A recent statement misstating the origin of the U.S. Department of Education prompted fact-checking: the federal government first operated a national education bureau in 1867, not 1979. The clarification matters because historical framing shapes public debate over the federal role in schools and higher education policy. Scholars and policy analysts argue that misunderstanding the department’s history can distort discussions about federal authority, funding responsibilities, and accountability mechanisms that affect K–12 pipelines feeding colleges. The piece urges policymakers to ground education reform debates in accurate institutional history. For university leaders and policy shops, the correction reinforces the need for precision when federal policy and historical precedent are invoked in lobbying, congressional testimony, and institutional statements about federal oversight and funding.