Assessment of the Department of Education’s Progress in Accomplishing Selected Key Outcomes

This section discusses our analysis of Education’s performance in achieving the six selected key outcomes. In general, given the lack of performance data, explanations, and strategies to meet unmet goals in the future, it was difficult to assess progress. Specifically, we found that it was difficult to assess Education’s progress in achieving the six outcomes due to the lack of fiscal year 2000 data for many of its indicators. Consistent with our findings in reviewing Education’s performance report from last year, we found that Education had no goals or measures associated with the outcome of preventing fraud, waste, mismanagement, and error in the student financial assistance programs. While OSFA has established a target of being removed from GAO’s high-risk list, there were no corresponding goals or measures in the department’s interim report. However, Education has revised its strategic plan to incorporate an objective of ensuring financial integrity within the department. We found that similarly for this year, there was no discussion in the interim report on strategic human capital management.
Why GAO Did This Study

This report reviews the Department of Education's performance report for fiscal year 2000. Specifically, GAO examines Education's progress in achieving selected key outcomes that are important to its mission. Given the lack of performance data, explanations, and strategies to meet unmet goals in the future, it was difficult for GAO to assess progress. The lack of a performance plan also hindered GAO's efforts.

What GAO Found

Specifically, GAO found that it was difficult to assess Education's progress in achieving the six selected outcomes because of the lack of fiscal year 2000 data for many of its indicators. Consistent with its findings in reviewing Education's performance report from last year, GAO found that Education had no goals or measures for preventing fraud, waste, mismanagement, and error in the student financial assistance programs. Although the Office of Student Financial Assistance has established a target of being removed from GAO's high-risk list, there were no corresponding goals or measures in the department's interim report. However, Education has revised its strategic plan to incorporate an objective of ensuring financial integrity within the department. Like last year's report, GAO found that there was no discussion in the interim report on strategic human capital management.