The federal government's role in PreK-12 education has long been contentious and continues to evolve. Many have written about education governance, but few have attempted to define an appropriate role for the federal government. That is the core purpose of this essay. The authors articulate a set of principles to guide the federal role in education that is rooted in the history of American education, consistent with broader principles concerning the role of government in society, and reflected in certain long-established education policies that command broad support. In addition to suggesting what the federal government should do, these principles establish boundaries for where its efforts should end. Complementing this document are 12 memos from nationally respected scholars and experts, each focused on the federal government's role in relation to a specific aspect of education policy (https://www.brookings.edu/series/memos-to-the-president-on-the-future-of-education-policy/). After outlining a brief history of the federal role in education, the changing and growing role of education in society, and the principles for the federal role, the authors introduce the memos and their relationships with the principles.