Federal education research and data are under attack. AERA is speaking out, alerting association members, and coordinating with the scientific community to advocate for protecting the integrity of federal research and data. AERA continues to closely monitor and respond to administration efforts to dismantle the federal role in collecting, analyzing, and reporting high-quality, impartial, and nonpartisan education research and data. Follow the links on this page to learn more and get engaged.
AERA submitted comments urging the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw a proposed rule that would establish fixed-term limits of four years for visas that include those provided to international students. (September 29, 2025)
AERA was among more than 60 signers on a multisociety letter urging Congress to take oversight action on the Executive Order “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” (September 24, 2025)
AERA provided comments on two surveys from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the School Level Finance Survey and the National Public Education Financial Survey. AERA urged the Department of Education to ensure that NCES has the capacity to collect and report data for both surveys. (September 16, 2025)
AERA submitted comments in response to the Request for Information (RFI) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on options for allowable publication costs stemming from NNIH-funded research. These comments provide feedback on the different options and highlights needed data on publication peer review. (September 15, 2025)
AERA submitted comments during the 30-day comment period of proposed updates to the 2025-26 and 2027-28 Civil Rights Data Collection. (September 8, 2025)
AERA submitted comments on the generic clearance for improvement projects for surveys conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. (July 26, 2025)
More Comments and Letters
AERA Provides Comments on Civil Rights Data Collection for 2025–26 and 2027–28 AERA Highlights, September 2025
House Committee Advances FY 2026 Spending Bills with Education Research Implications AERA Highlights, September 2025
Education Department Opens Comment Period for Civil Rights Data Collection After Earlier Withdrawal AERA Highlights, August 2025
Executive Order Targets Federal Grantmaking, Expands Political Oversight and Termination Authority AERA Highlights, August 2025
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances FY 2026 Bill Rejecting Administration’s Proposed Cuts to IES and NIH AERA Highlights, August 2025
White House Directs Education Department to Collect New College Admissions Data AERA Highlights, August 2025
Congress Moves Forward on FY 2026 NSF Funding Proposals with Small Cut in Senate, Larger Cut in House AERA Highlights, July 2025
NIH Issues Policy on Supporting Fairness and Originality in Research Applications AERA Highlights, July 2025
AERA Provides Comments on Proposed Updates to 2026 NAEP and EDFacts AERA Highlights, June 2025
AERA Provides Comment on Proposed Schedule Policy/Career Designation, Urges Exemption of Federal Research Program Officers and Statistical Agency Staff AERA Highlights, June 2025
Congress Begins Action on FY 2026 Appropriations, AERA Weighs in With Testimony AERA Highlights, June 2025
FY 2026 Budget Request Includes Deep Cuts for Federal Research Agencies AERA Highlights, June 2025
OSTP Issues Guidance for Implementing “Gold Standard Science” Executive Order AERA Highlights, June 2025
National Institutes of Health Launches NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Data Hub AERA Highlights, June 2025
Judge Blocks Dismantling of Education Department, Temporarily Reinstates Hundreds of Employees AERA Highlights, May 2025
NSF Continues Grant Terminations as Layoffs and Closure of Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM Division Are on Hold AERA Highlights, May 2025
Trump Administration Issues “Skinny” FY 2026 Budget Outline with Proposed Cuts for NSF, NIH AERA Highlights, May 2025
President Trump Issues Executive Order on “Gold Standard Science” AERA Highlights, May 2025
NIH Updates: Public Access Policy Implementation Deadline Moved Up, Leadership Changes for Individual Institutes AERA Highlights, May 2025
More AERA Policy & Advocacy News
As the primary advocate of education research in the nation’s capital, AERA monitors federal legislation, policy, and regulations affecting education research, and identifies opportunities to influence the development and protection of sound science policy. Read more
In a Wall Street Journal letter to the editor, Tabbye Chavous warns that dismantling the Institute of Education Sciences will be devastating for students, policymakers, and others who depend on federally collected and supported data and research.
In a “Why Social Science” post for the Consortium of Social Science Associations, AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous explains how education research informs evidence-based solutions and why funding it matters. Read more
View full infographic on how data access helps students and schools succeed.