To gauge whether federal agencies are effectively meeting their missions, top leaders need access to accurate and reliable performance information. However, federal agencies have not always clearly—and transparently—explained to Congress and the public how they ensure the quality of their performance information.

In September 2015, the Government Accountability Office released a study on the transparency of public reporting. The 55-page report, Managing for Results: Greater Transparency Needed in Public Reporting on the Quality of Performance Information for Selected Agencies' Priority Goals, was one of a series responding to a statutory provision that GAO review how agencies are implementing the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRAMA).

Specifically, GAO reported on the effectiveness of selected agencies in publicly reporting on the quality of the performance information they use to measure progress on agency priority goals. APGs are an agency's highest priority goals, and drive progress in important and complex areas, such as strengthening disaster preparedness and improving food safety.

We detail the findings of this report in the December issue of The Public Manager. Read the full article, “Making Agencies More Transparent.”