Do Not Use an Address Without Checking the 2026 Move Status
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202
ED’s official Contact Us page was last reviewed April 1, 2026 and still lists this headquarters address.
Washington, DC
GSA announced that ED headquarters functions are targeted to relocate here in August 2026.
GSA says the U.S. Department of Energy is planned to move from the Forrestal Building into the LBJ Building.
“DOE” in the relocation announcement means Energy, not Education.
Use the Number for the Topic—Not Just the Building
Before Visiting the LBJ Building
Confirm access before traveling
- Confirm the correct office is at LBJ
- Confirm the appointment date and host
- Recheck the address because of the announced move
- Ask what identification or documents are required
- Ask for accessibility or language support in advance
- Do not assume general walk-in case service
Published LBJ transit route
ED’s official directions PDF routes visitors from L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station. Exit toward Maryland Avenue, walk east, cross 6th Street and continue toward the building.
The same PDF identifies the C Street side entrance for the VRE L’Enfant Station route.
Use these directions only while the relevant office remains at LBJ and confirm the entrance before travel.
Bring the Information the Correct Office Needs
Your issue | Prepare | Protect |
|---|---|---|
FAFSA or federal student loans | Aid year, school, loan servicer, account/case number and exact error message | Never share your FSA ID password with an unofficial person or site |
Civil rights complaint | School/program name, dates, people involved, issue summary, evidence and prior actions | Use the official OCR portal for personal case information |
Fraud, waste or abuse | Program, recipient, names, dates, amount, documents and how you learned of it | Use the ED OIG hotline—not another agency’s OIG |
FOIA records | Specific record type, office/program, date range, keywords and preferred format | FOIA is for federal ED records, not local school-district records |
IDEA or special education | State, district, student age, IEP issue, dates and state/local steps already taken | Avoid sending student records to unrelated general inboxes |
FERPA/student privacy | School, education record, disclosure/access issue, dates and correspondence | Use the official Student Privacy complaint process |
Use Federal Student Aid Instead of Traveling to Headquarters
Sign in to StudentAid.gov
Review your FAFSA, federal loans, servicer and existing case information before calling.
Use the contact center for account help
Call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). The listed TTY is 1-800-730-8913.
Contact the correct loan servicer
Questions about posted payments, billing and repayment administration often require the servicer shown in your StudentAid.gov account.
Escalate unresolved federal-aid problems
Use the Federal Student Aid feedback and ombudsman route after trying the normal service channel and saving case numbers.
Use OCR for Eligible Discrimination Complaints
File online
Use the official Office for Civil Rights complaint system rather than mailing documents to the building without a case route.
Call or email
1-800-421-3481
ocr@ed.gov
Use the portal for the complaint itself and save the confirmation.
Prepare a clean timeline
List the school or program, location, dates, people involved, protected basis, actions taken and requested outcome.
FOIA and OIG Solve Different Problems
FOIA: request federal ED records
- Search ED.gov and the FOIA Library first.
- Describe the records, office and date range narrowly.
- Submit through ED’s online FOIA route.
- Save the request number for status checking.
OIG: report suspected wrongdoing
Use ED OIG for suspected fraud, waste, abuse or criminal activity involving Department funds, programs or operations.
Hotline: 1-800-647-8733
Choose the Law and Office That Matches the Problem
Issue | Best starting route | First practical step |
|---|---|---|
IEP, evaluation, placement or IDEA services | Local/state special education + IDEA contacts | Document the issue and review state complaint, mediation or due-process information |
Disability discrimination or Section 504 | Office for Civil Rights | Prepare dates, school/program details and the access or discrimination issue |
Education-record access or improper disclosure | Student Privacy / FERPA | Save the records request, response and disclosure evidence |
State education policy or certification | State education agency | Use ED’s state-contact directory to identify the responsible state office |
Who Handles a School or Education Building Permit?
Project | Usually responsible | Start here |
|---|---|---|
Public school addition or renovation | Local building department, fire marshal, school district facilities office and state facility authority where applicable | Confirm jurisdiction and project-owner requirements before design |
Private school or college remodel | Local building/zoning offices, fire authority and campus facilities | Confirm use, occupancy, accessibility and fire requirements before leasing or construction |
Daycare or childcare facility | Local building, zoning, fire, health and state childcare licensing | Confirm occupancy and licensing feasibility before signing a lease |
Federal education property | Federal property manager, GSA and federal contracting/project channels | Contact the agency project manager; do not assume the normal homeowner permit route |
Ask a Question That Reaches the Right Office
“My issue concerns [FAFSA / civil rights / IDEA / federal records / grant fraud]. I have already contacted [office] and received case number [number]. Which ED office or official portal should handle the next step?”
“I have an appointment with [office/person] on [date]. Is that office still located at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, which entrance should I use, and what identification or accessibility arrangements are required?”
“I request records held by [ED office/program] concerning [specific subject] created between [dates]. I prefer electronic copies and agree to fees up to [amount].”
“I am planning [project] at [school/address]. Which local building, zoning, fire, health and education-facility approvals must be completed before work begins?”
Lyndon Baines Johnson Building, 400 Maryland Avenue SW
Open the Exact Government Page You Need
U.S. Department of Education Building FAQs
What is the current U.S. Department of Education headquarters address?
As of July 21, 2026, ED’s official Contact Us page lists the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.
Is the Department of Education moving from the LBJ Building?
GSA announced that ED headquarters functions are targeted to move to 500 D Street SW in August 2026. Verify the current office address before visiting or mailing documents because the transition date and office-by-office timing may change.
Can I walk into the headquarters building for help?
Do not assume walk-in case service. Contact the specific office first, confirm an appointment and ask about entry, identification and accessibility requirements. Federal building access is controlled by security personnel and visitor badges.
Which Metro station is closest to the LBJ Building?
ED’s published directions use L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station and route visitors east along Maryland Avenue toward the building. Confirm the correct entrance and current office location before travel.
Who handles FAFSA and federal student-loan questions?
Use Federal Student Aid at StudentAid.gov or call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). The listed TTY number is 1-800-730-8913.
How do I file an education discrimination complaint?
Use the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights complaint portal. OCR also lists 1-800-421-3481 and ocr@ed.gov for contact assistance.
Where do I report fraud involving Department of Education funds?
Use the Department of Education Office of Inspector General Hotline. The ED contact page lists 1-800-MIS-USED, or 1-800-647-8733.
How do I request U.S. Department of Education records?
Search ED.gov and the FOIA Library first. For federal ED records that are not already public, submit a focused request through the Department’s official FOIA process and save the request number.
Who handles IDEA or special-education problems?
Start with the school district and state special-education agency for state procedures. ED’s IDEA contacts page provides OSEP and state resources. Disability discrimination or Section 504 issues may also involve the Office for Civil Rights.
Does the federal Department of Education issue school building permits?
Ordinary school, daycare, college and private-building permits are generally handled by local building, zoning and fire authorities, with school-district, campus, state-facility or licensing agencies added where applicable. ED headquarters is not the local permit office.
Source and Accuracy Note
Building-Department.org is an independent guide and is not the U.S. Department of Education, GSA or any federal agency.
This page was checked against ED’s official Contact Us and location pages, the March 26, 2026 GSA relocation announcement, ED’s published LBJ directions, Federal Student Aid, OCR, OIG, FOIA, IDEA and USA.gov agency contacts.
Last reviewed: July 21, 2026.
The announced move makes this page unusually time-sensitive. Recheck official office pages before mailing documents or visiting after August 2026.
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
Check Permit Type, Estimate Fees, Prepare Inspections and Find Official Building Department Links
Use this free tool before applying for a building permit, booking an inspection, checking zoning rules, or searching permit records. It helps homeowners, contractors, landlords, buyers, and business owners understand the next step before visiting the official building department portal.
What building department task do you need help with?
Choose your goal. The tool will suggest the right next step, what to prepare, and which official page to check.
Before starting work, check whether your project needs building, zoning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, right-of-way, or HOA approval.
Many portals require contractor registration, license details, insurance, plans, owner authorization, and inspection scheduling access.
Building Permit Type Finder
Select the project type to understand which permits or reviews are commonly required. Always confirm with the official local building department.
Permit Fee Estimate Calculator
Estimate a rough permit fee using project value and common percentage-based review assumptions. Local minimum fees, technology fees, impact fees, reinspection fees, and trade fees can change the final amount.
Inspection Readiness Checklist
Use this before scheduling framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, final, or certificate-related inspections.
Zoning and Setback Pre-check
Use this before applying for a permit when your project may affect land use, setbacks, lot coverage, height, parking, signs, fences, accessory structures, or business use.
Plan Review Timeline Estimator
Estimate how complex your review may be. Local staffing, incomplete plans, corrections, holidays, fire review, zoning review, and outside agency review can change timing.
Permit Records Search Helper
Use this if you are trying to find old permits, inspection history, certificate of occupancy details, open permits, or code-related records.
Official Building Department Resource Finder
Enter city/county and state to create safe searches for official permit portals, inspection scheduling, building codes, zoning maps, forms, fees, and contact pages.
Building Department vs Planning/Zoning
- Building Department: permits, plan review, inspections, code compliance, certificates.
- Planning/Zoning: land use, setbacks, height, lot coverage, signs, parking, variances.
Best sitewide placement
Place this tool after the first main guide section or before FAQs. It turns a normal article into a practical permit-preparation page.
Important note
This tool gives educational guidance only. Final permit requirements, fees, inspections, forms, and deadlines must be confirmed with the official local building department.