As a precursor to this annual report, in February 2018, the Department of Education (the Department) issued its "U.S. Department of Education Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-22" (Strategic Plan). The Strategic Plan establishes four broad, overarching goals--one goal each in the areas of K-12 education, postsecondary education and training, data quality and accessibility, and the effectiveness and accountability of the Department. This year's annual report, the "FY 2019 Annual Performance Report and FY 2021 Annual Performance Plan," summarizes the results of the Department's first full year executing its Strategic Plan. As shown in this report, the Department made significant strides--proposing a new initiative to promote education freedom for students and families; encouraging students and families to rethink the traditional American education model to consider a variety of postsecondary options; modernizing the technology and operational components that support federal student aid programs; helping states and school districts comply with recent federal laws; making the Department's data more transparent and available for the public; and reorganizing the Department to make its corporate structure more efficient and to better respond to current needs. Sections in the report include: (1) Executive Summary; (2) About the Department; (3) National Landscape; (4) About the Report; (5) Strategic Framework; (6) Performance Assessment and Planning; and (7) Appendices. [For the "U.S. Department of Education Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-22," see ED586968. For the "U.S. Department of Education FY 2018 Annual Performance Report and FY 2020 Annual Performance Plan," see ED607890.]