The purpose of the United States Department of Education's (the Department) Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 "Agency Financial Report" (AFR) is to inform Congress, the President, and the American people on how the Department has used federal resources entrusted to it to promote achievement and preparedness of youth entering a global environment by fostering excellence and ensuring equal access. The commitment to education was demonstrated by, among other things: improving access to early learning programs, reforming elementary and secondary education, making higher education more accessible and affordable, and working to attract talented people to the teaching profession. Good stewards of financial resources were also demonstrated by putting in place well-controlled and well-managed business and financial management systems and processes. The AFR also provides high-level financial and performance highlights, assessments of controls, a summary of challenges, and a demonstration of our stewardship. This report is required by legislation and complies with the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget's Circulars A-11, "Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget," A-123, Management's Responsibility for Internal Control, and A-136, "Financial Reporting Requirements." The AFR is designed to focus on use of federal resources provided to or distributed by the Department to support its mission, with a particular emphasis on the challenges ahead. This report is organized into the following sections: (1) Management's Discussion and Analysis: This section provides information about the Department's mission and organizational structure as well as its high-level performance results, financial highlights, and management assurances regarding internal controls; (2) Financial Section: This section provides a message from the Chief Financial Officer, the financial statements and notes, required supplementary information and supplementary stewardship information, and the report from our independent auditors; (3) Other Information: This section provides improper payments reporting details, the schedule of spending, a summary of financial statement audit and management assurances, and the Office of Inspector General's Management and Performance Challenges for FY 2016 Executive Summary; and (4) Appendices: This section provides a listing of selected Department web links, education resources and a glossary of acronyms, and abbreviations. [For the 2014 Agency Financial Report, see ED607148.]