March 2025

On March 14, AERA issued a call to action responding to information that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) could cancel access to restricted-use data, possibly as soon as March 20.

AERA called for members of the education research community who use NCES restricted-use data to take two actions. The first was to contact their members of Congress to highlight the importance of NCES restricted-use data and how the cancellations would impact research informing education policy and practice. The second was to complete a survey with information on the types of NCES data used, specific work being conducted, how losing access would impact immediate work, how losing access would impact future research and career, and the broader consequences of the loss of access.

While AERA subsequently learned that restricted-use access agreements have not been cancelled, those seeking disclosure review are encouraged to file requests as soon as possible given the substantial cutbacks in IES staff and accordingly delays. Also, those with general concerns, including about the process of obtaining future-use agreements, are encouraged to contact your members of Congress explaining why and to respond to the survey if you have not done so yet.

AERA is incorporating member responses to this survey as part of its advocacy efforts to elevate the combined effects of the contract cancellations and reduction in NCES staff on access to restricted-use data and disclosure review for research in progress.

In addition to the AERA action alert, the Consortium of Social Sciences Association (COSSA), of which AERA is a governing member, issued an action alert on this topic aligned with its Social Science Advocacy Day on March 25. AERA members are encouraged to use COSSA’s action alert center to send a message or call their members of Congress.