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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE VIEWPOINT SURVEY RESULTS 2023

508-ACCESSIBLE VERSION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023 

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
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Contents

SURVEY INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 3

Data........................................................................................................................................................... 3

Insights...................................................................................................................................................... 3

DEMOGRAPHICS DATA........................................................................................................................... 4

Data........................................................................................................................................................... 4

Insights...................................................................................................................................................... 5

INDICES SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 6

Employee Engagement Index (EEI) ......................................................................................................... 6

Global Satisfaction Index (GSI)................................................................................................................ 6

Performance Confidence Index (PCI)....................................................................................................... 6

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Index (DEIA) ................................................................. 6

Insights...................................................................................................................................................... 6

INDICES DETAIL ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Insights...................................................................................................................................................... 8

TOP POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SCORES ............................................................................................. 8

Insights...................................................................................................................................................... 9

EEI: LEADERS LEAD DATA .................................................................................................................... 9

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 10

EEI: SUPERVISORS DATA ..................................................................................................................... 10

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 11

EEI: INTRINSIC WORK EXPERIENCE.................................................................................................. 11

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 12

GLOBAL SATISFACTION INDEX DATA ............................................................................................. 12

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 12

PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE INDEX DATA ................................................................................... 13

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 13

DEIA INDEX DATA ................................................................................................................................. 13

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 14

DEIA INDEX DATA cont.......................................................................................................................... 14

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 15

NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY ............................................................................................. 15

Insights.................................................................................................................................................... 16
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SURVEY INTRODUCTION

Data

Survey Period: May 15 – July 14

Surveys Sent: 3,926

Surveys Completed: 2,773

Response Rate: 70.6%

Number of questions identified as Strengths (65% positive or higher): 71%

Number of questions identified as Challenges (35% negative or higher): 0%

Insights

The 2023 FEVS was administered from May 15 to July 14 with 2,773 ED employees completing the 

survey resulting in a 70.6% response rate. The results of the 90 questions surveyed showed strengths at 

71% and challenges at 0%. 
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DEMOGRAPHICS DATA

Data

Gender 

Female - 62.9% 

Male - 37.1%

Hispanic, Latino, Spanish 

8.6%

Black, White, Other 

91.4%

Military Service 

12.3% - Active/Retired/ Separated

Retirement 

22.2% within next five years

Plan to Leave 

27.9% within the next year

Tenure at ED 

Tenure Percentage of 

Employees

Less than 1 year 3.2%

1 to 3 years 25.1%

4 to 5 years 7.1%

6 to 10 years 17.6%

11 to 14 years 14.4%

15 to 20 years 12.7%

More than 20 years 19.8%

Age Group 

Age Range Percentage of 

Employees

29 years and under 3.3%

30-39 years old 20.7%

40-49 years old 28.1%

50-59 years old 32.0%
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Age Range Percentage of 

Employees

60 years or older 15.8%

Insights

• People considering leaving ED within the next year for retirement increased by 0.7 percentage 

points from 2021-2023

• 4.7% in 2023

• 4.1% in 2022 

• 4.0% in 2021 

• People considering leaving ED within the next year for another Federal job decreased by 0.4 

percentage points from 2021-2023: 

• 15.3% in 2023

• 14.5% in 2022

• 15.7% in 2021 

• People considering leaving ED within the next year for another job outside of the Federal 

government decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 2021-2023: 

• 2.8% in 2023

• 2.7% in 2022

• 3.4% in 2021

• People considering leaving ED within the next year for other reasons Increased by 1.7 percentage 

point from 2021-2023: 

• 5.1% in 2023

• 3.5% in 2022

• 3.4% in 2021
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INDICES SUMMARY

Employee Engagement Index (EEI)

Comprised of three indices (Leaders Lead, Supervisors, and Intrinsic Work Experience that measures 

conditions conducive to engagement. It is comprised of the average of positive responses to 15 FEVS 

questions.

Global Satisfaction Index (GSI)

Measures the extent to which employees are satisfied with their job, pay and organization, along with a 

willingness to recommend their organization as a good place to work. It is comprised of the average of 

positive responses to 4 FEVS questions.

GSI Score: 69%

Performance Confidence Index (PCI)

Measures the extent to which employees believe their organization has an outstanding competitive future, 

based on innovative, high-quality products and services that are highly regarded by the marketplace.

PCI Score: 90%

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Index (DEIA)

Measures four distinct factors: diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. It is comprised of 13 

questions and aligns to Executive Order 14035.

DEIA Score: 76%

Insights

ED’s 2023 FEVS Overall Index Scores ranged 69% - 90% as follow: GSI 69%; EEI 76%; DEIA 76%; 

and PCI 90%.
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INDICES DETAIL

Agency 

Level

EEI

Overall

EEI

Leaders 

Lead

EEI 

Supervisors

EEI

Intrinsic Work 

Experience

GSI PCI DEIA

Overall

GOVWIDE

76% + 67% + 85% + 77% + 70% 

+

89% + 76% +

ED 76% + 66% + 86% + 77% + 69% 

+

90% + 76% +

FSA 75% + 63% + 85% + 76% + 66% 

+

89% + 73% +

IES 78% + 67% + 89% + 77% + 69% 

+

91% + 80% +

OCIO 78% + 72% + 85% + 77% + 64% 

+

87% + 75% +

OCO 80% + 68% + 92% + 80% + 73% 

+

92% + 80% +

OCR 69% + 53% - 87% + 66% + 55% 

-

84% + 71% +

OCTAE 77% + 70% + 80% + 82% + 73% 

+

93% + 74% +

OELA 80% + 59% - 91% + 91% + 68% 

+

96% + 77% +

OESE 80% + 72% + 88% + 80% + 68% 

+

92% + 75% +

OFO 76% + 63% + 84% + 82% + 74% 

+

93% + 79% +

OGC 90% + 81% + 96% + 91% + 83% 

+

100% 

+

85% +

OIG 86% + 83% + 90% + 85% + 83% 

+

96% + 89% +

OPE 82% + 78% + 89% + 81% + 77% 

+

94% + 81% +

OPEPD 76% + 65% + 86% + 77% + 76% 

+

91% + 80% +

OS 81% + 73% + 88% + 82% + 74% 

+

91% + 82% +

OSERS 75% + 64% + 83% + 77% + 71% 

+

88% + 71% +

65% or Higher Positive (+) 60% - 64% Positive (+) 59% or Lower Positive (-) 
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Insights

The Overall index scores for Gov-wide, ED, and POCs ranged as 69% - 90% for EEI; 55% - 83% for 

GSI; 84% - 100% for PCI; and 71% - 89% for DEIA.

Gov-wide (medium size agency) comparison shows scores are very close or the same (differences are 

with EEI-Leaders Lead, EEI-Supervisors, GSI, and PCI each by 1%)

TOP POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SCORES

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

62% 70% 76% 76% 76%

Employee Engagement Index Trends

TOP 5 POSITIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE

Q53 - My supervisor holds me accountable for 

achieving.

94%

Q90 – It is important to me that my work 

contribute to the common good.

94%

Q44 – My organization has prepared me for 

potential cybersecurity threats.

93%

Q11 – I am held accountable for the quality of 

work I produce.

92%

Q49 – My supervisor supports my need to balance 

work and other life issues.

92%

TOP 5 NEGATIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE

Q5 – My workload is reasonable. 30%

Q41 – The approval process in my organization 

allows timely delivery of my work.

30%

Q47 – I believe the results of this survey will be 

used to make my agency a better place to work.

27%

Q66 – Management involves employees in 

decisions that affect their work.

27%

Q57 – In my organization, senior leader’s 

generate high levels of motivation and 

commitment in the workforce.

24%
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Insights

o ED’s EEI score ranged from low of 62% in 2019 to a high of 76% in 2021, 2022, and 2023 (score

increased by 14 percentage points from 2019-2023)

o ED’s top five positive scores ranged from a high of 94% to a low of 92% and centered around

employees’ perception.

o *that their supervisor held them accountable for achieving results;

o *that it was important that their work contributed to the common good;

o *that the organization has prepared them for potential cybersecurity threats;

o *that they are held accountable for the quality of work produced; and

o that they believe their supervisors support their need to balance work and other life

issues.

 (The four items in bold with an asterisk above were in the top 5 in 2022) 

o ED’s top 5 negative scores ranged from a high of 30% to a low of 24% and centered around

employees’ perception:

o *of whether their workload was reasonable;

o that the approval process in ED allows timely delivery of their work;

o *that they believed the results of the survey would be used to make the agency a

better place to work;

o *whether they thought management involved them in decisions that affect their

work; and

o if they thought senior leaders in ED generate high levels of motivation and commitment

in the workforce.

 (Three items in bold with an asterisk above were in the top 5 negative in 2022) 

EEI: LEADERS LEAD DATA

TRENDS 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

43% 53% 65% 66% 66%

2023 – GOVERNMENT WIDE – 67%
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EEI: LEADERS LEAD DATA - 2023 POSITIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q57 – In my organization, senior 

leaders generate high levels of 

motivation and commitment in 

the workforce.

53% 56%

Q58 – My organization’s senior 

leaders maintain high standards of 

honesty and integrity.

66% 66%

Q59 – Managers communicate 

the goals of the organization.

74% 74%

Q61 – Overall, how good a job do 

you feel is being done by the 

manager directly above your 

immediate supervisor?

73% 74%

Q62 – I have a high level of 

respect for my organization’s 

senior leaders.

64% 66%

Insights

The EEI Leaders Lead score improved by 23 percentage points from 2019 to 2023.

Top two areas to improve based on 2023 data are questions 57 and 62. 

Questions 57 (at 53% positive), 58 (at 66% positive), and 62 (at 64% positive) of the Leaders Lead index 

will be in ED’s National Engagement Strategy from 2023 – 2025 to continue improving. The other two 

were removed from the NES because they have improved with a positive score at or above 73%. 

EEI: SUPERVISORS DATA

TRENDS 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

77% 82% 85% 86% 86%

2023 – GOVERNMENT WIDE – 85%
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EEI: SUPERVISORS DATA - 2023 POSITIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q48 – Supervisors in my work 

unit support employee 

development.

85% 84%

Q50 – My supervisor listens to 

what I have to say.

89% 86%

Q51 – My supervisor treats me 

with respect.

90% 89%

Q52 – I have trust and confidence 

in my supervisor.

83% 81%

Q54 – Overall, how good a job do 

you feel is being done by your 

immediate supervisor?

84% 83%

Insights

The EEI Supervisors score improved by 9 percentage points from 2019 to 2023.

2023 results for all questions in this index show strengths with scores ranging from low of 83% to high of 

90%. 

EEI: INTRINSIC WORK EXPERIENCE

TRENDS 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

66% 73% 77% 77% 77%

2023 – GOVERNMENT WIDE – 77%

EEI: INTRINSIC WORK EXPERIENCE - 2023 POSITIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q2 – I feel encouraged to come 

up with new and better ways of 

doing things.

70% 70%

Q3 – My work gives me a feeling 

of personal accomplishment.

77% 78%

Q4 – I know what is expected of 

me on the job.

84% 83%

Q6 – My talents are used well in 

the workplace.

66% 67%

Q7 – I know how my work relates 

to the agency’s goals.

88% 88%
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Insights

The EEI Intrinsic Work Experience score improved by 11 percentage points from 2019 to 2023.

2023 results for most questions in this index show strengths with scores ranging from low of 66% to high 

of 88%.

Question 6 (my talents are used well in the workplace) could be improved.

GLOBAL SATISFACTION INDEX DATA

TRENDS

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

50% 61% 70% 67% 69%

2023 – GOVERNMENT WIDE – 70%

GLOBAL SATISFACTION INDEX - 2023 POSITIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q46 – I recommend my 

organization as a good place to 

work.

68% 72%

Q70 – Considering everything, 

how satisfied are you with your 

job?

73% 73%

Q71 – Considering everything, 

how satisfied are you with your 

pay?

67% 65%

Q72 – Considering everything, 

how satisfied are you with your 

organization?

67% 69%

Insights

The GSI score improved by 19 percentage points from 2019 to 2023.

Top three questions that may be good to work on based on 2023 data are numbers 46, 71, and 72 

(although they are not considered as challenges). 

Work done in support of ED’s National Engagement Strategy focus areas from 2023 – 2025 could 

positively impact scores for some GSI questions (i.e., Q46 and Q72).
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PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE INDEX DATA

TRENDS

2020 2021 2022 2023

89% 91% 91% 90%

2023 – GOVERNMENT WIDE – 70%

PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE INDEX - 2023 POSITIVE SCORES

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q20 – Employees in my work 

unit meet the needs of our 

customers.

89% 91%

Q21 – Employees in my work 

unit contribute positively to my 

agency’s performance.

92% 91%

Q22 – Employees in my work 

unit produce high-quality work.

90% 89%

Q23 – Employees in my work 

unit adapt to changing priorities.

89% 86%

Insights

The PCI score dropped by 4 percentage points from 2020 to 2023.

2023 results for all questions in this index show strengths with scores ranging from a low of 89% to a 

high of 92%. 

With scores declining, ED can keep a closer look at this index performance (although it does not appear 

to currently reflect challenges for ED).

DEIA INDEX DATA

DEIA INDEX DATA - DIVERSITY 

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q74 – My supervisor 

demonstrates a commitment to 

workforce diversity (e.g., 

recruitment, promotion 

opportunities, development).

80% 79%

Q73 – My organization’s 

management practices promote 

diversity (e.g, outreach, 

recruitment, promotion 

opportunities).

73% 75%
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DEIA INDEX DATA - EQUITY

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q76 – My supervisor provides 

opportunities fairly to all 

employees in my work unit (e.g, 

promotions, work assignments).

75% 74%

Q77 – In my work unit, excellent 

work is similarly recognized for 

all employees (e.g, awards, 

acknowledgements).

70% 70%

Q75 – I have similar access to 

advancement opportunities (e.g, 

promotion, career development, 

training) as others in my work 

unit.

68% 69%

Insights

The overall DEIA score was 76% in 2022 and in 2023. OPM started the index in 2022. 

 2023 Govt-wide score: 76%

 Positive Scores as follow:

 Diversity ranged 73% to 80%

 Equity ranged 68% to 75%

 Inclusion ranged 79% to 83%

 Accessibility ranged 72% to 78%

DEIA INDEX DATA cont.

DEIA INDEX DATA - INCLUSION

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q78 – Employees in my work 

unit make me feel I belong.

83% 83%

Q79 – Employees in my work 

unit care about me as a person. 

82% 81%

Q80 – I am comfortable 

expressing opinions that are 

different from other employees in 

my work unit.

82% 79%

Q81 – In my work unit, people’s 

differences are respected.

82% 80%

Q82 – I can be successful in my 

organization being myself.

79% 78%
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DEIA INDEX DATA - ACCESSIBILITY 

QUESTION PERCENTAGE GOV-WIDE

Q83 – I can easily make a request 

of my organization to meet my 

accessibility needs.

78% 76%

Q85 – My organization meets my 

accessibility needs.

76% 74%

Q84 – My organization responds 

to my accessibility needs in a 

timely manner.

72% 72%

Insights

The overall DEIA score was 76% in 2022 and in 2023. OPM started the index in 2022. 

 2023 Govt-wide score: 76%

 Positive Scores as follow:

 Diversity ranged 73% to 80%

 Equity ranged 68% to 75%

 Inclusion ranged 79% to 83%

 Accessibility ranged 72% to 78%

NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

OVERVIEW

 National Engagement Strategy (NES) is an enterprise-wide plan to improve engagement 

and reinvigorate employees’ commitment to the Department. 

 NES period is 2023 – 2025 and includes three focus areas to improve: Leaders Lead, 

Collaborative Management, and Top 5 Highest % Negative Questions 

 ED will work to increase the NES focus area scores by 2 percentage points each year. 

 Latest status and next steps are shown below. 

1) Created Draft NES – OCTOBER 2023

2) Review Draft NES – NOVEMBER 2023

3) Finalize and Share NES – DECEMBER 2023
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Insights

The first draft of the NES 2023-2025 was created and is currently being reviewed for approval 

by multiple individuals. Next steps are to finalize and distribute to POC leaders.