WHAT’s INCLUDED?
The goal of the ED Data Inventory is to describe all data reported to the Department of Education, with the exception of personnel and administrative data. It includes data collected as part of grant activities, along with statistical data collected to allow publication of valuable statistics about the state of education in this country. The ED Data Inventory includes descriptive information about each data collection, along with information on the specific data elements in individual collections.

HOW WAS THE INVENTORY PREPARED?
The Department’s Data Strategy Team sponsored the development of the Inventory and created a working group with representatives from the various offices that collect and manage data. The Working Group started by identifying relevant information fields and assembling information about collections. The fields in the inventory were initially populated by drawing upon a subset of the information included in the Information Collection Request packages that are prepared for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Inventory will be continually updated as part of the Information Collection Request process.

WHY WAS THE INVENTORY CREATED?
We created the Inventory to improve the coordination of data collections across program offices, and so that we could make sure we were minimizing respondent burden. Additionally, creation of the Inventory is part of larger efforts to ensure responsible data management at ED. Finally, the Inventory lets us be transparent with the public about the data that ED collects and maintains. The Inventory is in compliance with OMB Directive M-13-13 (May 9, 2013).