Since the 1940s, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its predecessor agencies have contracted with state approving agencies (SAA) to assess whether schools and training programs offer education of sufficient quality for veterans to receive VA education assistance benefits. SAAs are created or designated by state governments but are federally funded and responsible for enforcing federal law. Concerns have been raised about whether SAA approval activities are duplicative of efforts conducted under other federal programs. Key questions addressed herein are: (1) What changes have occurred in State Approving Agencies' duties and functions since 1995? (2) To what extent does the SAA approval process overlap with efforts by the Departments of Education and Labor? and (3) What, if any, additional value do the SAA approval activities bring to veterans' education benefit programs? Appended are: (1) Briefing Slides; (2) Comments from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (3) GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments. [This report was produced by the United States Government Accountability Office.]