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Recommendations Database

GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed. GAO’s priority recommendations are those that we believe warrant priority attention. We sent letters to the heads of key departments and agencies, urging them to continue focusing on these issues. Below you can search only priority recommendations, or search all recommendations.

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As of October 25, 2020, there are 4812 open recommendations, of which 473 are priority recommendations. Recommendations remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.

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Subject Term: "Education research"

3 publications with a total of 12 open recommendations
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Export Controls: State and Commerce Should Improve Guidance and Outreach to Address University-Specific Compliance Issues
GAO-20-394, May 12, 2020
Director: Kimberly Gianopoulos
Phone: (202) 512-8612

4 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Secretary of State should ensure that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Trade Controls, in consultation with university representatives, provides additional or revises existing guidance and outreach to address university-specific export control issues to further support universities' understanding and compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of State
Status: Open

Comments: The Department of State concurred with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the Under Secretary for Industry and Security, in consultation with university representatives, provides additional or revises existing guidance and outreach to address university-specific export control issues to further support universities' understanding and compliance with the Export Administration Regulations. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Commerce
Status: Open

Comments: The Department of Commerce concurred with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Secretary of State should ensure that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Trade Controls revises existing export compliance guidelines to include information concerning periodic risk assessments to remind exporters that it is beneficial to periodically identify, analyze, and respond to new risks as part of an effective International Traffic in Arms Regulations compliance program. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of State
Status: Open

Comments: The Department of State concurred with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering takes steps to ensure that its program officers and contracting officers are interpreting export controls consistent with regulations and guidance and consistently determining whether university research constitutes fundamental research. (Recommendation 4)

Agency: Department of Defense
Status: Open

Comments: The Department of Defense concurred with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Evidence-Based Policymaking: Selected Agencies Coordinate Activities, but Could Enhance Collaboration
GAO-20-119, Dec 4, 2019
Director: Michelle Sager
Phone: (202) 512-6806

5 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Chief Executive Officer of CNCS should develop an approach to ensure that all relevant participants are involved in the agency-wide process for prioritizing evidence needs. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service
Status: Open

Comments: In comments on a draft of this report, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation. Subsequently, in a June 2020 letter, CNCS stated that it agreed with our recommendation and described planned actions to strengthen its agency-wide evidence prioritization process. Among these planned actions were proposed changes to CNCS's approach for involving key participants from across the agency in the process. However, as of October 2020, CNCS had not yet provided us with documentation that would allow us to (1) assess the extent to which they address our recommendation and (2) confirm that these proposed changes were approved. We will continue to monitor CNCS's actions to address this recommendation.
Recommendation: The Chief Executive Officer of CNCS should define roles and responsibilities for all relevant participants involved in the agency-wide process for prioritizing evidence needs. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service
Status: Open

Comments: In comments on a draft of this report, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation. Subsequently, in a June 2020 letter, CNCS stated that it agreed with our recommendation and described planned actions to strengthen its agency-wide evidence prioritization process. Among these planned actions were workforce planning and hiring based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for CNCS to address its evidence priorities. The letter stated that once those actions were completed, CNCS would revisit the roles and responsibilities of participants involved in the agency's evidence-building activities. We will continue to monitor CNCS's actions to address this recommendation.
Recommendation: The Chief Executive Officer of CNCS should revise written guidance for the agency-wide process for prioritizing evidence needs to ensure it identifies all relevant participants and their respective roles and responsibilities. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service
Status: Open

Comments: In comments on a draft of this report, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation. Subsequently, in a June 2020 letter, CNCS stated that it agreed with our recommendations and described planned actions to strengthen its agency-wide evidence prioritization process. However, as of October 2020, CNCS had not yet provided us with documentation that would allow us to (1) confirm that these proposed changes were approved and (2) assess the extent to which written guidance for the revised process addresses our recommendation. We will continue to monitor CNCS's actions to address this recommendation.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Labor should develop an approach to ensure that all relevant participants are involved in the department-wide process for prioritizing evidence needs. (Recommendation 6)

Agency: Department of Labor
Status: Open

Comments: In a November 2019 letter providing comments on a draft of this report, the Department of Labor (DOL) agreed with this recommendation. The letter further described actions DOL planned to take to address it. DOL stated that in fiscal year 2020 it would update its written guidance to formalize the involvement of relevant participants in department-wide evidence-building activities. However, as of October 2020, DOL had not yet provided us with documentation that would allow us to assess the extent to which its updated guidance addresses our recommendation. We will continue to monitor DOL's actions to address this recommendation.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Labor should revise written guidance for the department-wide process for prioritizing evidence needs to ensure it identifies all relevant participants and their respective roles and responsibilities. (Recommendation 7)

Agency: Department of Labor
Status: Open

Comments: In a November 2019 letter providing comments on a draft of this report, the Department of Labor (DOL) agreed with this recommendation. The letter further described actions DOL planned to take to address it. DOL stated that in fiscal year 2020 it would update its written guidance to formalize the involvement of relevant participants in department-wide evidence-building activities. However, as of October 2020, DOL had not yet provided us with documentation that would allow us to assess the extent to which its updated guidance addresses our recommendation. We will continue to monitor DOL's actions to address this recommendation.
Nutrition Education: USDA Actions Needed to Assess Effectiveness, Coordinate Programs, and Leverage Expertise
GAO-19-572, Jul 25, 2019
Director: Kathryn Larin
Phone: (202) 512-7215

3 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) should improve how FNS gathers information on the effectiveness of SNAP-Ed interventions, in order to ensure that these interventions are meeting program goals. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Status: Open

Comments: USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. The agency noted that FNS has efforts underway to comply with the 2018 Farm Bill requirement that the department report annually on the level of coordination between its nutrition education programs.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Under Secretaries for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services and for Research, Education, and Economics to develop a formal mechanism, such as a designated individual or group of individuals, for providing cross-department leadership for USDA's nutrition education efforts and facilitating cross-program information sharing. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Status: Open

Comments: USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. The agency noted that FNS has efforts underway to comply with the 2018 Farm Bill requirement that the department report annually on the level of coordination between its nutrition education programs.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Under Secretaries for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services and for Research, Education, and Economics to identify and implement mechanisms to fully leverage the department's nutrition expertise for its nutrition education efforts. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Status: Open

Comments: USDA generally agreed with this recommendation. The agency noted that FNS has efforts underway to comply with the 2018 Farm Bill requirement that the department report annually on the level of coordination between its nutrition education programs.