APPENDICES
144 FY 2020 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. https://www.ed.gov/

college-completion/completion-toolkit

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/

COLLEGE NAV IGATOR

College Navigator consists of the latest data from the 

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, and 

the core postsecondary education data collection program 

for the National Center for Education Statistics, as well 

as data from Federal Student Aid on cohort default rates, 

the Office of Postsecondary Education on campus safety 

and accreditation, and information on veterans from the 

Veterans Benefits Administration. https://nces.ed.gov/

collegenavigator/

COLLEGE PREPAR ATION 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.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/

checklists

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

finding-scholarships

COLLEGE SCORECARD

The Department’s College Scorecard makes it easier 

to find out more about a college’s affordability and 

value. The College Scorecard continues to be a tool that 

provides clear, accessible, and reliable data on college 

cost, graduation, debt, and post college earnings. The 

College Scorecard continues to move the field forward in 

informing college choices with the help of technology and 

open data, making it possible for anyone—a student, a 

school, a policymaker, or a researcher—to decide which 

factors to evaluate. https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

CONDIT ION OF EDUC AT ION A ND 

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, 

as well as labor force outcomes and international 

comparisons. https://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. https://nces.ed.gov/

programs/digest/

COLLEGE FINANCING PLAN

The College Financing Plan is a consumer tool that 

participating institutions use to notify students about 

their financial aid package. It is a standardized form that 

is designed to simplify the information that prospective 

students receive about costs and financial aid so that 

they can easily compare institutions and make informed 

decisions about where to attend school. https://www2.

ed.gov/policy/highered/guid/aid-offer/index.html
FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 145

SELECTED DEPARTMENT WEB LINKS AND EDUCATION RESOURCES | APPENDICES

ONE-STOP SHOPPI NG FOR 

STUDENT LOANS

The Department provides a site from which students can 

manage their loans. http://studentloans.gov/

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

W H AT WOR K S CL E A R I NGHOUSE 

PRACTICE GUIDES FOR EDUCATORS

The Department offers practice guides and other resources 

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. 

https://whatworks.ed.gov

EDUC AT ION R E SOU RCE S 

I NFOR M AT ION CENT ER (ER IC) 

The Department offers ERIC—the world’s largest free, 

digital library of education research. It is composed of 

1.8 million bibliographic records and 400,000 fulltext materials indexed from 1966 to the present. Each 

ERIC bibliographic record contains an abstract of a 

journal article or grey literature document (for example, 

a technical report or conference paper), along with such 

indexed information as author, title, and publication date. 

https://eric.ed.gov

GOV ER NM ENT ACCOU NTA BILIT Y 

OFFICE (GAO)

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

GR A NTS I NFOR M AT ION 

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.

NAT IONA L A SSE SSM ENT 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 comparable scale 

scores and achievement levels—NAEP Basic, NAEP 

Proficient, and NAEP Advanced. https://nces.ed.gov/

nationsreportcard/

OFFICE OF I NSPEC TOR 

GENERAL (OIG)

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.
146 FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

APPENDICES | SELECTED DEPARTMENT WEB LINKS AND EDUCATION RESOURCES

R E SOU RC E S FOR A DU LT, C A R E E R , 

A ND T ECH NIC A L EDUC AT ION 

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

To support the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 

Act (WIOA), the Department offers professional 

development resources through the Literacy Information 

and Communication System (LINCS). This initiative 

seeks to expand evidence-based practice in the field of 

adult education and literacy. LINCS serves as Office of 

Career, Technical, and Adult Education’s (OCTAE’s) 

primary outreach and dissemination mechanism to 

adult educators and provides high-quality, on-demand 

educational opportunities to practitioners of adult 

education. LINCS is comprised of: the LINCS Resource 

Collection, which provides online access to high-quality, 

evidence-based materials and instructional resources; 

the LINCS Community, a virtual professional learning 

space where adult educators can engage in discussions 

focused on critical topics to the field of adult education; a 

Learning Portal that offers anytime, anywhere professional 

development courses; a Professional Development Center 

that provides technical assistance to states in meeting the 

state leadership requirements set forth in WIOA; and 

the Learner Center, which provides access to federally 

developed or federally reviewed resources to assist adult 

learners in reaching their learning goals. Through these 

efforts, LINCS demonstrates OCTAE’s commitment 

to delivering high-quality, on-demand educational 

opportunities to practitioners of adult education and 

literacy, so those practitioners can help adult learners 

successfully transition to postsecondary education and 

21st century jobs. http://lincs.ed.gov/

R EGIONA L EDUC AT IONA L 

LABORATORY (REL) PROGRAM

The Department administers the REL program to support 

the use of research and evidence to help states and 

school districts improve their education programs and, 

ultimately, student performance. To do this, each regional 

REL contractor works with teachers, administrators, 

and policymakers to identify “high-leverage” problems 

of practice and build the research capacity of local 

stakeholders. Each REL develops partnerships with stateand local-level education agencies to gather and analyze 

data, conduct evaluations, and provide technical assistance 

that addresses these “high-leverage” problems. https://ies.

ed.gov/rels

PROGRAM INVENTORY

The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, P.L. 111-352, 

requires that the 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 programs 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.

PROJEC T IONS OF EDUC AT ION 

S TAT IS T IC S TO 2028 

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 2028. The report 

includes a methodology section that describes the models 

and assumptions used to develop national and state-level 

projections. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020024.pdf
FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 147

EDCAPS Education Central Automated 

Processing System

EDGMSS-BPA Education Grants Management 

Support Services-Blanket 

Purchase Agreement

EDMAPS Enterprise Data Management and 

Analytics Platform Services

EDSOC The Department of Education 

Security Operations Center 

ERR Entity Risk Review

EFRA Group Enterprise Fraud Risk 

Advisory Group

EIA Emergency Impact Aid

ELG Evidence Leadership Group 

EO Evaluation	Officer	

ERIC Education Resources 

Information Center

ERR Entity Risk Review

ERMD Enterprise Risk 

Management Directorate

ERMWG Enterprise Risk Management 

Working Group

ESSA Every Student Succeeds Act

ESSER Elementary and Secondary School 

Emergency Relief

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

APPENDIX B: GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS 

AND ABBREVIATIONS

ABCP Asset-Backed Commercial Paper

AFR Agency Financial Report

APG Agency Priority Goals

APR Annual Performance Reports

BOD Binding Operational Directive

BPR Business Processing Re-engineering

CARES Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and 

Economic Security Act of 2020

CBO	 Congressional	Budget	Office	

CEAR	 	Certificate	of	Excellence	in	

Accountability Reporting 

CPI-U	 Consumer	Price	Index

CPSS Contracts and Purchasing 

Support System

CSF Cyber Security Framework

CSRS Civil Service Retirement System

CTE Career and Technical Education

CyberSIG Cybersecurity Standards 

Innovation Group

DATA Act Digital Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2014

DCIA Debt Collection Improvement Act 

of 1996

DGB ED Data Governance Board

Direct Loan William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan

DHS U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security

DL Direct Loan 

DMA Data Maturity Assessment 

DOL U.S. Department of Labor

EAI Emergency Assistance to Institutions 

of Higher Education

ECASLA Ensuring Continued Access to 

Student Loans Act of 2008 
148 FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

APPENDICES | GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

IET Integrated Education and Training

IHEs 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

ISS Interim Servicing Solution

IT Information Technology

LEAs Local Educational Agency

LINCS Literacy Information and 

Communication System

MSR Mid-Session Review

NAEP National Assessment of 

Educational Progress

Next Gen FSA	 	Next	Generation	Financial	

Student Aid

NIST National Institute of Standards 

and Technology

NSLDS® National Student Loan Data System

OAGA Office	of	Acquisition	and	

Grants Administration

OCDO	 Office	of	the	Chief	Data	Officer	

OCIO	 Office	of	the	Chief	Information	Officer

OCR	 Office	for	Civil	Rights

OCTAE	 	Office	of	Career,	Technical,	and	Adult	

Education

OEDARM Office	of	Enterprise	Data	Analytics	

and Risk Management

OELA	 	Office	of	English	Language	

Acquisition

OESE	 	Office	of	Elementary	and	

Secondary Education

OFM	 Office	of	Financial	Management	

OFO	 Office	of	Finance	and	Operations

OGC	 Office	of	the	General	Council

OHR	 Office	of	Human	Resources

OIG Office	of	Inspector	General

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

FR Financial Report of the 

U.S. Government 

FSA Federal Student Aid

FUTURE ACT Fostering Undergraduate Talent 

by Unlocking Resources for 

Education Act

FY Fiscal Year

G5 Grants Management System 

GAAP Generally Accepted 

Accounting Principles

GAO	 Government	Accountability	Office

GEER Governor’s Emergency Education 

Relief

GPRA Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993

GSA General Services Administration

GTAS Governmentwide Treasury Account 

Symbol Adjusted Trial 

Balance System

HBCUs Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities

HEA Higher Education Act of 1965

HEAL Health Education Assistance Loans

HEER Higher Education Emergency Relief

HHS U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services

IDEA Individuals with Disabilities 

Education Act 

IDR Income-Driven Repayment

IES Institute of Education Sciences
FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 149

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS | APPENDICES

REL Regional Educational Laboratory

Report and Annual Performance Report and 

Plan Annual Performance Plan

RESTART Immediate Aid to Restart

School Operations 

SBR Statement of Budgetary Resources

SEA State Education Agency

SFS Scholarship for Services

STEM	 	Science,	technology,	engineering,	

and mathematics

TBMS Technology Business Management 

Solutions

TCCUs Tribally Controlled Colleges 

and Universities

TEACH Teacher Education Assistance for 

College and Higher Education Grant

TEPSLF Temporary	Expanded	Public	Service	

Loan Forgiveness

TPDR Third-party Debt Relief

TIVAS Title IV Additional Servicers

TPD Total and permanent disability 

Treasury U.S. Department of Treasury

WIOA Workforce Innovation and 

Opportunity Act

OMB	 Office	of	Management	and	Budget

OPD Open Data Platform

OPE	 Office	of	Postsecondary	Education

OPEPD	 	Office	of	Planning,	Evaluation,	and	

Policy Development

OPM	 Office	of	Personnel	Management

OS Office	of	the	Secretary

OSERS	 	Office	of	Special	Education	and	

Rehabilitative Services

P–12 Prekindergarten through 12th grade 

PAYE Pay as You Earn

Pell Federal Pell Grant

Pell Program Pell Grant Program 

PII Personally	Identifiable	Information	

PIIA Payment Integrity Information Act 

of 2019

PIV Personal	Identity	Verification

PLUS Parent Loan for

Undergraduate Students 

PO Principal	Office

POA&Ms Plan of Actions & Milestones 

PSLF Public Service Loan Forgiveness

QSMOs	 Quality	Service	Management	Offices
150 FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The following companies were contracted to assist in the 

preparation of the U.S. Department of Education 

FY 2020 Agency Financial Report:

FOR GENERAL LAYOUT AND WEB DESIGN

OmniStudio, Inc.

FOR ACCOUNTING SERVICES

Quality Software Services, Inc.

FMR Consulting, Inc.

Cotton & Company, LLP

The FY 2020 Agency Financial Report 

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Finance and Operations

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 2020

This AFR was produced with the energies and talents of 

our employees and contract partners.

Within the Office of Finance and Operations (OFO), 

the Office of Financial Management 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.

Also, within OFO, the Office of Budget Service has lead 

responsibility for multiple functions, including developing 

and implementing the Department’s Budget. The Office of 

Acquisition and Grants Administration (OAGA) leads the 

Department toward effective, efficient, and accountable 

acquisition management, as well as develops, manages, 

and provides policy guidance and oversight of the 

Department’s grant management activities and operations.

The Contracts and Acquisitions Management Division, 

within OAGA, 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 Secretary

Federal Student Aid

Office of the Inspector General

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
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