Appendices
APPENDICES

150 FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 

Appendix A: Selected Department Web Links and Education 

Resources

College Completion Toolkit 

The College Completion Toolkit provides information that governors and other state leaders 

can use to help colleges in their state increase student completion rates. It highlights key 

strategies and offers models to learn from, as well as other useful resources. 

http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/cc-toolkit.pdf 

College Cost Lists 

The Department provides college affordability and transparency lists under the Higher 

Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Each list is broken out into nine different sectors to 

allow students to compare costs at similar types of institutions, including career and 

technical programs. http://collegecost.ed.gov/catc/

College Navigator 

College Navigator consists primarily of the latest data from the Integrated Postsecondary 

Education Data System, the core postsecondary education data collection program for the 

National Center for Education Statistics. http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

College Preparation Checklist 

This Departmental tool gives prospective college students step-by-step instructions on how 

to prepare academically and financially for education beyond high school. Each section is 

split into subsections for students and parents, explaining what needs to be done and which 

publications or websites might be useful to them. http://studentaid.ed.gov

Additional resources within the checklist assist students in finding scholarships and grants. 

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/checklist/main.html

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships

College Scorecards 

College Scorecards in the Department’s College Affordability and Transparency Center 

make it easier to find out more about a college’s affordability and value. The College 

Scorecard has been redesigned as a tool that further commits to the administration’s Open 

Data Initiative and incorporates direct input from students, families, and their advisers to 

provide the clearest, most accessible, and most reliable national data on college cost, 

graduation, debt, and postcollege earnings. The old way of assessing college choices relied 

on static ratings lists compiled by someone who was deciding what value to place on 

different factors. The new way of assessing college choices, with the help of technology 

and open data, makes it possible for anyone—a student, a school, a policymaker, or a 

researcher—to decide which factors to evaluate. https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
APPENDICES

SELECTED DEPARTMENT WEB LINKS AND EDUCATION RESOURCES

FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 151 

Condition of Education and Digest of Education Statistics 

The Condition of Education is a congressionally mandated annual report that summarizes 

developments and trends in education using the latest available statistics. The report 

presents statistical indicators containing text, figures, and data from early learning through 

graduate-level education. http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/ 

The primary purpose of the Digest of Education Statistics is to provide a compilation of 

statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten 

through graduate school. The Digest includes a selection of data from many sources, both 

government and private, and draws especially on the results of surveys and activities 

carried out by the National Center for Education Statistics. 

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/ 

Government Accountability Office 

The Government Accountability Office supports Congress in meeting its constitutional 

responsibilities and helps improve the performance and accountability of the federal 

government for the benefit of the American people. 

http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/agency.php 

Grants Information and Resources 

In addition to student loans and grants, the Department offers other discretionary grants. 

These are awarded using a competitive process, and formula grants use formulas 

determined by Congress with no application process. This site lists Department 

discretionary grant competitions previously announced, as well as those planned for later 

announcement, for new awards organized according to the Department’s principal program 

offices. http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html 

For more information on the Department’s programs, see http://www2.ed.gov/programs.

National Assessment of Educational Progress 

The National Assessment of Educational Progress assesses samples of students in grades 

4, 8, and 12 in various academic subjects. Results of the assessments are reported for the 

nation and states in terms of achievement levels—Basic, Proficient, and Advanced.

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ 

Office of Inspector General 

The Office of Inspector General conducts independent and objective audits, investigations, 

inspections, and other activities to promote the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of the 

Department’s programs and operations. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/index.html 

For a list of recent reports, go to http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/reports.html. 
APPENDICES

SELECTED DEPARTMENT WEB LINKS AND EDUCATION RESOURCES

152 FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 

One-Stop Shopping for Student Loans

The Department provides a site from which students can manage their loans. 

http://studentloans.gov/

Open Government Initiative 

The Department’s Open Government Initiative is designed to improve the way the 

Department shares information, learns from others, and collaborates to develop the best 

solutions for America’s students. http://www2.ed.gov/about/open.html 

Performance Data 

EDFacts is a Department initiative to put performance data at the center of policy, 

management, and budget decisions for all K–12 educational programs. EDFacts centralizes 

performance data supplied by K–12 state educational agencies with other data assets, such 

as financial grant information, within the Department to enable better analysis and use in 

policy development, planning, and management.

http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/index.html 

Practice Guides for Educators 

The Department offers guides that help educators address everyday challenges faced in 

classrooms and schools. Developed by a panel of nationally recognized experts, practice 

guides consist of actionable recommendations, strategies for overcoming potential 

roadblocks, and an indication of the strength of evidence supporting each recommendation. 

The guides themselves are subjected to rigorous external peer review. Users can sort by 

subject area, academic level, and intended audience to find the most recent, relevant, and 

useful guides. http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Product#/ContentTypeId:3 

Program Inventory 

The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, P.L. 111-352, requires that the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) establish a single website with a central inventory of all 

federal programs, including the purpose of each program and its contribution to the mission 

and goals of the Department. The initial Federal Program Inventory was published in May 

2013. The Department described each program within 27 budgetary accounts, as well as 

how the programs support the Department’s broader strategic goals and objectives. 

Since that time, Congress passed the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA 

Act) requiring new public reporting requirements, which impact the definition of program 

used in this guidance. OMB is currently working with agencies to merge the implementation 

of the DATA Act and the Federal Program Inventory requirements to the extent possible to 

avoid duplicative efforts. While OMB and agencies determine the right implementation 

strategy, the initial Federal Program Inventory remains available on performance.gov or at 

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/inventory.pdf. 
APPENDICES

SELECTED DEPARTMENT WEB LINKS AND EDUCATION RESOURCES

FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 153 

Projections of Education Statistics to 2023 

For the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the tables, figures, and text in this report 

contain data on projections of public elementary and secondary enrollment and public high 

school graduates to the year 2023. The report includes a methodology section that 

describes the models and assumptions used to develop national and state-level projections. 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2015073 

Resources for Adult and Career and Technical Education 

The Department, through the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network, offers resources 

and tools for the development and implementation of comprehensive career guidance 

programs. This includes guides for students, parents, teachers, counselors, and 

administrators across relevant topics, such as planning and exploring careers, selecting 

institutions, finances, and guidance evaluation. This source is an example of 

interdepartmental cooperation between the Department and the U.S. Department of Labor. 

http://cte.ed.gov/nationalinitiatives/gandctools.cfm?&pass_dis=1

The Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) is a Department initiative 

that seeks to expand evidence-based practice in the field of adult literacy. LINCS provides 

high-quality, on-demand educational opportunities to practitioners of adult education in 

order to help adult learners successfully transition to postsecondary education and 

employment. LINCS is comprised of three components: 1) the LINCS Resource Collection 

provides free online access to high-quality, evidence-based materials and self-access 

courses to help practitioners and state and local staff improve programs, services, 

instruction, and teacher quality; 2) LINCS Regional Professional Development Centers work 

with states to offer practitioners training and professional development activities; and 3) 

LINCS Community provides an online social learning space (a community of practice) for 

networking, information sharing, and collaboration among adult education leadership, 

professional developers, administrative staff, and practitioners across the country. 

http://lincs.ed.gov/
APPENDICES

154 FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 

Appendix B: Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ABCP Asset-Backed Commercial Paper 

AFR Agency Financial Report 

APG Agency Priority Goals 

APR Annual Performance Report 

CAT Core Assessment Team 

CCMS Continuous Controls Monitoring System 

CHAFL College Housing and Academic Facilities Loan Program 

CPSS Contracts and Purchasing Support System 

DATA Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014

DCIA Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 

DNP Do Not Pay 

DOL U.S. Department of Labor 

ECASLA Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 

EDCAPS Education Central Automated Processing System 

ERM Enterprise Risk Management 

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid 

FASAB Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board 

FCRA Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990

FECA Federal Employees’ Compensation Act

FERS Federal Employees Retirement System 

FFB Federal Financing Bank 

FFEL Federal Family Education Loan 

FFMIA Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 

FISMA Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014

FMFIA Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982

FMSS Financial Management Support System

FSA Federal Student Aid 
APPENDICES

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 155 

FY Fiscal Year 

G5 Grants Management System 

GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles 

GPRA Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 

GSA General Services Administration 

HBCUs Historically Black Colleges and Universities 

HCERA Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010

HEA Higher Education Act of 1965

HEAL Health Education Assistance Loans 

IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 

IES Institute of Education Sciences 

IHE Institutions of Higher Education 

IPERA Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 

IPERIA Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 

IRS Internal Revenue Service 

IRS DRT IRS Data Retrieval Tool 

IT Information Technology 

LEA Local Educational Agency 

LINCS Literacy Information and Communication System 

NFP Not-for-profit 

OCFO Office of the Chief Financial Officer 

OCIO Office of the Chief Information Officer 

OCR Office for Civil Rights 

OCTAE Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education

OELA Office of English Language Acquisition 

OESE Office of Elementary and Secondary Education 

OIG Office of Inspector General 

OII Office of Innovation and Improvement
APPENDICES

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

156 FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 

OMB Office of Management and Budget 

OPE Office of Postsecondary Education 

OPM Office of Personnel Management 

OSERS Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 

PAYE Pay as You Earn 

PEPS Postsecondary Education Participants System 

PIV Personal Identity Verification 

SAFRA Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA Act) 

SAT Senior Assessment Team 

SBR Statement of Budgetary Resources 

SEA State Educational Agency 

SFA Student Financial Assistance 

SOC Security Operations Center 

SOS Schedule of Spending 

TEACH Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant 

TIVAS Title IV Additional Servicers 

Treasury U.S. Department of Treasury 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FY 2016 Agency Financial Report—U.S. Department of Education 157 

Acknowledgments 

This Agency Financial Report (AFR) was 

produced with the energies and talents of our 

employees and contract partners. 

Within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, 

the office of Financial Management Operations 

(FMO) is responsible for certifying, processing, 

reconciling, evaluating, and reporting all agency 

financial transactions; preparing annual financial 

statements and related notes and schedules; 

and coordinating the external audit of the 

agency’s financial statements.

Financial Improvement Operations (FIO) 

provides leadership and direction in the areas of 

internal control assessment, financial 

management training, post audit activities, and 

indirect cost determination. 

Contracts and Acquisitions Management (CAM) 

is responsible for the solicitation, award, 

administration, and closeout of all contracts and 

other acquisition instruments for the Department. 

We offer our sincerest thanks and 

acknowledgment to staff of all participating 

principal offices. In particular, we recognize the 

following organizations for their contribution: 

Other Contributors: 

Office of the Deputy Secretary 

Federal Student Aid 

Office of the Inspector General 

Budget Service 

Office of Communications and 

Outreach 

Office of Planning, Evaluation, and 

Policy Development 

Office of the Chief Information Officer 

Partners: 

Office of Management and Budget 

Department of Treasury 

Government Accountability Office 

Association of Government 

Accountants 

The following companies were contracted to assist in the preparation of the 

U.S. Department of Education FY 2016 Agency Financial Report:

For general layout and Web design: ICF Macro 

For database design: Plexus Corporation 

For accounting services: IBM Business Consulting Services 

Quality Software Services, Inc. 

FMR Consulting, Inc. 

Cotton & Company, LLP 

The FY 2016 Agency Financial Report 

U.S. Department of Education 

Office of the Chief Financial Officer 

An electronic version is available on the World Wide Web at 

http://www2.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/index.html

U.S. Department of Education, November 2016