The purpose of the United States Department of Education's (the Department) Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 "Agency Financial Report" (AFR) is to inform Congress, the President, other external stakeholders, and the American people on how the Department used the federal resources entrusted to it to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. The Department accomplishes its mission and the related strategic goals and objectives by administering programs that range from preschool education through postdoctoral research; enforcing civil rights laws to provide equal access and treatment; and supporting research that examines ways that states, schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions can improve America's education system. 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. It is made up of four sections. The Management's Discussion and Analysis 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. The Financial 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 the independent auditors. The Other Information section provides payment integrity reporting details, a summary of financial statement audit and management assurances, and the Office of Inspector General's Management and Performance Challenges for FY 2018 Executive Summary. Finally, the Appendixes section provides a listing of selected Department web links, education resources, and a glossary of acronyms and abbreviations. [For the 2016 Agency Financial Report, see ED607151.]