{"id":183,"date":"2026-05-12T11:12:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/vba\/?page_id=183"},"modified":"2026-10-06T15:16:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T19:16:47","slug":"education-service","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/vba\/education-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Education Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Education Service<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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Program overview<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The purpose of the VA Education Service is to provide financial assistance and support to qualifying Veterans, service members, and their families to help cover the costs of higher education, vocational training, and licensing programs. These benefits are designed to assist beneficiaries in developing highly marketable skills and achieving successful transitions into fulfilling civilian careers. To accomplish this, the service helps fund tuition, housing, and books, while also offering career counseling and school selection tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about VA education and training<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Are you a Veteran, Family\n\t\t\t\t\tMember or Caregiver?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Kenneth Smith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Executive Director, Education Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his role, he leads more than 1,500 employees in the delivery of education and training benefits and services for Veterans and their families, including one of VA\u2019s most frequently used benefits, the Post-9\/11 GI Bill. Education Service delivers over $10 billion in benefits to over 834,000 Veterans, Service members, and their families.

Prior to this assignment, Kenneth served as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Operations Management in the Office of Field Operations, Veterans Benefits Administration. In that capacity, he was responsible for strategic leadership and direction for VA\u2019s disability claims process. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n
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VA Education News<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

VA News articles<\/a>
VA Press releases<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Veterans\u2019 Advisory Committee on Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Visit VACOE homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Legislation, Policy, and Guidance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Policy and Guidance Change webpage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Program Oversight & Accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Visit Program Oversight and Accountability Webpage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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School administrator resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Resources for Schools Webpage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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VSO Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

EDU VSO Update Slides <\/em>
VET VEC 2.0 toolkit<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ESO Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Email: EDUSTAENG.VBAVACO@va.gov<\/a>
Contact Information Submission form<\/em>
Meeting Slides\/Minutes <\/em>
Toolkits<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Education Call Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

GI Bill hotline:
888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Education Newsletter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Subscribe to GI Bill Student Newsletter<\/a>
Newsletter archive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GI Bill social media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Facebook<\/a>
Youtube playlist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Contact information<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Media should direct questions or comments to Office of Media Relations<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VBA Support: 1-800-827-1000<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AskVA<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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