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Open Recommendations (52 total)

Student Loans: Education Should Proactively Manage Fraud Risks in Any Future Debt Relief Efforts

GAO-24-107142
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should fully implement all stages of its fraud risk management plans for any future debt relief efforts before approving borrowers for relief. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should implement controls to avoid relying solely on self-reported data in any future debt relief efforts. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should incorporate robust evaluations of fraud risk management activities into any future debt relief efforts before approving borrowers for relief. This could involve partnering with IRS to cross-check incomes of approved borrowers. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Special Education: Additional Data Could Help Early Intervention Programs Reach More Eligible Infants and Toddlers

GAO-24-106019
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services should encourage all states to use demographic data they already collect to maximize children's access to Part C early intervention services. (Recommendation 1)
Open
Education agreed with this recommendation and noted plans to address it by developing revised instructions for states to follow when submitting required annual plans and reports. Specifically, the Education described plans to encourage all states to conduct a root cause analysis using all available Child Find data for two related monitoring indicators and require reporting for states that are having trouble meeting Child Find data requirements. The agency said such analysis may include demographic data (such as race and ethnicity data), as well as other Child Find related data. We await further progress on these efforts.

Department of Education: Federal Student Aid System Modernization Project Should Better Estimate Cost and Schedule

GAO-23-106376
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to ensure that the AED project develops a life cycle cost estimate and updates the budget based on this estimate. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to ensure that the AED project documents its schedule assumptions and constraints. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

K-12 Education: Additional Guidance Could Improve the Equitable Services Process for School Districts and Private Schools

GAO-23-105469
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should prioritize investigations and resolutions of appeals related to equitable services to meet the 90-day legal deadline for resolution. (Recommendation 4)
Open
Education stated that the complicated nature and volume of appeals affect the agency's ability to meet the 90-day deadline. Education also noted that the majority of appeals it has received since the passage of ESSA in 2015 occurred during 2020 or 2021. We recognize the challenges inherent in addressing these appeals, but note that since 2015, Education has not once met the 90-day deadline for resolving an appeal. Given this, we believe Education should prioritize investigations and resolution of equitable services appeals and will await any progress by the agency.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should provide ombuds with more opportunities for training on topics such as
  • monitoring and enforcing requirements related to equitable services;
  • the role of the ombuds and ESEA programs; and
  • notifying private schools and school districts about the ombuds' existence and role, and the types of issues with which ombuds may be available to assist—for example, issues related to consultations and delays in receiving equitable services.

(Recommendation 2)
Open
Education stated that it will continue to meet annually with state ombuds to provide support and training on various topics, including those identified in this recommendation. Education staff will continue to participate and present on equitable services at public and private school conferences. In their work with national organizations that provide technical assistance to members on federal education programs, Education said it would consider, as appropriate, how equitable services could be integrated into presentations and webinars. They will also continue to host the "Ombudsman Corner" web page; regularly update the directory; and provide information, resources and technical assistance to the ombuds through various listservs. Finally, they plan to host the Ombudsman Update Live conference in 2023 and consult with ombuds on topics they would like the agency to address in training to ensure that they are receiving relevant and timely technical assistance. We await further progress on these efforts.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should develop and widely circulate guidance, model templates, checklists, or other materials for states and appellants regarding the material to include in ESEA equitable services appeals that will support Education with meeting the 90-day legal deadline for resolution. (Recommendation 3)
Open
Education stated that the challenges they may face in meeting the 90-day deadline depend on the unique circumstances of each appeal and the completeness of the record. They will consider developing additional information on the appeals process that might mitigate some of the challenges. We await further progress on these efforts.

K-12 Education: Additional Guidance Could Improve the Equitable Services Process for School Districts and Private Schools

GAO-23-105469
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should develop additional guidance for states to help ensure ombuds have the capacity to manage their responsibilities and to mitigate real or perceived threats to ombuds' impartiality. For example, Education's guidance could provide examples of ombuds' activities, and advise states to also consider any other responsibilities assigned to the ombuds, and how these may affect the ombuds' capacity and real or perceived impartiality. (Recommendation 1)
Open
Education noted that they had provided significant guidance to states regarding the requirements for equitable services under the ESEA and will continue to work with states to identify areas where additional guidance is needed. Education emphasized that SEAs are the primary agents to ensure the implementation of ESEA programs. Accordingly, they believe that collaboration between the ombuds and states are critical to the effectiveness of the role of the ombuds. We await further progress by the agency to implement this recommendation.
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