Department of Education Releases Report to Reform of Institute for Education Sciences

Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it has received a long-anticipated report from Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Northern on how to reform the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to ensure that high-quality, actionable research and data inform the field. Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences recommends IES concentrate efforts on the highest‑priority education issues identified by states and districts; streamline data collection rather than supporting multiple collections and surveys; shift from funding single‑state projects to supporting multi-state grants; emphasize usable, innovative, and meaningful solutions for the education field; and limit the What Works Clearinghouse to the development of practice guides and tools to make its evidence base more user friendly. 

Within the National Center for Special Education, Northern noted a few challenges that should be addressed, including striking a better balance between the study of interventions for students with disabilities and the role of special education policy in influencing those interventions; deepening understanding of how factors such as health, nutrition, and social services impact learning for children with disabilities; evaluating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence tools promising to support students with disabilities that are “flooding the market.” 

“IES has set the standard for high-quality education research these last 25 years, but now is the time to look at its work with fresh eyes and renewed focus, so that we can drive real progress for student outcomes in these very challenging times,” remarked Northern. ED will now examine these recommendations and determine how to move forward.

To view the report, go here.