Overview
Section 208 of the E-Government Act of 2002 helps to ensure that agencies put in place sufficient protections for the privacy of personal information in implementing a citizen-centered electronic government. It requires agencies to conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) for information technology (IT) systems or projects that collect, maintain or disseminate information in identifiable form from or about members of the public or when initiating a new electronic collection of information in identifiable form for 10 or more persons (excluding agencies, instrumentalities, or employees of the federal government).
Among other things, the PIA process requires agencies to review what information is collected, why the information is collected, how the information will be used by the agency, with whom the information will be shared, and how the information is handled and secured when using IT to collect new information or when developing or buying new IT systems to handle collections of personally identifiable information. PIAs conducted for " major information systems," as defined in OMB Circular A-130 (Section 6.u.) and OMB Circular A-11 (section 300-4 (2003)), reflect more extensive analysis of the consequences of collection and flow of information, the alternatives to the collection and handling as designed, the appropriate measures to reduce risks identified for each alternative, and the rationale for the final design choice or business process.
In general, agencies are required to make PIAs publicly available through publication in the Federal Register or through posting on agency websites.
Objectives
The objectives of a PIA include:
- Provide a tool to make informed policy and system design or procurement decisions based on an understanding of privacy risks and options available for mitigating these risks.
- Ensure that system and program managers are accountable for the proper handling of privacy issues.
- Establish a consistent format and structured process for analyzing both technical and legal compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations, as well as accepted privacy policy.
- Provide basic documentation on the flow of personal information within systems for use and review by policy, program, and management staff; systems analysts; and security specialists.
- Provide the public with assurances that their personal information is protected.
Privacy Impact Assessments
The following are official Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) of significant initiatives at the U.S. Department of Education (listed by Principal Office).
Federal Student Aid (FSA)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO)
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE)
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII)
Office of Management (OM)
Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)
Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD)
Office of the Secretary (OS)
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
Office of Special Educational and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
Federal Student Aid (FSA)
- Access and Identity Management System (AIMS) (PDF, 109.0KB), July 25, 2016
- ACS Education Servicing System (ACES) PIA (PDF, 375.0KB), October 24, 2012
- Aspire Resources, Inc. (NFP-ARI) (PDF, 1.2MB), January 12, 2012
- Central Processing System (CPS)/FASFA on the Web (PDF, 171.8KB), March 25, 2013
- Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) (PDF, 269KB), May 20, 2016
- Common Services for Borrowers (CSB), (PDF, 112.8KB), June 23, 2006
- Conditional Disability Discharge Tracking System (CDDTS) (PDF, 105.6KB), June 10, 2008
- Cornerstone System (PDF, 514.9KB), December 2, 2011
- Council for South Texas Economic Progress (NFPCOSTEP) (PDF, 398.5KB), September 18, 2012
- Debt Management and Collection System (DMCS) (PDF, 147.6KB), June 30, 2014
- Direct Loan Consolidation System (DLCS) (PDF, 157.5KB), February 7, 2011
- Direct Loan Servicing System (DLSS) (PDF, 110.9KB), June 10, 2008
- DOED Perkins ED Loan Servicing System (PDF, 146KB), January 13, 2016
- eCampus-Based System (e/CB), (PDF, 92.2KB), October 21, 2015
- Educational Services of America (NFP-ESA) (PDF, 1.11MB), October 31, 2011
- Electronic Cohort Default Rate Appeals (eCDRA Appeals) (PDF, 110.1KB), December 7, 2007
- Enterprise Management Support System (EMSS) (PDF, 79.8KB), April 3, 2006
- EZ Audit (PDF, 948.4KB), February 25, 2010
- Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) (PDF, 137KB, October 16, 2016)
- FFELP Student Loan Servicing System (PDF, 175.8KB), September 29, 2010
- Financial Management System (FMS) (PDF, 142KB), January 6, 2011
- Financial Partners Data Mart (FPDM) (PDF, 147KB), October 20, 2015
- Granite State Management and Resources (GSMR) New Hampshire (NFP-NH) (PDF, 472.5KB), June 8, 2012
- Great Lakes Computer System (GLCS), Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. (GOALS) (PDF, 163.3KB), June 18, 2013
- Health Education Assistance Loans (HEAL) Online Processing System (HOPS) (PDF, 178KB), May 11, 2016
- Integrated Student Experience (ISE) (PDF, 101.9KB), April 22, 2014
- Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (NFP-MOHELA) (PDF, 604.6KB), June 8, 2012
- National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (PDF, 120.0KB), November 16, 2007
- Not-For-Profit Brazos (NFP Brazos) (PDF, 479.3), June 6, 2013
- Not-For-Profit College Foundation, Inc. (NFPCFI), Not-For-Profit North Carolina (PDF, 109.3KB), May 31, 2012
- Not-For-Profit Georgia (NFP Georgia) (PDF, 595.7KB), January 9, 2013
- Not-For-Profit Iowa Student Loan (NFPISL) Aspire Resources, Inc. (Aspire) Information System (PDF, 186.4KB), March 9, 2015
- Not-For-Profit Kentucky (NFP Kentucky) (PDF, 497.4KB), May 31, 2012
- Not-For-Profit New Mexico (NFP New Mexico) (PDF, 510.8KB), November 30, 2012
- Not-For-Profit Montana (NFP Montana), Amicus, Tru Student, Inc. (PDF, 535.7KB), May 8, 2012
- Not-For-Profit Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (NFPVSAC) (PDF, 525.5KB), May 15, 2012
- Oklahoma Student Loan Authority (NFP-OSLA) (PDF, 541.1KB), June 8, 2012
- Ombudsman Case Tracking System/Enterprise Complaint System (OCTS/ECS) (PDF, 124KB), March 30, 2016
- Pennsylvania Computer System (PHCS) (PDF, 278.9KB), July 20, 2012
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority (PHEAA) (PDF, 278.96KB), July 20, 2012
- Person Authentication Service (PAS) (PDF, 107.5KB), January 9, 2015
- Portfolio and Debt Management Architecture (PADMA) (PDF, 194.4KB), March 12, 2009
- Postsecondary Educational Participants System (PEPS) (PDF, 82.1KB), March 17, 2008
- Private Collection Agencies (PCAs) (PDF, 163.6KB), February 4, 2015
- South Carolina (NFP-SC) (PDF, 50.3KB), June 8, 2012
- Sallie Mae Commercial System (SMCS) (PDF, 241.9KB), September 11, 2009
- Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) (PDF, 89.6KB), May 1, 2008
- Student Aid Internet Gateway Participation Management (SAIG PM) (PDF, 1.85MB), May 27, 2010
- Student Aid on the Web (SAOTW) (PDF, 116.9KB), September 5, 2003
- Virtual Data Center (VDC) (PDF, 107.4KB), August 1, 2007
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
- Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study (PDF, 103.5KB), April 25, 2008
- Applicant Notification System (PDF, 218.3KB), October 19, 2012
- DC Choice Program Evaluation (PDF, 55.2KB), April 23, 2004
- Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) (PDF, 155.4KB), April 29, 2011
- Evaluation of Conversion Magnet Schools (PDF, 106.2KB), January 16, 2009
- Study of Teacher Preparation Experiences and Early Teacher Effectiveness (PDF, 114.3KB), March 24, 2009
- Evaluation of Moving High-Performing Teachers to Low-Performing Schools (PDF, 95.3KB), March 24, 2009
- Evaluation of Response to Intervention Practices for Elementary School Reading (PDF, 284.9KB), September 26, 2012
- Evaluation of the Impact of Supplemental Literacy Interventions in Freshman Academies (The Adolescent Literacy Project) (PDF, 103.3KB), June 21, 2005
- IES Data Center (IESDC) (PDF, 128.6KB), October 30, 2014
- IES Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellows Survey (PDF, 108.6KB), August 5, 2008
- Impact Evaluation of a School-based Violence Prevention Program (PDF, 77.7KB), May 15, 2006
- Impact Evaluation of Math Professional Development (PDF, 209.9KB), January 22, 2013
- Impact Evaluation of Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants (PDF, 228.8KB), August 22, 2012
- Impact Evaluation of Teacher and Leader Performance Evaluation Systems (PDF, 225.6KB), June 4, 2013
- Impact Evaluation of Title I Supplemental Educational Services (PDF, 103.3KB), January 16, 2009
- Impact Evaluation of Training in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B) (PDF, 126KB), August 1, 2016
- National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), Web Content Management System (WCMS) Nominations Tool (PDF, 109.1KB), May 26, 2015
- National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (PDF, 238.2KB), December 19, 2012
- National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) (PDF, 94.5KB), November 3, 2009
- Peer Review Information Management Online (PRIMO) (PDF, 95.7KB), May 4, 2015
- Study of Teacher Preparation Experiences and Early Teacher Effectiveness (PDF, 114.3KB), February 9, 2014
- Teacher Survey Response Incentive (PDF, 90.9KB), April 28, 2009
- What Works Clearinghouse Database (PDF, 57.4KB), March 1, 2004
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
- Educate (PDF, 204.3KB), October 28, 2009
- Education's Central Automated Processing System (EDCAPS) (PDF, 140KB), August 11, 2016
- McAfee Data Loss Prevention System (DLP) (PDF, 2.0MB), May 11, 2015
- Non-GFE for Remote Access (PDF, 103.3KB), May 26, 2015
- Security Touch (PDF, 538.5KB), December 28, 2010
Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO)
- eService Center (PDF, 123.4KB), March 15, 2014
- ED.gov Blogs (PDF, 102.5KB), March 18, 2015
- cVent Event Solutions (PDF, 422.9KB), October 15, 2012
- National Blue Ribbon Schools Program (BRSP) (PDF, 244KB), December 8, 2015
- OCO On-Line Registration System (cVent Event Solutions) (PDF, 151.1KB), January 15, 2012
- OCO Contact Lists (PDF, 156.7KB), August 9, 2012
- On-Line Application System (OLAS) for School Ambassador Fellows Program (SAF), (PDF, 127KB) December 1, 2016
- On-Line Application System (OLAS) for Presidential Scholars Program (PSP), (MS Word, 319KB) November 21, 2016.
- Voluntary Student Engagement Form (V-SEF) (PDF, 120.5KB), October 31, 2014
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
- Case and Activity Management System (CAMS) (PDF, 105.9KB), August 10, 2007
Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE)
- The LINCS Technology Project (PDF, 115KB), August 2, 2012
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
- Migrant Education Bypass Program Student Database (PDF, 95.5KB), August 11, 2011
- Migrant Student Information Exchange (MSIX) (PDF, 246KB), August 9, 2016
- OIE Service Payback Data Collection System (PDF, 223.2KB), August 8, 2013
- Technical Assistance for States Developing Career Pathways Systems (PDF, 272.2KB), April 18, 2014
- You for Youth Professional Development Web Portal (PDF, 1.23MB), February 28, 2011
Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
- Department of Education Federal Docket Management System (EDFDMS) (PDF, 99.12KB), November 27, 2007
- Office of General Counsel Case & Activity Management System (OGC-CAMS) (PDF, 102.9KB), November 28, 2014
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
- For: Education Investigative Tracking System (EDITS) (PDF, 229.9KB), April 10, 2013
- Management Information System (MIS) (PDF, 80KB), September 4, 2015
- Office of Inspector General Data Analytic System (ODAS) (PDF, 119.3KB), August 26, 2014
- OIG LAN (PDF, 73.9KB), August 6, 2008
- TeamMate Audit Management System (TeamMate) (PDF, 113.1KB), September 11, 2014
Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII)
- Constituent Inquiry Log (CIL) and Database (PDF, 173KB), September 24, 2015
- Open Innovation Web Portal - Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund (PDF, 1.3MB), January 26, 2010
- Promise Neighborhoods Website (PDF, 158.9KB), June 5, 2013
Office of Management (OM)
- ED Pubs (PDF, 175.0KB), December 12, 2008
- Department of Education Security Tracking and Reporting System (EDSTAR) (PDF, 126KB), March 17, 2016
- FOIAXpress (PDF, 206.1KB), January 27, 2014
- Department of Education Contests (PDF, 137.8KB), March 27, 2015
- Office of Management Employee Services Portal (OMESP) (PDF, 151.1KB), June 6, 2014
- Social Media Websites and Applications (PDF, KB), May 1, 2011
Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)
- Erma Byrd Scholarship Program (EBSP) System (PDF, 92.7KB), August 4, 2009
- Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Performance Report System (PDF, 182KB), March 22, 2016
- Grants Electronic Monitoring System (GEMS) (PDF, 802.8KB), August 28, 2009
- Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Services (IDUES) Endowment Financial Reports (IEFRS) (PDF, 220.4KB), July 1, 2008
- International Resource Information System (IRIS) (PDF, 199KB), October 27, 2016
- Jacob K. Javits Fellowship System (PDF, 124.1KB), September 28, 2007
- TEACH Supplemental Data Collection (TEACH SDC) (PDF, 547.6KB), June 15, 2011
- TRIO Programs Annual Performance Reports (APR) (PDF, 75.4KB), May 20, 2008
Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD)
- Budget Service Budget Formulation (BSBF) (PDF, 90.5KB), April 24, 2014
Office of the Secretary (OS)
- Secretary's Communications Control System (PDF, 162KB), March 21, 2016
- Strategic Plan Quarterly Performance Reporting (QPR) Database (PDF, 103.5KB), June 25, 2015
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Analysis, Communication, Dissemination, and Meetings (IDEA ACDM) (PDF, 358KB), June 11, 2012
Office of Special Educational and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Analysis, Communication, Dissemination, and Meetings (IDEA ACDM) (PDF, 356.5KB), June 11, 2012
- National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) Repository System (PDF, 120.1KB), October 22, 2014
- NCRTM Webinar Platform - Adobe Connect 9 (PDF, 124.8KB), May 30, 2014
- OSEP Customer Service Tracking System (PDF, 99.7KB), August 11, 2003
- Personnel Development Program Data Collection System (DCS) (PDF, 137.8KB), June 1, 2014
- Rehabilitation Services Administration Management Information System (RSA-MIS) (PDF, 127.2KB), November 19, 2014
- RSA-911 Case Service Report (PDF, 73.3KB), April 14, 2008