Overview
This information quality site will inform the public about the Department of Education's information quality practices and procedures and includes access to our information quality guidelines.
An important part of the work of most Federal agencies includes the collection and dissemination of information related to their missions. The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) establishes requirements for many of those agencies regarding some aspects of their collection and dissemination of information.
In December 2000, a law took effect (section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, Public Law 106-554), that requires agencies subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, including the U.S. Department of Education, to issue guidelines by October 1, 2002, for the purpose of "ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies."
Guidelines
Effective October 1, 2002 the Department of Education will allow any affected person to request the correction of information the Department disseminates that does not comply with applicable OMB and Department of Education information quality guidelines. An affected person is an individual or an entity that may use, benefit or be harmed by the disseminated information at issue.
Most Department information products include the names of knowledgeable staff that can assist users in understanding the information presented, and in determining whether there is an error that warrants action using the correction process described in this section. Users of the Department's information should consult with the contact person listed in the product before filing a formal request for correction.
Information Correction Requests and Appeals
The Department will respond to all requests for correction within 120 calendar days of the Branch Chief's receipt of the request, including requests that the Department elects not to process further. For requests that merit review -
- If the request is clear and complete, the Department's response will explain the findings of the review, or will inform the requester if more time is needed to complete the review, the reason(s) for the additional time, and an estimate of the time it will take to respond. The appropriate program office will be responsible for determining what action is necessary and, if an error was made, it will determine the appropriate level of correction.
- If the request is incomplete or unclear, the Branch Chief will seek clarification from the requester. In the case of an unclear or incomplete request, the requester may submit additional clarifying information if he or she so chooses. However, the deadline for the Department's review and response will be based upon the date the clarifying information is received.
Once a decision is made, the response will explain to the requester that he or she has a right to appeal the decision. Copies of all Department correspondence related to Information Quality Requests will be maintained by the Branch Chief.
The Branch Chief for the Information Management Branch will review the request and determine whether it contains all the information required for a complaint.If the request is unclear or incomplete, the Department will seek clarification from the requester.
If the request is clear and complete, the Branch Chief will forward it to the appropriate program office(s) for a response to the requester. The responsible office(s) will determine whether a correction is warranted, and if so, what corrective action it will take. Any corrective action will be determined based on the nature and timeliness of the information involved, as well as the significance of the error on the use of the information, the magnitude of the error, and the cost of undertaking a correction.
Comments about information on which the Department has sought public comment, such as rulemaking or studies cited in a rulemaking, will be responded to through the public comment process, or through an individual response if there was no published process for responding to all comments. The Department may choose to provide an earlier response, if doing so is appropriate, and will not delay issuance of the final action in the matter.
The Department is not required to change the content or status of information simply based on the receipt of a request for correction. The Department may reject a request that appears to be made in bad faith or without justification, and is only required to undertake the degree of correction that is appropriate for the nature and timeliness of the information involved. In addition, the Department need not respond substantively to requests that concern information not covered by the information quality guidelines.
Contact
Kareen Currey
Phone: (202) 262-0754
Email: informationquality@ed.gov