The top level of authority with responsibility for education in a given country, usually located at national (state) level. However, in Belgium, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, the ‘regions’ (Communautés, Länder, Comunidades Autónomas and devolved administrations, respectively) are responsible for all or most areas relating to education. They are therefore considered the top level of authority (European Commission/EACEA/Eurydice, 2014).