Commonly Used Education Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms
Visit the United States Department of Education's website for additional acronyms.
AA – Associate Degree of Arts
AAS – Associate Degree of Applied Science
AAT – Associate of Applied Technology
ABE – Adult Basic Education
ACAC – American College Application Campaign
ACE – American Council on Education
ACS – Accuracy Certification Statement
AICUP – Association for Independent Colleges and University in Pennsylvania
AIR – American Institutes for Research
AS – Associate Degree of Science
ASB – Associate Degree of Specialized Business
AST – Associate Degree of Specialized Technology
AVTS – Area Vocational-Technical School; also referred to as a Career & Technical Education Center (CTC)
AY – Academic Year
BBFM – PDE's Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management
BCTE – PDE Bureau of Career and Technical Education
CACG – College Access Challenge Grant
CAO – Chief Academic Officer
CC – Community College
CCAR – Community College Annual Report
CCSSO – Council of Chief State School Officers
CEC – Community Education Council
CEO – Chief Executive Officer or Chief Enrollment Officer
CHEA – Council for Higher Education Accreditation
CIP – Classification of Instructional Programs
CPSL – Child Protective Services Law (state)
CTC – Career and Technical Education Center
CTE – Career and Technical Education
DCED – Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
DDQ – PDE Office of Data Quality
DHS – Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
DOC – Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
DOH – Pennsylvania Department of Health
DPW – Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (now called the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, or DHS)
ECE – Early Childhood Education
ECS – Education Commission of the States
ECUA – Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny
eGrant – PDE's electronic grant application system
ELN – Early Learning Network
ELPC – The Educational Leadership and Policy Center
EOT – End of Term (often used when referring to PIMS data collection)
ESSA – Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015
FA – Financial Aid
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FERPA – Federal Education Right to Privacy Act
FY – Fiscal Year
HB – House Bill
HEA – Higher Education Act
HQT – Highly Qualified Teacher
IAG – Institutional Assistance Grants
IHE – Institution of Higher Education
ILEE – Institute for Law Enforcement
IPE – Institution of Postsecondary Education
IPEDS – Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
L&I – Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
LBFC – Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
LEA – Local Education Agency (aka school districts, intermediate units, career/techs, etc.)
NCES – National Center for Education Statistics
NSC – National Student Clearinghouse
OA – Office of Administration
OCDEL – Office of Child Development and Early Learning (PDE/DHS)
OCL – PDE's Office of Commonwealth Libraries
OESE – PDE's Office of Elementary & Secondary Education
OPHE – PDE's Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education
P2P – Program-to-Program Articulation
PA TRAC – Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center
PACTA – Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators
PASSHE – Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
PDE – Pennsylvania Department of Education
PASBO – PA Association of School Business Officials
PASA – PA Association of School Administrators
PSEA – PA State Education Association
PSBA – PA School Board Association
PHEAA – Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
PIMS – Pennsylvania Information Management System
PLA – Prior Learning Assessment
PLS – Postsecondary Private Licensed Schools
PS – Postsecondary
PSSA – Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
RRC – Rural Regional College
SARA – State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
SHEEO – State Higher Education Executive Officers
SLDS – Statewide Longitudinal Database System
SPP – School Performance Profile
SY – School Year
TAMC – Transfer Articulation Management Center on PA TRAC
TAOC – Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee
TAP – Tuition Assistance Program
TIMS – Teacher Information Management System
USDE – U.S. Department of Education
WDB or WIB – Workforce Development Boards or Workforce Investment Boards
WIOA – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (federal)