The Common Core of Data (CCD) is a national statistical program that collects and compiles administrative data from SEAs covering the universe of all public elementary and secondary schools and school districts in the United States. The first CCD collection was for SY 1986-87. The predecessor to CCD was the Elementary and Secondary General Information System. The CCD includes five basic collections and several supplemental ones. The basic collections are divided into two main data content areas: nonfiscal (or universe) data and fiscal data. They are further divided into hierarchical levels (school, LEA, and state). This documentation addresses the three nonfiscal, universe data files, the methods, and editing procedures used in the nonfiscal, universe portion of the school year (SY) 2015-16 Common Core of Data (CCD) collection. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will publish updated versions of this document with each school year collection. The CCD universe collection is a comprehensive listing of the public elementary and secondary schools and the local education agencies (LEAs) that administer and support them. The CCD includes directory, enrollment, and staffing data at state, LEA, and school levels. State education agencies (SEAs) report these data in a series of file submissions throughout the school year.