{"id":19846,"date":"2019-12-19T19:54:05","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T19:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/19\/how-to-score-a-on-the-federal-it-report-card\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:55:07","slug":"how-to-score-a-on-the-federal-it-report-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/cyber\/2019\/12\/19\/how-to-score-a-on-the-federal-it-report-card\/","title":{"rendered":"How to score A+ on the federal IT report card"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A little over four years ago, when the first-ever iteration of the government\u2019s modernization scorecard was released, the Department of Education was one of just three agencies to receive a failing grade. After incremental improvements every year, the Education Department, along with the General Services Administration, received the highest-ever score given to an agency on the ninth edition of the scorecard \u2014 both stamped with a perfect \u201cA+\u201d rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, agency scores on the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) scorecard, which grades IT practices at the 24 CFO Act agencies, have been low. While agency scores still run from a \u201cD-\u201d to the \u201cA+,\u201d the federal government is seeing significant IT improvements as the average grade sits between a “C” and \u201cC+” and trends up. But with the first-ever perfect scores released Dec. 11, Federal Times wanted to hear directly from agency chief information officers who steered their agencies to the top of the federal IT ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lesson plan for success<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the FITARA 9.0 scorecard, the highest score had been an \u201cA-.” But the most recent card saw three agencies score higher ( along with the perfect Education Department and GSA scores, the U.S. Agency for International Development received an A).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2016, the same month Education Department CIO Jason Gray was selected to take over the agency\u2019s top IT slot, the department received a “D” on the FITARA 2.0 card. For the next two scorecards, the agency received a \u201cC+,” then jumped to a \u201cB+,” where it\u2019s remained for four scorecards in a row. But this cycle it jumped to an \u201cA+,\u201d which Gray said felt \u201cgreat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the epicenter of Education\u2019s success is tenacious support from the department\u2019s senior leadership all the way up to Secretary Betsy DeVos, Gray told Federal Times. He said he sits in weekly meetings with DeVos, and also has monthly one-on-ones with her to discuss FITARA and the agency\u2019s IT progress. He also told Federal Times that he briefs assistant secretaries about modernization and cybersecurity issues quarterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat collaboration and understanding and education of what FITARA is and why we\u2019re doing it\u201d is critical, Gray said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t