This training guide for a one-day workshop provides an introduction to the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for administrative personnel at higher education institutions. The six sections of the guide, each corresponding to a workshop session, include activity sheets, questions for participants to answer, and space for notes. Following the introductory section, materials for Section 2 provides an overview of direct loan processing, including a definition of reconciliation and explanations of five direct loan functions. Section 3 covers managing cash balances. Section 4 outlines the monthly processing techniques which prepare for reconciliation. It covers best practices, reports and logs, and continuing cash balance management. Section 5 considers reconciliation and the Direct Loan School Account Statement, including the monthly reconciliation process and how to distinguish between the booked date and the acknowledgment date. Section 6 addresses the reconciliation process directly and covers cash summary activity, cash and loan detail, reconciliation tools and reports, maintaining monthly versus yearly cash balances, and closeout. Appendices provide summaries of the process and sample printouts of cash management and direct loan reports, as well as answers to selected exercises in the guide. (DB)