Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Summary — February 5, 2007

Section II. F.  Institute of Education Sciences

• Overview
• Research, Development, and Dissemination
• Statistics
• Regional Educational Laboratories
• Assessment
• Research in Special Education
• Statewide Data Systems
• Special Education Studies and Evaluations

Overview

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) supports sustained programs of research, evaluation, and data collection to provide solutions to the problems and challenges faced by schools and learners. A cornerstone of NCLB is investment in research to identify effective instructional and program practices, as well as in data collection needed to track student achievement and measure the impact of educational reform. Through its four centers—the National Center for Education Research, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, and the National Center for Special Education Research—IES ensures that the Federal investment in education research and data collection is well-managed and relevant to the needs of educators and policymakers.

For 2008, the Administration is seeking $594.3 million for IES activities. This request would continue to support programs of research, development, and dissemination in areas where our knowledge of learning and instruction is inadequate. The request also would maintain the Administration's commitment to supporting high quality statistics and assessment programs, provide funding for a pilot study on the development of a postsecondary student level data system, provide support for a new longitudinal study of high school students scheduled to begin in 2007, support the implementation of 2009 State-level 12th grade assessments in reading and mathematics under the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and provide funding to States to improve the quality of longitudinal data systems.

Research, Development, and Dissemination

The request would support education research, development, and dissemination sponsored by IES, including new awards under ongoing initiatives in academic subject areas, teacher quality, cognition and learning, early childhood education, social and behavioral interventions, and financial and management reforms in education. Research in these areas is critical to the successful implementation of NCLB. IES funds a diverse portfolio of discretionary grants and contracts that support directed and field-initiated research, including eight national research and development centers.

The request for dissemination includes funds for the What Works Clearinghouse, which provides evidence-based information for policymakers, researchers, and educators on promising approaches and interventions, the National Library of Education, and the Education Research Information Clearinghouse (ERIC).

Statistics

This request would support the collection, analysis, and dissemination of education-related statistics in response both to legislative requirements and to the particular needs of data providers, data users, and educational researchers. The Department's statistics programs—operated primarily through competitively awarded contracts administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)—provide general statistics about trends in education, collect data to monitor reform and measure educational progress, and inform the IES research agenda.

The requested increase would provide $25 million to allow NCES to conduct a pilot study on the development of a postsecondary student level data system that is essential for computing postsecondary completion rates and measuring the true costs of higher education. Funds also would support a new secondary school longitudinal study, scheduled to begin in 2007, which will follow a ninth grade cohort through high school and college. The study would provide detailed information about the educational experiences of high school students, their parents, teachers, and schools, and would follow students as they make major transitions to high school and to postsecondary education or work.

A 2003 PART review rated the Statistics program Effective, primarily on the basis of customer survey data showing that customers are satisfied overall with NCES products and services. In response to the PART recommendation that it focus on the timeliness of its products and services, NCES is pursuing initiatives such as online data collection and release of products and data via the Internet.

Regional Educational Laboratories

The request would support a network of 10 regional laboratories that provide expert advice, including training and technical assistance, to help States and districts apply proven research findings in their school improvement efforts. Funds would be used for the third year of 5-year contracts for the laboratories.

Assessment

The request would fund the ongoing National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the National Assessment Governing Board. NAEP measures and reports on the status of and trends in student learning over time, on a subject-by-subject basis, and makes objective information on student performance available to policymakers, educators, parents, and others. NAEP is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what American students know and can do, and has become a key measure of our Nation's educational performance. NAEP activities are conducted through competitively awarded contracts.

The $23.5 million increase requested for 2008 would allow the Department to complete preparations for implementing State-level assessments at the 12th grade level in 2009, as called for by the President. A 2003 PART analysis rated the Assessment program Effective, primarily because of overall customer satisfaction. In response to a PART recommendation, NCES worked to release NAEP results in support of NCLB within 6 months of data collection, a goal that was met in 2005.

Research in Special Education

This program supports discretionary grants and contracts for research to address gaps in scientific knowledge in order to improve special education and early intervention services for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. The request would support new awards under ongoing programs of research, such as new studies to advance our understanding of the education needs of children with autism and infants and toddlers with disabilities.

A 2003 PART review rated this program Results Not Demonstrated. The National Center for Special Education Research within IES, in consultation with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, is developing a plan for carrying out research on special education with measurable indicators of progress and results.

Statewide Data Systems

This program supports competitive awards to State educational agencies to foster the design, development, and implementation of longitudinal data systems that would enable States to use individual student data to enhance the provision of education and close achievement gaps. The request would support awards to enhance State capacity for accurate reporting of high school graduation rates and dropout data, and to increase the capability of States to efficiently satisfy Federal reporting requirements through systems like the Education Data Exchange Network.

Special Education Studies and Evaluations

This program, which was transferred to IES as part of the 2004 IDEA reauthorization, supports competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to assess the implementation of IDEA and the effectiveness of State and local efforts to provide special education and early intervention programs and services to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. The request would support the required national assessment of activities supported with Federal special education funds as well as ongoing studies.

Higher Education Programs   Programs Proposed for Elimination

For further information contact the ED Budget Service.

This page last modified—February 5, 2007 (mjj).