U.S. Department of Education Receives Recommendations to Reform the Institute of Education Sciences

Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon received a report from U.S. Department of Education Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Northern with suggestions on how to reform the Institute for Education Sciences (IES). The report entitled Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences outlines her recommendations to ensure IES provides state and local policymakers, educators, and relevant stakeholders with high-quality, actionable research and data.

Despite its emphasis on scientific rigor, IES has too often delivered research that is slow, siloed, and disconnected from classroom realities. Working with key stakeholders, Dr. Northern has overseen an extended effort to develop this report, which outlines a vision for IES focused on its core mission: "to provide national leadership in expanding fundamental knowledge and understanding of education from early childhood through postsecondary study."

"As we return education to the states, we are committed to improving the Institute to provide best practices that improve outcomes in every classroom across the nation," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "We appreciate Dr. Northern's recommendations on how best to reform the Institute and reconnect actionable data with student outcomes."

"Building rigorous, objective data and evidence in service of improving student outcomes is at the heart of everything we do at IES," said Acting IES Director Matthew Soldner. "I look forward to considering how Dr. Northern's recommendations can further that work and help ensure educators and policymakers have the information they need to make a positive difference in the lives of our nation's learners."

"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," said Department Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Northern.

The report outlines several recommendations, including:

• Rather than spreading resources across many disconnected projects, IES should focus on the most urgent education challenges that are informed by state and district leaders.
• Instead of funding multiple data collections and longitudinal surveys that may be redundant or outdated, IES should develop a streamlined and coordinated data strategy while preserving and strengthening its core functions.
• Rather than focusing on individual project-specific grants within a single state, institution, or jurisdiction, IES should prioritize multi-state awards to help scale the most promising interventions, resources, and policies.
• IES should direct the focus of research toward practicality, innovation, and relevance.
• Narrow the scope of the What Works Clearinghouse to the development of practice guides and tools to ensure that its evidence base is better utilized.

The Department looks forward to considering the recommendations to ensure IES is efficient, effective, and improves outcomes for students. The full report can be read here.

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