|
OverviewThe 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 2009, the Administration is seeking $658.2 million for IES activities. This request would support a new research initiative to identify and evaluate models for turning around low-performing schools, while maintaining support for existing programs of research, development, and dissemination in areas where our knowledge of learning and instruction is inadequate. The request also would maintain high quality statistics and assessment programs, including an ongoing longitudinal study of high school students, implementing State-level 12th grade assessments in reading and mathematics under the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and continued improvements in State-level longitudinal data systems. Finally, the request would provide funding to conduct an evaluation of the Regional Educational Laboratories.
|
Research, Development, and Dissemination
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $162.6 | $159.7 | $167.2 |
The request would support a new research initiative on the identification and evaluation of models for turning around low-performing schools, as well as ongoing research efforts in reading, mathematics, science, cognition, teacher quality, high school reform, postsecondary education, and education finance and leadership.
The request for dissemination includes funds for the What Works Clearinghouse (www.whatworks.ed.gov), 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).
A 2007 PART review rated this program Effective, finding that IES has transformed the quality and rigor of education research within the Department of Education and increased the demand for scientifically based evidence of effectiveness in the education field as a whole. In response to a PART recommendation, IES is working with other offices to develop technical assistance materials that translate research findings into practical information that can be applied in the classroom.
|
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $90.0 | $88.4 | $104.6 |
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 increase requested for 2009 would help cover the rising costs of maintaining NCES's current portfolio of surveys and support a new secondary school longitudinal study that began in 2007. Funding for the Statistics program declined from 2004 to 2007, but the costs of collecting and analyzing data have increased significantly, and without additional funds NCES will be forced to discontinue or severely curtail selected ongoing surveys. The longitudinal study, which will follow a cohort of students who are in the 9th grade in 2009 through high school and college, will provide detailed information about the educational experiences of high school students, their parents, teachers, and schools, and will 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 survey data showing that customers are satisfied overall with NCES products and services. The PART also recommended that NCES take steps to improve the timeliness of its products and services, NCES continues to pursue initiatives such as online data collection and release of products and data via the Internet and has accelerated the release of survey data.
|
Regional Educational Laboratories
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $65.5 | $65.6 | $67.6 |
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. The $2 million increase requested for 2009 would be used to support an evaluation of the program required by statute.
|
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $93.1 | $104.1 | $138.8 |
The request would fund the ongoing National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). 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 $34.8 million increase requested for 2009 would allow the Department to expand 12th grade State NAEP to include all States in 2011, support a private school oversample and various special studies in 2009, and prepare for geography, U.S. history, and writing assessments. The request also would provide additional funds for NAGB to support setting achievement levels for reading, mathematics, and science assessments and a range of validity studies designed to enable NAEP to report on the preparedness of 12th grade students for college and training for occupations. A 2003 PART analysis rated the Assessment program Effective, primarily because of overall customer satisfaction. In response to a PART recommendation, NCES now releases NCLB-related NAEP results within 6 months of data collection.
|
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $71.8 | $70.6 | $70.6 |
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 has developed long-term and annual measures of progress toward the achievement of key program outcomes and is working with the Office of Special Education Programs to develop a research plan.
|
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $24.6 | $48.3 | $100.0 |
The request would more than double funding for competitive awards to help State educational agencies design, develop, and implement longitudinal data systems that can improve teaching and learning and strengthen State accountability systems. To date, only 27 States have received awards under the program. Increased funding would support new awards to States that have not yet received funding under this program as well as additional awards to currently funded States to expand their K-12 systems to include postsecondary and workforce information. Including postsecondary and workforce information will allow States to examine the extent to which students are leaving high school ready for college and employment. On average, awards will be larger than in the past, because most States have found that developing and implementing longitudinal data systems is considerably more costly and complex than originally anticipated. At the request level, the Department will be able to support approximately 32 awards for developing longitudinal data systems or expanding existing data systems to include postsecondary and workforce information. The request also would provide funding for State coordinators and data coordination.
|
Special Education Studies and Evaluations
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 Request |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in millions | $9.9 | $9.5 | $9.5 |
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 4, 2008 (mjj).