A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Objective 4.4. Our information technology investments are sound and used to improve impact and efficiency.

Key strategies for FY 1999

• Year 2000 compliance.
  • To continue to implement a major Department effort to become "Year 2000 data compliant" to ensure that ED's data users and customers are not affected by data corruption resulting from hardware, software and devices with embedded technology that cannot correctly process date-related information.
  • The Department is requesting $4 million in FY 1999 to ensure that all computer systems are Year 2000 compliant by March 1999.

• Network and personal computer infrastructure and ED World Wide Web support.
  • To ensure that the Department has a cost effective, efficient, accessible and reliable network infrastructure by continuing to implement a Product Support Plan (PSP) that provides guidance of standard hardware and software products supported by ED.
  • To continue to provide a reliable and secure Internet service by implementing ED's redesigned web site that incorporates interactive forms, new products and technologies, and additional customer feedback opportunities.
  • The request includes $26.3 million to maintain automated data processing systems, including network operations, and provide the latest technology to increase productivity and to provide improved customer service.

• Cost-effective major systems that deliver for ED and its customers.
  • To assess current and proposed major information systems such as student financial systems and financial systems as described in Objectives 3.3 and 4.6.by the continuation of the work of the Information Technology Investment Review Board's systematic and careful review of the acquisition and implementation of information technology.
  • To implement a capital planning and investment control process as required by the Clinger-Cohen Act.

• Data collection.
  • To continue to improve data collection by increasing ED's use of information technology tools to help us better manage the Department's data collections. This will reduce paperwork burden to the public.

Selected performance indicators and charts

Indicator background and context. Each federal agency is required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure that its information systems are fully compliant well before December 31, 1999. OMB has provided guidance to assist agencies in planning, managing and evaluating their Year 2000 programs.

Year 2000 Compliance: Stages for Determination

Assessment: Identify core business areas and processes, inventory and analyze systems supporting the core business areas, and prioritize their conversion or replacement. Renovation: Convert, replace or eliminate selected platforms, applications, databases and utilities. Validation: Test the performance, functionality, and integration of converted or replaced platforms, applications, databases, utilities and interfaces in an operational environment. Implementation: Implement converted or replaces platforms, applications, databases, utilities and interfaces

The Department has established a Year 2000 project team, designated coordinators in each office, and developed capacity for technical solutions. The chart below illustrates the Department's mission critical systems and their progress to date. The Department identified 14 mission critical systems. Of these, five have been initially assessed to be compliant; two are being replaced; seven are being repaired.

Status of U.S. Department of Education Year 2000 Conversions for Major Systems
#	14 Mission Critical System and Year 2000 Compliance
Student financial aid systems
1	Central Processing System (CPS)	1/98	11/98	12/98	1/99
2	Direct Loan Central Database			12/98	3/99	Yes
3	Direct Loan Origination System			6/98	3/99	Yes
4	Direct Loan Servicing System			12/98	3/99	Yes
5	Postsecondary Education Participants System (PEPS)			6/98	3/99	Yes
6	Multiple Data Entry System (MDE)	2/98	11/98	12/98	1/99
7	Title IV Wide Area Network (TIVWAN)			6/98	8/98	Yes
8	Campus-Based System (CBS)	2/97	1/98	6/98	6/98
9	Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL)	10/97	9/98	1/99	3/99
10	Pell Recipients and Financial Mgmt System (PELL)	2/97	6/98	9/98	3/99
11	National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)	11/97	6/98	6/98	3/99
Other Program Systems
12	Impact Aid Payment System	N/A	N/A	4/98	6/98
ED Administrative Systems
13	ED Central Accounting and Payment System (EDCAPS)	N/A	N/A	6/98	4/98
14	Local Area Network (LAN)	11/97	9/98	9/98	9/98

Data source. Current inventory systems; monitoring of status, ongoing 1999-2000

The data-reporting burden on the public will be reduced annually. (Goal 4, indicator 17)

Indicator background and context: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 set a 10% reduction goal for FY 1996 and FY 1997 and 5% thereafter for federal agencies to reduce the burden of information collection on the public. The Department's goal was to reduce the paperwork burden by 5.3 million hours in FY 96, 4.9 million hours in FY 97, 2.2 million hours in FY 98 and 2.1 million hours in FY 99. Since the legislation was enacted, the Department has exceeded its targets. The Department reduced data-reporting burden by 10% (5.43 million hours) in FY 1996 and 11.2% (5.4 million hours) in FY 1997. The significant reduction can be attributed to the Department's increased use of information technology and the successful regulatory reinvention effort.

Data source. Information collection forms, annual 1997-2002, review of forms, ongoing 1997-2002

Verification/validation of performance measures: On-going independent evaluations and testing will monitor progress on Year 2000 compliance. Benchmark evaluations will independently verify the quality of Department information technology systems in relation to similar systems that are considered the best in government.

-###-

[Objective 4.3]

[Objective 4.5]