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As of September 22, 2023, there are 5006 open recommendations that still need to be addressed. 525 of these are priority recommendations, those that we believe warrant priority attention. Learn more about our priority designation on our Recommendations page.

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1 - 20 of 77 Recommendations, including 4 Priority Recommendations

K-12 Education: DOD Should Assess Whether Troops-to-Teachers is Meeting Program Goals

GAO-23-105992
Jacqueline M. Nowicki
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure DANTES uses the data collected through its annual performance reporting process to assess and report on the effectiveness of the Troops-to-Teachers program in meeting each of its stated goals. (Recommendation 1)
Open

DOD disagreed with this recommendation. DOD stated that it does not have the resources to address this recommendation and would face difficulties building such resources and capacity. DOD noted that the NDAA for FY22 directed the agency to restart the program, but did not include an accompanying appropriation to operate the program through the July 1, 2025 sunset date. DOD said it interpreted Congress' intent to be supporting participants who already were in Troops-to-Teachers prior to DOD canceling the program (in FY21) until they complete their teacher certification programs. DOD said it
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure DANTES establishes a mechanism to report relevant performance information and more fully assess the program's overall performance across grantees. (Recommendation 2)
Open

DOD disagreed with this recommendation. DOD stated that it does not have the resources to address this recommendation and would face difficulties building such resources and capacity. DOD noted that the NDAA for FY22 directed the agency to restart the program, but did not include an accompanying appropriation to operate the program through the July 1, 2025 sunset date. DOD said it interpreted Congress' intent to be supporting participants who already were in Troops-to-Teachers prior to DOD canceling the program (in FY21) until they complete their teacher certification programs. DOD said it
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure DANTES fulfills its responsibilities regarding the Troops-to-Teachers program in accordance with its June 2013 MOA, including identifying the appropriate personnel. (Recommendation 3)
Open

DOD partially agreed with this recommendation. DOD concurred with the recommendation only as it relates to the MOA responsibilities and identification of personnel directly related to support current program participants. However, DOD stated that it does not have the resources to support this recommendation across future years, and would face difficulties building capacity to do so. We believe it is important for the agency to fulfill all of its MOA responsibilities to operate the program effectively while the program is required by law to continue, thereby providing opportunities to enhance

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

GAO-23-106376
Marisol Cruz Cain
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency 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.

403(b) Retirement Plans: Department of Labor Should Update Educational Materials to Better Inform Plan Sponsors and Participants

GAO-23-105620
Tranchau (Kris) T. Nguyen
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should update educational materials provided on the agency's 403(b) website to ensure these materials include information relevant to 403(b) plans for plan sponsors and participants. For example, these updates could include adding information with direct references to 403(b) plans to help participants understand their 403(b) plan fees. (Recommendation 1)
Open

DOL neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation. The agency noted it has a webpage dedicated to 403(b) plan issues and that the information in its 401(k) publications could be helpful to ERISA-covered 403(b) plan sponsors, participants and other interested parties evaluating fees and expenses in those plans. DOL stated that the agency's rule applicable to participant-directed individual account plans, which requires disclosure of certain plan and investment-related information including a comparative chart or similar format designed to facilitate a comparison of each investment

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

GAO-23-105469
Jacqueline M. Nowicki
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency 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.
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
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.
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: Additional Data Collection Would Help Assess the Performance of a Program Supporting College Students with Disabilities

GAO-23-105551
Elizabeth Curda
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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Education
Priority Rec.
This is a priority recommendation.
Education's Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education should collect data from SSS grantees on each participant's disability status and use this information to report on program performance for participants with disabilities. (Recommendation 1)
Open

Education agreed with this recommendation. The agency plans to collect data from SSS grantees on participants' disability status and use this information to report on the TRIO program's performance for participants with disabilities. To fully implement this recommendation, Education needs to complete these efforts. Without collecting information on which SSS participants have a disability, Education cannot fully assess SSS's performance for individuals with disabilities, and any eventual plan to evaluate and report on the performance of TRIO programs will be incomplete.

Higher Education: Department of Education Should Improve Enforcement Procedures Regarding Substantial Misrepresentation by Colleges

GAO-23-104832
Melissa Emrey-Arras
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Office of Federal Student Aid The Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid should complete written procedures for selecting colleges for investigation of possible substantial misrepresentation and for conducting investigations. (Recommendation 1)
Open

Education agreed with this recommendation and indicated it will implement it by developing written policies and procedures for opening investigations and conducting such investigations. In June 2023, officials stated that the Federal Student Aid's Office of Enforcement's Senior Advisor for Policies and Oversight and the Enterprise Process and Management Consulting Group were in the process of developing policies and procedures for selecting schools to investigate and conducting investigations. Officials did not estimate a timeline for completion, but indicated that implementation of these
Office of Federal Student Aid The Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid should update written procedures for imposing penalties, as appropriate, on colleges that are found to have engaged in substantial misrepresentation. (Recommendation 2)
Open

Education agreed with this recommendation. The agency indicated it will implement it by developing policies and procedures to guide staff through the process of imposing penalties, as appropriate, on colleges that are found to have engaged in substantial misrepresentation. In June 2023, officials stated that the Federal Student Aid's Office of Enforcement's Senior Advisor for Policies and Oversight and the Enterprise Process and Management Consulting Group were in the process of documenting policies and procedures for determining appropriate remedies, which could include establishing

Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid

GAO-23-104708
Melissa Emrey-Arras
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Congress Congress should consider legislation requiring colleges to provide all students offered federal student aid with financial aid offers containing clear and standard information that follow best practices. This could include requiring colleges to provide the College Financing Plan to all such students. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open

Congress introduced three bills in the 118th Congress to standardize and improve financial aid offers. The Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2023 (S. 528 and HR 1198) requires standardized financial aid terminology and offer forms. The College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act (HR 1311) directs Education to publish requirements for financial aid offers to be provided by institutions of higher education to enrolled and prospective students.

Veterans Employment: Promising VA Technology Education Pilot Would Benefit from Better Outcome Measures and Plans for Improvement

GAO-23-105343
Dawn Locke
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of VA should require training providers to inform VA of the reasons why veterans drop out of the VET TEC program. (Recommendation 1)
Open

As of June 2023, VA consulted VET TEC training providers and found that it would not require significant additional effort for training providers to provide information on the reasons students leave the program. However, VA determined that it would take until fall 2025 to implement this recommendation due to other priorities of the Digital GI Bill modernization efforts. This timeline is well after the end of the VET TEC program pilot, which ends in April 2024. GAO continues to believe this information is important to understanding outcomes of the VET TEC program pilot. However, we will
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of VA should adjust the terminology it uses to describe its current employment rate calculation to clarify that the calculation is not measuring the employment rate but is instead measuring employment at a specific payment milestone. (Recommendation 2)
Open – Partially Addressed

VA revised its terminology to describe its rate as a 180-day employment rate and explain what the calculation measures. However, we continue to believe that calling this calculation an employment rate may be misleading. We will close this recommendation once VA clarifies that it is measuring an employment outcome at a specific point in time rather than an employment rate.
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of VA should develop an employment rate calculation consistent with standard approaches used by government or industry entities. (Recommendation 3)
Open

As of June 2023, VA did not concur with this recommendation. VA conducted an environmental scan of employment rate calculations and found that the approaches it reviewed would not produce the employment outcomes that VA is looking to convey. However, VA did not include in its analysis all of the employment rate calculations our report considered, including the approach used by the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting, which specifically measures outcomes for schools providing high-technology education. We continue to believe that a standardized employment rate calculation would provide
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of VA should use available data, determine what additional data are needed to fully inform VET TEC employment outcomes, and develop concrete time frames for collecting and reporting these data. (Recommendation 4)
Open

As of June 2023, VA has begun to manually track data on employment information from its employment certification form and plans to fully automate collection of this data as part of the Digital GI Bill modernization effort. However, it remains unclear whether VA has determined what additional data are needed to fully inform VET TEC employment outcomes. GAO will close this recommendation once VA provides information on whether it plans to collect additional employment-related data and once the information is fully incorporated into the Digital GI Bill platform. VA has a target completion date of
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of VA should identify and document a single set of clear, measurable objectives for the VET TEC program. (Recommendation 6)
Open – Partially Addressed

As of March 2023, VA established goals and objectives for the VET TEC pilot. In June 2023, VA had formalized a document stating the program objectives. However, it is unclear how VA plans to measure progress toward meeting the goals and objectives. We commend VA for taking steps to establish a set of objectives for the VET TEC program. We will close this recommendation once VA provides information on how these objectives will be assessed.

College Closures: Education Should Improve Outreach to Borrowers about Loan Discharges

GAO-22-104403
Melissa Emrey-Arras
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Office of Federal Student Aid The Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid should implement additional strategies to identify college closures in a timely manner. For example, Education could leverage available data to identify potential closures, record known closures as soon as possible, and impose penalties on colleges that do not report closures. (Recommendation 1)
Open

Education neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation, but identified steps it would take to address it. Education explained how the new data system it is implementing in fall 2022 will facilitate faster reporting of school closures. Further, Education described its plans to review cases where a school failed to submit a timely report to determine whether to initiate fine actions and stated it expects that this approach will deter schools from failing to report closures in a timely manner. Education released a solicitation in May 2022 for a new servicing system that includes several
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