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Abbreviation
ED
Agencies
Department of Education
Federal Agency
Yes
Location

United States

What to Report to the OIG Hotline
Violations of Federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to U.S. Department of Education programs and funding, including complaints involving U.S. Department of Education employees, recipients of Department of Education funds, schools, school officials, other educational institutions, contractors, lending institutions, collections agencies, or public officials. This includes, but not limited to: • Embezzlement, bribery, or other public corruption involving U.S. Department of Education funds • Serious mismanagement involving U.S. Department of Education programs or funds • Theft or misuse of Federal student aid • Knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse involving a financial aid administrator or other school official(s) • Knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse involving a student loan servicer or collection agency • Knowledge that your school is not complying with regulations or laws involving Federal student aid or other U.S. Department of Education program or operation • Whistleblower reprisal (if you are a U.S. Department of Education employee, also report reprisal to the Office of Special Counsel) • Conflicts of interest • Contract and procurement irregularities • Theft or abuse of government property • U.S. Department of Education employee misconduct • Ethics violations by U.S. Department of Education officials • Unauthorized access to U.S. Department of Education Information Technology systems or Information Technology systems that involves administration or disbursement of U.S. Department of Education funds.
What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline
If your complaint or allegation does not involve fraud, waste, theft, mismanagement, public corruption, or abuse involving U.S. Department of Education programs or funds, you may need to contact another U.S. Department of Education office or Federal or State agency for assistance. If your complaint or allegation falls under one of the categories below, please contact the agency or organization listed for assistance. If you have been unable to solve a problem that is not a result of theft or fraud involving your Federal student loan: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD - 1-800-848-0983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman. The FSA Ombudsman’s Office is a neutral, informal, and confidential resource to help resolve disputes about your Federal student loans. If you have an issue with your private student loan, or another private financial product or service: • Please contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at 1-800-411-2372 or http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/#student-loan. You can submit a complaint about private student loans, which are often issued by a bank, a credit union, your school, or another lending institution. If you believe an improper accounting error occurred on your student loan involving a collection agency or loan service center, or if you disagree with your loan servicer about the balance or status of your student loan: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD - 1-800-848-0983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman If you require technical assistance regarding your student loan, mediation between your loan servicing center, or problems receiving student loan documents from your loan servicer, disability forms, or loan cancellation: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD - 1-800-848-0983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman If the Internal Revenue Service has or will offset income tax returns, or if you believe that there has been an improper garnishment of your wages for the repayment of student loans: • Please contact the Office of Debt Collection Services at 1-800-621-3115 (or 1-202-377-3373 or 1-202-377-3374), or find more on what you can do if you defaulted on your student loan repayment here: https://myeddebt.ed.gov/borrower/contactusSubLinks If your school closed or your loan was cancelled as a result of a school closure: • Please contact the FSA Ombudsman’s Office at 1-877-557-2575 (TDD-1-800-8480983) or https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman If you have questions concerning the quality of education you received while attending a college, university, or trade school: • Please contact your local Better Business Bureau, the school’s accrediting agency, the State licensing agency, or the State Board of Higher Education. If your complaint involves a Head Start Program: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) OIG at 1-800-424-9121 or https://oig.hhs.gov/ If your complaint involves a school lunch program: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) OIG at http://www.usda.gov/oig/ If your complaint involves discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual preference: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights – 1-800-421-3481 or http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintprocess.html If you are a U.S. Department of Education employee and your complaint involves discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual preference: • Please contact the U.S. Department of Education Equal Employment Opportunity Service Office - 1-800-872-5327 or https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/om/fs_po/om/eeo.html If your complaint involves a scholarship scam—someone calling to offer you a scholarship and requesting your bank or credit card account number for a processing fee—do not share any information and immediately • Contact the Federal Trade Commission - 1-877-FTC-HELP or http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams

The Department’s Processes for Reviewing and Approving State Plans Submitted Pursuant to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended

2020
A05S0001
Audit
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education

The Department designed its review and approval processes to provide reasonable assurance that it would identify and resolve potential instances of State plans’ noncompliance with the ESEA and McKinney-Vento Act requirements subjected to peer review. The Department also designed the review and...

The Department's Compliance with the Geospatial Data Act

2020
A19U0003
Audit
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education

We found that the Department is in compliance with the applicable requirements outlined under section 759(a) of the Geospatial Data Act. Specifically, we found that the Department implemented all 10 of the 13 covered agency responsibilities listed in Section 759(a) of the Geospatial Data Act that we...

Florida Department of Education’s Administration of the Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations Program

2020
A04T0005
Audit
Department of Education OIG
Department of Education

We found that Florida established and implemented systems of internal control thatprovided reasonable assurance that Restart program funds were allocated appropriatelyand sufficiently ensured that LEAs and nonpublic schools used Restart program funds forallowable and intended purposes, as described...

Former President of Private Tennis Academy Sentenced in College Admissions Case

Former President of Private Tennis Academy Sentenced in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former President of Private Tennis Academy Sentenced in College Admissions Case BOSTON – The former president of a private tennis academy in Texas was sentenced today in connection with his involvement in a scheme to use bribery to facilitate the admission of applicants to selective colleges and,,,

Irvin Mayfield and Ronald Markham Plead Guilty To Defrauding the New Orleans Public Library Foundation

Irvin Mayfield and Ronald Markham Plead Guilty To Defrauding the New Orleans Public Library Foundation
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Irvin Mayfield and Ronald Markham Plead Guilty To Defrauding the New Orleans Public Library Foundation NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) announced that IRVIN MAYFIELD, age 43, a resident of New Orleans, and RONALD MARKHAM, age 42, also a resident of New,,,

California Parent Sentenced In College Admissions Case

California Parent Sentenced In College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

California Parent Sentenced In College Admissions Case BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today for using fraud and bribery to facilitate his child’s acceptance to Georgetown University. Peter Dameris, 60, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G,,,

Former Key Worldwide Employee Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case

Former Key Worldwide Employee Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former Key Worldwide Employee Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Case BOSTON – A former employee of William “Rick” Singer’s “The Key” for-profit business pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to use bribery and fraud to facilitate the admission of applicants to,,,

Former Head of Community Preparatory Academy Admits Stealing Over $3 Million and Spending $220,000 on Disney Expenses

Former Head of Community Preparatory Academy Admits Stealing Over $3 Million and Spending $220,000 on Disney Expenses
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Former Head of Community Preparatory Academy Admits Stealing Over $3 Million and Spending $220,000 on Disney Expenses LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors today filed criminal theft and tax fraud charges against the former executive director of a charter school outfit who stole more than $3.1 million,,,

California Couple in College Admissions Case Sentenced to Prison

California Couple in College Admissions Case Sentenced to Prison
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

California Couple in College Admissions Case Sentenced to Prison BOSTON – Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli were sentenced to two months and five months in prison, respectively, in connection with securing the fraudulent admission of their two daughters to the University of Southern California,,,

California Executive Charged in College Admissions Case

California Executive Charged in College Admissions Case
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

California Executive Charged in College Admissions Case BOSTON – A California insurance and private equity executive has agreed to plead guilty to charges in connection with using fraud and bribery to cheat on the ACT exam on behalf of his daughter. Mark Hauser, 59, of Los Angeles, Calif., will,,,

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