III.D.1: Public Notifications

Notify the public of important events and information updates via its web site and other social media tools.

Other Information:

The Department of Education notifies the public of important events and information updates via its web site and other social media tools. Below is a description of the tools currently in use: * Electronic newsletters – ED has multiple periodic electronic newsletters that inform parents, teachers, education stakeholders and other members. These electronic newsletters are open to the public via ED’s opt-in policy in which subscribers may stop delivery at any time. EDInfo, ED Review, Education Innovator, IESNEws, Research e- News, Thursdays Notes, Touching Base and PreventionED are the currently available newsletters, and ED will continue to create newsletters as new special topics are indentified. For more information on ED’s electronic newsletters, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/. * ED.gov “Blog” – The ED.gov Blog is a primary tool for the Department of Education to publish and promote up-todate information on agency and secretary events and news headlines. In addition to publishing information, the blog also allows for inclusion of videos, opportunities for public commenting and electronic subscription via Really Simple Syndication (RSS) features found in third-party blog reading software. ED plans on extending its blog tools to other offices within the Department. The main ED.gov blog can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/blog/. * Media releases – Frequently throughout the day, the Department of Education releases newsworthy items via its electronic press room. This section of ed.gov features press releases, speeches, media advisories and the Secretary’s weekly schedule. ED’s Press Room is located at: http://www.ed.gov/news/landing.jhtml . * Federal Register – The Department of Education frequently publishes proposed and final regulations, announcements and other documents in the Federal Register database maintained by the Government Printing Office. ED updates its web site to provide a listing of Federal Register notices as well as provides a search capability. ED’s Federal Register page is available at: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/ * Twitter – Twitter is an online social network tool that sends status updates to subscribers. ED uses Twitter daily to send important updates of Department activities. The main ED Twitter feed is available at http://twitter.com/usedgov and others listed at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/socialmedia. html. * Facebook – Facebook is another online social network tool which ED uses to send updates to subscribers. Facebook is used daily to send important Department and Secretary updates. The main ED Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/ED.gov and others are available at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/socialmedia. html. * YouTube – YouTube is a video sharing service which ED uses to distribute audio/video clips. ED’s YouTube channel features taped stakeholder meetings, messages from senior officials and other special topic features. The YouTube channel for Education can be found at http://www.youtube.com/usedgov. * FedBizOpps.gov – ED posts synopses of proposed contract actions as well as contract solicitations on FedBizOpps.gov, which is the single point on the Internet where vendors can access information needed to bid on government contracts. Vendors wishing to do business with ED may view synopses and download solicitations that they are interested in bidding on.

Stakeholder(s):

• The Public

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

Content