The objectives of this inspection were to determine (1) the U.S. Department of Education's (Department) process for assessing the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and School's (ACICS) compliance with Federal regulatory criteria for recognition, and (2) what evidence the Department considered in its review of selected recognition criteria and whether the Department's conclusions were supported by evidence. The inspection covered the Department's processes for assessing ACICS' compliance with Federal regulatory criteria for recognition as an accrediting agency (agency) from 2016 through 2018. Specifically, the inspection reviewed Department actions and communications during that time period to determine whether it complied with Federal recognition procedures. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) also judgmentally selected 6 of the 21 recognition criteria reviewed by the senior Department official (SDO) during the Department's 2018 recognition review of ACICS to determine whether the SDO's conclusions regarding ACICS' compliance were supported by evidence. This report provides the findings and recommendations made as a result of the inspection.