Findings and Recommendations
               Presented in Congressional Testimony
               (April 1, 1995   September 30, 1995)



              Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness
                  in the Department of Education

                          April 6, 1995

At the request of the House Subcommittee on Human Resources, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the OIG provided testimony regarding processes of and challenges remaining
in the programs and operations of the Education Department.  This testimony, which was based on our recent audit and investigative work, provided a wide-ranging discussion of recent
Departmental accomplishments, as well as unresolved problems related to ED program design, operation and accountability.

In response to a Subcommittee follow-up request, our Office identified and provided detailed descriptions of what were, in our view, the three most significant problems facing the Department.
These were identified as:

1) absence of performance standards;
2) weaknesses in the Department's student financial aid programs; and
3) weaknesses in the Department's financial management systems.


                                            


                      Fraud and Abuse in the
                    Federal Pell Grant Program

                          July 12, 1995

In a hearing before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, we provided testimony detailing weaknesses in this $6 billion aid program in
particular and in Federal student aid programs generally.  While noting many improvements made by the Department in the administration of the SFA programs, our testimony highlighted existing
problems related to oversight of schools participating in these programs, grant authorization and payment systems, and non-existent performance measures and standards.  Our testimony included
recommendations for programmatic and fiscal changes, as well as legislative and appropriation actions needed to prevent abuse by schools participating in the Department's student financial
assistance programs.