Virginia Department of Education

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper, titled Part I: Background of and Rationale for the {Selected Agency} in which you separate the content into sections:

• Provide background information about the agency (Virginia Department of Education) and its department, mission, and its goals / objectives. (Title this section Introduction.)
• Describe three to five (3-5) functions of this agency. (Title this section Functions of the Agency.)
• Analyze two to three (2-3) current events involving the agency. (Title this section Current Events.)
• Explain the rationale for selecting this agency with two to three (2-3) justifiable reasons. (Title this section Rationale.)
• List four to five (4-5) academic sources and government Websites you expect to access in your research. (Include no more than one (1) non-government Website.)

Some Websites you may want to access are:

• U.S. Government Printing Office located at http://www.gpo.gov/
• The Federal Register located at http://www.federalregister.gov/
• U.S. Government Accountability Office located at http://www.gao.gov/
• American Society for Public Administrators located at http://www.aspanet.org/public/

When using these sites, please make sure they follow APA formatting within the text and on the Reference Page.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The sections must have appropriate titles. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The assignment must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Examine the basic components and functions of public sector administration.
• Recommend ways to improve specific areas of public administration.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in public administration.

Write clearly and concisely about public administration using proper writing mechanics.